The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-09-15
Another Great Battle
at Hand.
ALLIES WIN FIRST
ROUND OF FIGHT
WCtOrs In Early Stage Of Bat
lie Of Ages" but Main Ger
man Army Sill Is Intact.

London, Sept 15.-The first stage
of the battle of the Marne, which
from the numbers of fighting men en-.
gagged, the long line of battle and the
terrific slaughter, is described as
"the battle of the ages" appears tol
have been won by the Fernch and
British armies, but the main German
army still is intact. The supreme
clash is to come. The present week
may see even more desperate encoun.
ters than any which have taken place.
Metz, the capital of Lorraine, and
the chain of forts thence to Dieden.
hon, seventeen miles north on the
Moselle river, form strong pivot
for the German left, while the river
courses and dense forests on the from.
tier. with various strategic roads,
give the German army of invasion,
now in retreat, splendid opportunity
for defensive action, should the al
lies pursuit extend to the frontier.
In Paris it is officially announced
that the Germans still are retiring
everywhere and that they are aban-
doning all the positions which they
erected to cover a possible retreat.
Allies Forward Everywhere.
"Incontestible," is the adjective used
by General Joffre, commander-in-chief
of the French forces. in describing
the victory claimed by the allies along
the western battle front. The latest
official communication from Paris indi.
Gates the allies advance is continu.
ing all along the line, with their left
wing now across the River Aisne.
Little news, and that of the vaguest
sort, filters through from Germany
regarding the operation in France and
Belgium, though it is evident from the
tone of Berlin official statements that
the people are being warned not to be
too optimistic, as certain reverses
may be expected.
The latest actual battle news in
Berlin describes sortie from Paris
on Sept. 6. which, it is stated, has
been repulsed.
Military observers foresee all kinds
of perplexing possibilities in the event
of Germans regaining the positions
they held before they started the
rush of 100000 men on Paris, par
ticulariy should they succeed in TAX
ing back any large portion of their
losses.
Attack or Salvation Move.
The London Daily Chronicles mill
tary expert says the German general
staff's plan of campaign involves the
evacuation of the northwest of France
and Belgium and a concentration east
ward, either for rebound against the
allies or to save the empire itself, as
events may dictate.
''This means abandonment of the
hope of attacking Paris In the near
future" says the expert. The new
plan means improved western COM
munication and a general concentra
tion with an opportunity for deci.
sive battle, possibly on the line OF
Laon, Rheims and Chalons. Even II
the combined German armies of the
Aisne and the Argonne are defeated
there will remain the great fortresses
of the Rhine and the Moselle."
The Belgian mobile force has re-
turned to its Antwerp base with the
official explanation that 1t has served
its purpose in preventing German re-
Inducements from joining the army
in France. This force operated for
four days in the Brussels-Louvain-
Calines triangle, forcing the Germans
to abandon much OF that portion OF
Belgium.