Las Vegas optic., 1914-09-14

French forces IN line on our TlSnt anu
left. Practically there had been no
change since Saturday, September B.
which marked the end of our army's
long retirement from the Belgian from
tier through northern France.
Ion Friday, September 1t be
came apparent that there was an al
teration in the advance of almost the
whole of the first German army. That
army, since the battle near Mons on
the twenty-third Of August, had been
playing its part in colossal strategic
endeavor to create Sedan for the al
lies by outflanking and later envelop-
ing the left of their whole line so as
to encircle and drive both the British
and French to the south.
There was now a change In its
objective and it was observed that
the German forces opposite the Brit.
isn were beginning to moyein a south
easterly direction instead of continu-
ing southwest on to the capital, leav-
ing strong rear guard along the line
I OF the river Ourcq (Which flows south
OF and joins the Marne at Lily Sur
Ourcq) to keep off the French sixth
army, which by then had been formed
and was to the northwest of Paris.
They were evidently executing what
amounted to a flank march diagonal
! ly across our front.
Prepared to ignore the British as
being driven out Of the fight, they
we're initiating an effort to attack the
left flank of the main French army
which stretched in long curved line
| from our right towards the east, and
fso to carry out against it alone an
development which so far had failed
against the combined forces of the al
lies.
con Saturday the fifth, movement
on the part of the Germans was con-
tinued, and large advance parties eros
lsaas the Marine southwark at Trilport.
Sommeron, La Frete Sous Juarre, and
Chateau Theirry. There was consid=
cradle fighting with the French fifth
Amy on the French left, which fell
back from its position south of the
Marne towards the Seine.
"On Sunday large hostile forces
crossed the Marne and pushed on
through Coulomiers and past the Brit
ish right further to the east. They
were attacked at night by the French
Fifth army corps. which captured
three villages at the point of the ba-
yonet.
"On Monday, September Z, there was
a general advance on the part of the
allies. In this quarter of the field our
forces. which had now been reinforced.
rushed on in northeasterly direction
In cooperation with the advance of
the French fifth army to the north
and of the French fifth army corps to
the eastward against the German rear
guard along the river Ourcq.
Possibly weakened by the detach-
ment of troops to the eastern theater
of operations and realizing that the
action of the French sixth army
against the line of our occupation and
in defiance Of the British placed their
, flanking movement in considerable
/ danger of being taken in the rear on
; its report flank, the Germans on this
/ day commenced to retire towards the
! northeast.
This was the first sign that these
troops had turned back since their at
tack at Mons, a fortnight before, ant
from reports received the order to re
) treat, when SO close to Paris. was |
t bitter disappointment From letter.
found on dead soldiers there is M
/ doubt that there was general i'm
+ lpression among the enemies that the!
n were about to enter Paris.
e "On Tuesday. September 8, the Gel
e man movement northeastwards wa
+: continued. Their rear guards on tn
f south Of the Marne were being pres:
e ed back to the, river by our troops an
h by the French on our right. the latte
e capturing three villages after hand
s to-hand fight and the infliction OF s,
y we're loss on the enemy.
A Brave "Non-com."
e "on September 10 small party VI
h der a non-commissioned officer wa
n cut off and surrounded. After a de-
it perate resistance it was decided to g
N cD fighting to the end Finally th
is ncn-commissioned officer and one ha
D. only were left, both of them bein