The state herald., 1914-09-11
ey PHILIP GIBBS.

Parts.-When ! escaped from
Amiens, before the tunnel was broken
up, and the Germans entered into pos.
session of the town on August 2S. the
front OF the allied armies was in
crescent from Abbeville, south OF
Amiens on wooded heights, and
thence In irregular line to south Of
Mezieres.
The British forces, under Sir John
French, were at the left Of the center.
supporting the heavy thrust-forward
Of the main German advance. while
the right was commanded by General
Pau.
A Million on the Move.
On Sunday afternoon fighting was
resumed along the whole line. The
German vanguard by this time had
been supported by fresh army corps,
which had been brought from Bel
| GUM.
At least 100000 men were on the
move. pressing upon the allied forces
with ferocity OF attack which has
never before been equaled Their
cavalry swept across a great tract Of
country, squadron by squadron. like
the mounted hordes Of Attila but
armed with the dreadful weapons OF
modern warfare.
Their artillery was In enormous
numbers and their columns advanced
under cover OF 1t, not like an army.
| but rather like moving nation-I do
not think. however. with equal pres
sure at all parts of the line. 1t formed
itself into battering ram with n
pointed end and this was thrust at
the heart of the English wing.
Impossible to Resist.
II was impossible TO resist this on
slaught. II the British forces had
stood against 1t they would have been
crushed and broken. Our gunners
were magnificent and shelled the ad-
vancing German columns SO that the
dead lay heaped up along the way
which was leading down to Paris; but.
as one Of them told me:
1T made no manner of difference.
As soon as we had smashed one lot,
another followed. column after column.
and by sheer weight of numbers. We
could do nothing to check them"
After this the British forces fell
back, fighting all the time. The line
OF the allies was In the shape Of q
"V"; the Germans thrust their main
attack deep into the angle. This po-
sition remained the same until Mon
day. or rather had completed itself by
that date. the retirement of the troops
being maintained with mastery skill
and without undue haste.
River Choksd With Dead.
Meanwhile General Pau was sustain
ing q terrific attack on the French cen.
tar by the German left center. which
eliminated on (date omitted). The
River Oise. which runs between beau
uful meadows. was choked with
corpses and red with blood.
From an eye witness Of this grea,
battle. an ofiicer Of an infantry regi
ment who escaped with a slight wound
l learned that the German Onslaught,
had been repelled BY = series OF bril-
liant bayonet and cavalry charges.
"The Germans" he said. had the
elite Of their army engaged against
Us, including the Tenth army corps
and the Imperial guard. but the hero
ism OF our troops was sublime. Every
man knew that the safety OF France
depended upon him and was ready te
sacrifice his life. II need be. with Joy
full enthusiasm.
Gave Great Punishment
"Thcy not only resisted the enemy''
attack, but took the offensive. and. In
spite OF their overpowering numbers
gave them tremendous punishment
They had to recoil before our guns,
Hundreds Of them were bayonetet
and hundreds were hurled into thu
river. The whole field OF battle wal
outlined by dead and dying men whom
they had TO abandon. Certainly theil
losses were enormous. and felt tina
the German retreat was in full swim
and that we could claim u real victor,
for the time being"
Pau Compelled to Yield.
Nevertheless the inevitable hap
pened. owing to the vast reserves o
the enemy. who brought up four div
sions, and General Pau was compelled
to give ground
On Tuesday German skirmisher
With light artillery were coming south
ward. and the sound OF their fel'
guns greeted my ears. Presently
saw tho figure OF a French dragon
with his carblne slung behind his back
Ho was standing by the side OF
number OF gunpowder hags. A lit,l
farther away were little groups OF sol
diors ut work by two bridges. ono owe