The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-23
Fierce BATTLE ON
REAR GUARD ACTION ALONG
RIVER AISNE Is EXTENDED

Fighting IS TERRIFIC
English Correspondents Tell of Battl'
Which Has Been in Operation Sine
Sunday-Germans Faced Foes ant
Bloody Battle is Started-Resul
Undecided.
Along 11o-mile front the Ger
man armies are at bay and the allie:
occupy ledge across the River Aisne
which was won after one Of the most
spectacular river crossings ever made
by an attacking force under fire.
For the past four or five days there
have been sparodic attacks from both
sides along this line; but according
to admissions from the rival head
quarters they have not produced any
definite results. Both sides have suf-
fered enormously and the present
pause undoubtedly is being used to
bring up reinforcements and sup
plies.
"As, opposed to the battle of the
Marne, which was battle Of rivers
and plains, woodlands and high pla-
teaus, the battle Of the Aisne," says
"a London Times correspondent, "was
a river crossing on a scale never be-
fore seen in the history of the world;
a triumph of organization and engi-
neering as much as Of courage and
fighting powers. The time was Sat
urday evening and the moment had
arrived when, if the fleeing host was
to be saved, some sort of stand must
be made.
.'The enemy gathered hurriedly to-
gether for a great effort on the
heights which overlooked the river.
He had his guns placed and his men
ready when the British and French
troops reached he south bank of the
river. Clearly it was esential to the
allies that crossing be made if the
great pursuit was to be continued
and the hard won victory pressed
home. But the river was swollen,
running swiftly after the recent
heavy rains, bridges must be built
under withering fire, they must be
maintained undamaged and must be
crossed.
"The attack began Sunday morn
ing with all the dash that character
lied the great struggle OF the week
before. Our guns were brought up
placed in position and a terrible ar
tillery duel opened; for as long as
the German artillery remained unsi-
fenced there was little hope OF cross
ing the river,
During this FIRE our engineers
worked laboriously, bringing up
great pontoons while the fire slowly
decreased their numbers, After
some hours of This supreme effort the
enemy's guns on the north bank are
silenced and the troops begin cross
ing while the allies artillery still
sweep the heights, protecting their
passage.
s'By sunset when the cold rain and
wind starts the heights are won, the
ensmy thrown back and our troops
cross at three crossing places.
while this battle is proceeding
most exciting battle OF aeroplanes-
German and English. occurred high
in the air. 1t was great struggle
the machines darting hither and
thither till finally the German.
wounded. falls to the ground
Something Of the horrors Of mod
ern warfare is indicated by the hesi-
fancy with which the authorities dis
cuss the terrible losses marking the
progress Of the armies from tho
Marne to the Aisne. The stories ale
told with great restraint, but with
enough grewsome details to make
even military men shudder.
A dispatch from Paris says the
rearguard action, supposed at first tc
be intended as a check to pursuit ane
to facilitate the retreat of the mas
of the armies of Gems. Won KlucF
and Won Buelow, has developed into
what will probably be called in his
tory the battle Of Aisne. Whethe'
or not it was necessity that impeilec
the Germans to turn and engage IN
general action, the fierce conflict re
sulting rivals in importance the bat
tie Of the Marne.-
The war Office says the French
have not finched at any point. That
sounds as if they were on the defen-
sive, which might be so in view Of
the strength of the positions the Ger
mans occupy.
REGARDING the battle of the Aisne
under date of September Is corle
spondent of the London Chronicle
says:
Inc uuSuOluSs tSAiAAS oeA oSSA\
has lasted four days and only now
may one say that victory is turning
in favor of the allies.
"The town of scissors can not ye'
be entered, for it is still raked by
artillery and rife FIRE, while rear col
umns of smoke mark several points
where houses are burning in the cen
ter of the fighting lines, where the
allies pontoon corps have been trying
to keep the bridges they succeeded
in constructing.
"Men from the front tell me that
the combat has been a veritable
slaughter and that the unceasing fire
of the past four days puts any pre-
vious battle anywhere completely in