Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-09-23
NO CHANGE
IN BATTLE
OF A|SNE
GER MANS AND ALLIES
BOTH CLAIM SMALL
" SUCCESSES
NO DECISIVE RESULTS
Rheims May Be Raced Because it
Lies in Way Of Operations.

Rheims May Be Raced Because it
Lies in Way of Operations.
London, Sept. 22-The dearth Of
official news this morning from the
long battle front in the western are
ma of the war has raised the usual
crop of rumors. These attract inter
est, and in the minds Of some peo-
pie, are important from the fact that,
originating simultaneously at widely
distant points, they seem more or
less to confirm each other The un-
substantiated report from Antwerp to
the effect that General Won Kluck, the
commander of the German right wing,
has removed his headquarters back
to Mons completes these rulnors.
Allies Making Progress.
The latest official communication
from Paris, even more laconic than
usual, declared that the allies are
making progress between Rheims
and the Argonne, although the fight
| ing during the daytime yesterday
was less violent. A wounded Brit
ish officer, who has returned to Paris
from the front has supplemented the
official news with the declaration
that allies on their left have advanc-
| ed seven miles.
Germans Claim Advantage.
Berlin however, reports that the
German counter attacks about
Rheims have resulted in their cap
ture of the strong hill positions at
Craonne, IS miles northwest of
Rheims, and the occupation of the
village of Betheny, three miles north
lof the French city Berlin claims
also a successful attack on the Tine
of forts south of Verdun, defender
by eight French army corps, as a re-
suit of which German troops have
crossed the east border in the direc-
ton of Lorraine Berlin reports fur
ther the defeat of sortie from the
northeast of Verdun, but declares
there has been no important engage
ment elsewhere on the western bat
tie front.
The devoted city of Rheims may be
razed to the ground, it is f'lt in Lon
don, not because in itself it has any
strategic Importance, but because 1t
happens to be in the way Of the oper-
ations directed against the plateau
above the city, where the allies I'M
doubtedly will endeavor again to dis
prove, as did Napoleon, the theory
of Bleucher that these heights are
impregnable, even if defended by
only $4,000 men.
Walls of Cathedral Standing.
The walls and the tower of Rheims
cathedral, according to latest reports,
are still standing, but it is not be-
lieved they are strong enough to en-
dure much more bombardment..,'
Nowhere else along the battle line
is any great effort being made to
carry q. frontal attack, and unless one
side or the other executes an out
flanking movement Rheims may wit
ness the most decisive battle of the
war.
... Sorties Continue.
Belgian sorties continue from the
shelter of Antwerp, but neither the
Belgians nor the Germans nave
brought any real change in their rel
ative positions in this district
From Petrograd come stories Of
the continued flight of the broken
Austrian armies in Galicia, while at
the same time Vienna declares that
these armies are reonganizing for Of
fensive action. 1t would seem clear,
however that only Przemysl is today
standing out against the total occu-
patton of Galicia by Russia.
Russian Successes Continue.
Petrograd reports further that the
pcpulace already is fleeing from Cra-
cow from which city a portion Of the
unique library already has been re-
moved for safety. Reports received
in the Russian capital are to the ef-
feet that Austrian-P Polish volunteers
are declining to serve against the
Russians.
These give the Russians hope that
Cracow may be delivered to them
with ut a struggle. The Russians
claim still further victories against
the Austrian forces attempting to
reach Cracow and they predict that
there is no chance of the Austrians
resuming the offensive before next
spring.
That the Austrian army was not
so badly demoralized and disorgan-
lied as at first reported, is indicated
by the admission from Petrograd OF
| the determined nature of the four
DAYS assault which preceded the re-
capture of Lemberg.
No Respite Is Given.
Not a moments respite was given
last night to the German forces en-
trenching along the s0-mile front run
ming along the rivers Aisne and Otse,
extending into the Woevre district.
The batteries, Of the allied forces
never ceased firing entirely all night,
(Continued on Page Three.)