The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-17


 itai tonight is drawn up on almost n straight line, extending from the neighberhood of Noyon. in the west, to Bois Tergcs on the Mouse. north of vcrdun, with its left resting on the German fortress of Metz.
 Thus the right wing, at least, has gone back more than 70 miles in two weeks. while the rest Of the army also has had to retire before the whole could find ground on which to make another stand against the advance of the allies.
 There seems little doubt that the Ger mans intend to give battle on this hne' with the River Aisne in front of theii right, the hills of Rheims facing their center and the mountains and forests oi Argonne on their left They went back steadily before the French and English armies, fighting only rear guard actions until their right, in command of Gen. eral Von Kluck, got across the Aisne Then they turned and delivered several counter attacks which, however, accord ing to British reports, were repulsed, the Germans leaving 25oO prisoners in the hands of the British.
 Rest for Troops
 The counter attacks doubtless were de- livered in the hope of giving the troops of the right wing, exhausted by the long advance, followed by a retreat almost as long, an opportunity to rest and pre- pare positions from which they could re- sist attacks from the allies, and in which they could await endorsements before taking up the offensive again.
 The Germans are in the hilly coun- try around Noyon, on the plateau north of vic-Sur-Aisne and Soissons, and north of Rheims, Where they are dig ging strong entrenchments and receiv- ing endorsements. But even here this right wing, which up to the present has borneS the brunt of the fighting and the retreat. is not altogether safe, for the French army operating from Amiens clings to it's flank. while the British and French troops continue to press in front.
 It is essential. however, that they hold their positions. for they cover the lines of retreat to the north, which would be the only way out if defeat should be their lot. That they realize this is shown by the fact that they have been contesting every foot of the ground with the allied armies the last two days and that both sides have suffered heavily.
 Britons Fighting
 The British army, as has been its lot since it landed in France. is taking it's full share in the fighting, which on the front has been particularly severe since the Germans crossed the Aisne and made their first determined stand in the retreat from Paris.
 The German center. which in the last few days, has come more into line with heights north of Rheims to the western foothills of the Argonne ridge, dipping a little south to touch Villa-sur-Tourbe, just northeast of Camp de Chalons. This is all high, rough ground, in many places covered by heavy forests, which by this time may have been destroyed.
 The German left has been driven back a little further than the center and holds the Germans from west of the Argonne hills. north of variennes, which the French have reoccupied to the Mouse, and thence southeastward to Metz.
 The crossing of the Mouse, which the Germans have selected at Consenvoye, Is just out of range of the fortress guns of Verdun. so that as far as the battle now pending is concerned they have not to reckon with this stronghold, except as it offers support to the French in case the allies are compelled to retire.
 The Germans on this long line covers as many lines of retreat as possible, in- cluding those to Namur, Givel, Mezieres, Sedan and Stenay, and soon should be ready, if they have not commenced al ready, to give battle or if the offensive comes from the other side, to defend their positions.
 French Reinforced
 It is believed General Joffre, French commander in chief, retains the initiative, having received endorsements to re- lieve his overworked troops, but whether he will try again to envolep the Ger man right or to break up the crown princess army on the left, remains to be seen. It is known the German right has been considerably reinforced so that 1t would be more difficult than before to work around that wing while the German left and center, which also had seen A lot of hard fighting and held their posi- tions, until the retirement of the right compelled them also to fall back, doubt less have been stiffened, despite the fact that many troops have been sent to the eastern frontier.
 Neither side has attempted to estimate it's losses in killed, wounded and cap tured during the battle of the Marne
 
 doubtless will be blow to all the coun- tries concerned when they are disclosed.
 Many German prisoners have fallen into the hands of the British and so great number of prisoners and stragglers have been taken by the French that the minister of war refuses to make an esti- mate for fear of being accused of exag- geratiOn
 Bremen frun Paris have been sent out ,,ito n battlefield and motor cars with doctors have left London and Paris to search for any wounded that might have been overlooked by the army ambulance corps. It is known that many wounded are be- ing cared for by peasants in their cot- tages and it is these who will be taken to the hospitals by the automobiles.
 Losses in Galicia and Poland where fighting has been going on incessa ntly for more than three weeks, are even greater than those in France, and ac- cording to reports, the Russians are still following the Austrian and German forces in the hope of striking another blow be- fore they can reform.
 One report from Petrograd says the Russians have severed communications between Cracow and Przemysl, the two fortresses for which the Austrians and their German allies are heading and have begun an advance to sever conlmunica- tions between Galicia and Budapest.
 Russians in Difficulty
 Meantime the Russian general, Rennen- kampff, who, according to Russian re- ports, invaded East Prussia to compel the Germans to withdraw troops from the west and thus relieve pressure on the allies. is having some difficulty in estri- eating his army from difficult posi- tion. He has been compelled to fall back to fortresses on his own frontier. where