Evening star., 1914-10-19


toned depression varying from half to
two miles wide, down which the river
follows winding course. To the west
Is high ground. Both sides of the river
are approximately 400 feet above the
valley. broken into spurs. The most
prominent slopes and plateaus over
looking the Aisne, of varying steep
ness, are covered with patches of wood
Several small villages and towns are
dotted about, chief of which is Sois-
sons.
THE Aisne is a sluggish stream, 40
feet wide and Is feet deep in the CEN
ter and is unfordable. Between Sois-
sons on the west and Villiers on the
east, part of the river attacked and Sc
| cured by the British forces. are eleven
road bridges. One narrow gauge and
double line railway run near the river.
Enemy in Strong Position.
'The position of the enemy was very
strong either for delaying action or for
a defensive battle. One of the chief
military characteristics is that, except
for small stretches on the top of the
plateau, either side can not be seen,
| owing to the woods on the edges of the
slopes. The tract of country above de-
scribed is well adapted for concealment.
The enemy so skillfully turned this to
account that it made it impossible to
judge of the real nature of his oppo-
sition to our passage of the river, but
I have every reason to conclude that
strong rear guards, at least three army
corps, were holding the passages early
In the morning of the 18th.
"On that morning l ordered the Brit
ish forces to advance and make good
the Aisne. The list Corps and cavalry
advanced on the river. The 1st Divi-
sion was directed on Chanoullle, via the
Canal bridge at Bourg. On the right,
= kI.n lrxy let g NJ
little opposition and found passage by
means of the canal and aqueduct which
crosses the river This division there
fore was able to press on. supported by
the cavalry on the outer flank, driving
the enemy before it.
"On the left the leading troops of the
I'd Division reached the river by
o'clock. The 5th Infantry brigade only
was able to cross the river in single
file. under considerable shell fire. by
means Of broken girder Of a bridge
which was not entirely submerged in
the river A pontoon bridge was con-
strcted by o'clock in the afternoon.
Encounters Strong Opposition.
"The 4th Guards brigade met with Sc
we're opposition at Chavonne, and only
late in the afternoon were able to es-
tablish a foothold on the northern
bank of the river.
"By nightfall the 1st Division occu
pied the area around Moulins. Palsy
and Geny. The I'd Division bivouacked
on the southern bank of the river, leav-
ing only the 5th Brigade on the north
bank to establish bridge head. The
I'd Corps found all the bridges de-
stroyed except that at Conde, which
was in possession of the enemy and re-
manned SO until the end of the battle.
5th Division eventually crossed, there Isl
some open ground which was swept by
artillery fire from the opposite bank.
The 18th Brigade therefore was unable
to advance, but the 14th, directed to
less exposed point, was RATED over and
at night established itself on the left
Of Saint Marguerite, where later. with
the 18th Brigade, supported by the 4th
Division on it's left, it succeeded in
repelling heavy counter attacks on the
Sd Corps.
'On the morning of the 18th the Sd
Corps found the enemy established in
strength on Vregny plateau. The 18th
Infantry crossed at Venizel, but the
bridge was SO damaged that the artil-
lery could only be manhandled across
it. Meanwhile, the construction of a
bridge began close to the road bridge
at Venizel.
AT pm. an infantry attack in the
direction of Chivrss and Vregny had
made good progres, but at $50 pm.
| the enemy's artillery and machine gun
| fire from the direction OF Nregny be-
came SO severe that no further prog
ress could be made. The positions
reached were held until dark The
| Sd Corps made attempt to throw
| a heavy pontoon across the river late
| in the afternoon. but gave up because
| of the heavy howitZer fire of the enc
| my.
German Forces Retire.
| IN the evening the enemy retired at
all points and intrenched himself on
high ground about two miles north of
the river, along which runs the Chemin
des Danes. Detachments of infantry,
however. strongly intrenched in com
manding positions down the slopes and
on various spurs, were left in front of
all three army corps with powerful
artillery in support of them.
During the night of the 18th and ON
| tn 14th and following days field com
panies necessarily worked night and
day throwing eight pontoons and one
| foot bridge across the river under II
generally heavy artillery fire, which
was necessarily kept UP on most of the
crossings after their completion. The
Temporarily repaired to take foot pas
.sengers; one would take a weight up to
six tons. The operations of the field
companies during this trying time were
worthy the best traditions of the Royal
| Engineers.
| Wet weather added to the difficulties,
On the evening of the 1Ith it was still
Impossible to decide whether the enc
my was only iakins a temporary halt
TOR intended to stand and defend his
position With view 10 clearing the
SITUATION | ordered general advance
Inc action of the 1st Corps on this
oay unoer the direction and command
o. 81, s,r Dougias Haig was of SO skill
iui' pold and decisive a character shat
ne gained positions which alone would
nave enabled me to maintain my posi-
lion Tor more than three weeks of
very severe lighting on the north bank
OF the river.
Positions Held at Noon.
BY noon of this day the position
roughly was that two brigades extend
eo along line running east and west:
on the north a line to Troyon, on the
south to Chemin des Danes.
About l pm. the enemy obtained a
| 1ootlng between the first and second
corps and threatened to cut the com
munlcatlons of the latter. Gen. Haie
was hardly pressed, and had no re-
serve In hand. l placed a cavalry diyi-
sion at his disposal. part Of which he
skllliully used to prolong and secure
the left flank of the Guards Brigade
Some heavy lighting ensued. which re.
suited in the enemy being driven back
with heavy loss.
About o'clock weakening of the
counter attacks by the enemy and
other indications tended to show that
his resistance was decreasing, and d
general advance was ordered by the
army corps commander. Although
meeting with considerable opposition