Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-10-09
SWEEPING BRITISH
VICTORY REPORTED
IN AISNE BATTLE
Germans Fled Trenches, Cor
respondent Says, Leaving
Mounted Guns Behind.
Bx the AssocIated Press.

l1DN DlN. ljoI. 1.--1iic A4iAA1o SofAS
spondent south of the Aisne says
AT one centre--and that the most
important-the British victory on the
River Aisne is now complete. The
Germans have evacuated their
trenches, leaving in some OF them
many soldiers who died from a severe
visitation of typhoid. They lett two
of their heaviest guns in the quarries.
heavily cemented in place
Two salient events marked the
part of the fighting of which Soissons
was the centre. First, the capture by
the allies of Fort Conde, after siege
of sixteen days, and, second. the re-
markable slaughter by the BRUSH III
the last of series of German attacks,
1T is agreed that wherever the Ger
mans have dealt severe havoc to the
allies around this position their sue
cess was due wholly to a spy system.
The allies soon found out that the
Germans were able to diagnose their
movements readily, and instituted
systematic search for offenders. They
captured seven spies. one of them a
woman, who used electric flashlight
signals from a window.
1T is not altogether true to say
that the battle of the Aisne Is over
even now, but in the last few days
considerable area have been deserted
by the Germans and great wedges of
the allies forces thrown forward
Quotes from Diary
"This battle of the north developed
with amazing suddenness, as may be
gathered from the diary of my expe-
rienees."
The diary describes the beginning
of the battle on October /, and goes
on to say:
"As darkness fell the tired, blood
stained soldiers began streaming into
Arras and for hours the air resound-
ed with the din they made. Through
out the night the boom of guns could
be heard in the distance from the
east and southeast.
THE next morning opened quiet in
town, but the roar of guns was still
heard, and apparently as the day ad-
vaneed the sound was coming nearer.
The citizens, however, showed a stout
heart, and had plenty of occupation
tending the wounded, who were being
brought in continuously. The hospi-
tails soon were full.
The losses on both sides, I am told,
have been very heavy. In one action
alone today five German regiments
We're cut up. and the horses of their
conyoys stampeded. They were adj
vancing on Arras by the road along
the River Scarpe, and at the village
OF. Plouvain they came under the dew
astating fire from our artillery and
the whole five regiments broke and
fled.
..The day, however has not been al
together favorable for the allies, as
the French line was obliged to fall
back considerably. This evening the
enemys shells are falling within
few kilometers of the Arras station.
Again tonight squadron after
squadron of war-stained and tired
dragons ride into Arras, while long
lines of limbers are rafting out on
the Douai road. laden with shells for
tomorrow. 1t is a serene moonlight
night, but the guns are roaring still,
not having ceased since daybreak
Sees Aeroplane Flight.
"On October am awakened at
daybreak by the laundering of heavy
guns, now from the north and east,
where the third days battle Is raging
In a triangle formed by Arras, Lens
and Douai. During the day l watch
q daring aeroplane fight in the air and
am invited to watch the battle at
closer quarters.
II am conducted to some rising
ground outside the town, where a
wonderful battle scene bursts upon
my view. In front, on the horizon a
farmstead is blazing fiercely, and the
black smoke trails across the evening
sky. Within 500 yards of us the
French batteries are in action, she'll
ing the woods to drive out the enemy.
Flashes of flame burst over the woods
like lightning dancing in the tree
tops. Presently, the German artillery
begins shelling the battery near us.
We watch spellbound, and, as the
shrapnel fire becomes heavier and
nearer, our guide suggests 1t Is time
to go.
8 October 4.-The action Is now gen
eral in all directions. We go out In
the afternoon with the Red Cross to
aid in bringing in the wounded. Going
In the direction of Cambria, the shells
hurtle overhead as we run the gaunt-
let. Away to the south villages are
In flames and northwdrd a huge cloud
of black smoke hangs over lens
where the coal mines are on fire.
"It is real battle picture, awe-in-
spring and fascinating. We reach
n little hamlet, where every building
Is full of wounded, and the nurses and
doctors are working heroically at the
terrible. shrapnel- mangled limbs. We
take all we are able to in the cars
rack to Arras station, where they are
entrained.
Entering Arras again we learn that
all the men between eighteen and
forty eight have been ordered to leave
town. They are already streaming
out on foot for ST. Pol, and we join
them, also afoot."