South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-21
\ Ruined Village.

\ Ruined Village.
II walked through the ruined
streets of Senlis and through Creepy
En-ValOis with its rows OF newly dug
shallow graves. The long winding
Nilliers-COtterets road. even as
write. grinds under the vast army
transport trains and ammunition
wagons. There come 10 me the sound
OF singing by the infantry. the jingling
Of the cavalry's equipment. The road
leads TO the great river with is broken
bridges where the fate of Europe is
being hammered out now in blood and
iron.
What sights this white road has
discovered in these last few DAYS,
more especially on Thursday and Fri
day Of last week when the German
host was flying nOrthward 10 its scant
way on the heights above Aisne, and
on Saturday when the allied army
drew close on its heels.
Il have seen on this road sights
that convince me that the retreat was
not only swift but precipitated 10 a
point Of actual panic.
Retreat Was PrcCipitatc.
"Tt was Aisne or destruction. It
| is necessary TO realize that just as the
allied army, on its way from Mons 10
Paris. was ia danger OF the German
fianking movement, which threatened
L
Kluk's right hank, in its retreat from
Paris TO Aisne. in extreme danger. To
avoid annihilation he fed a position
| OF tremendous strength towards the
west II was absolutelv essential 10
his safety to gain the position u
Aisne.
"One must not lose sight OF the SUI
preme fact that Of the present situa-
tion that as the junction OF the Ourcq
and the Marne at MeauX made that
town the key OF encounter last week.
so the junction OF the Oise and the
Aisne at COmpiegne has endowed the
| latter with cardinal Importance. Once
across the Aisne the German army had
the river Oise on its right and for the
moment, the danger Of being OUT
| fanked was averted.
This was the position on sunday,
sept 13, the first day Of the great
frontal battle.
Artillery il Mounted.
After the German army had cross
ed the river il took up a position on
the north bank between COmpeigno
| and scissors and toward Rheims It's
| heaviest artillery was rushed down
| from the north and placed on various
/ strategic points. notably In the quar-
/ ries behind scissors at EiC-Sur- -Haisue,
/ and at Attichy. on the right the
army was protected by the forests u
Aigne and by the river Disc which
| descends almost due south from
NOyOn. 1t was and is an extremely
! strategic position and one capable II
/ only a frontal attack
IL was clear at the outset that this
/ fortified position must be fought for
and taken no matter how great ths
1 EFFORT and how terrible the sacrifee-
Happily, the time Afforded Gen. Won
/ Kluks army for preparation VAS
short during the fact that the allies
/ lost no time in opening the attack
/ on Sunday.
Bridges Blown Up.
/ Sunday proved 20 be a day Of tre-
mendous importance. With the ex-
/ ceptiOn OF one small structure and 3
/ railway bridge girder. all the BRIDGES
! across the river near this point had
/ been blown mp. IL was obvious that
| pontoon bridges must be constructed
/ and 20 work out this aim. an artillery
/ duel was begun with the Germans
| whose position was such that they
/ commanded the river during "a greater
/ part OF IL course IN that section
The artillery battle that began
| early sunday and lasted throughout
| the greater portion ~ the day was of
/ terrific character. The heaviest guns
i OF the enemy were brought into play,
| CONTINUED ON PAGE TEN