Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-24
ACTION ON THE
AISNE VIRTUALLY
PITCHED BATTLE

quarters or the British army's opera
lions up to September IS was issued
tonight:
General Headquarters. 18th Sept,
l914-At the date of the last MARIA
tive. September IA, the Germans were
making determined resistance along
the River Aisne. Opposition which
1t was at first thought might possibly
be of n rear guard nature, not entail
ing material delay to D., our progress
has developed and has proved to be
more serious than was anticipated
THE action now being fought by
the Germans along their line may, 1t
is true, have been undertaken in or
der to gain time for some strategic
operation or move, and may not be
their main stand. But If this is so.
the lighting is naturally on scale
which, as to extent of ground and
duration Of resistance, makes it un-
dlstingushable in its progress from
what is known as a pitched battle
though the enemy certainly showed
signs of considerable Decentralization
during the earlier days of their re-
tirement phase
STILL BATTLE OF THE AISNE
Whether it was originally intended bv
them to defend the position they took
up IS strenuously as they have done
or whether the delay gained for them
during the twelfth and thirteenth nv
their artillery has enabled them to de-
velop their resistance and force their
line to an extent not originally con-
templatcd, cannot yet be said
SO far as we are concerned. the action
still being contested is the battle Of the /,
Alshe' Inc Zoe we are fighting is lust
across that river along the whole of
our front to the east and west Tho |
struggle is not confined to the valley |
OF that river, though it will probably
bear its name.
Inc progress of our oDerations and
the French armies nearest us for the
fourteenth, fifteenth sixteenth and sevon.
tcenth will now be described.
BRITISH HELD POSITION.
ION Monday the 18th, those Of ou
troops which had on the previous day
crossed the Alsne, after driving IN the
Germans rear guard\on that evening,
found portions Of the enemy's forces in |
prepared defensive position on the right
bank and could do little more than secure
n footing north of the river THIS how
ever, they maintained In spite Of two
Counter attacks delivered at dusk and 10
p. m, In which the fighting was severe
During the 18th strong achievements
OF our troops were passed to the north y
bank, the troops crossing by ferry tv
pontoon bridge and by the remains of
permanent bridges. Close co-operation d
with the French forces was maintained "
and the general progress made was good >
although the opposition was vigorous y
and the state Of the roads after the heavy
rain made movements slow
zone division alone failed to secure u
!he ground 1t expected TO- II
MANY PRISONERS TAKEN.
THE first army corps, after repulslng Il
reneated attacks, captured 600 prisoners >,
and twelve guns The cavalry also took u
a number of prisoners Many Of the
Germans taken belong to the reserve
md landwehr formations, which fact an
oears to indicate that the enemy is com
oelled TO draw on other classes Of
soldiers to fill the gaps in his ranks.
There was heavy rain throughout the
hight Of September 14-15 and during the "
9TH the situation of the British forces T
underwent no essential change. But il W
became more and more evident that the a
defensive preparations made by the a
nemy were more extensive than was AT d.
lrst apparent II
IN order to counterbalance these,
measures We're taken by us to economize m
ur troops and to secure protection from of
he hostile artillery fire, which was very ia
erce and our men continued to improve M
heir own untrenchments The Germans 81
ombarded our lines nearly all day using tn
eavy guns brought. no doubt from be- lis
ore Maubeuge, as we'll as those with the ti'
orps. be
GERMAN ATTACKS FAILED. ~,
All their counter attacks, however. on
allied, although in some PAGES they FRI
'ere repeated six times. One made on tn
he Fourth Guards brigade was repulsed of
18th heavy slaughter
AN attempt to advance slightly made
Y part of our line. was unsuccessful as
cards gain of ground, but led to the liV
lthdraWal OF part Of the enemy's In no
lntry and artillery me
Further counter attacks made during pa
le night were beaten off. Rain came on an
wards evening and continued until 900 hu
m, on the 18th. Besides adding to the
Scomfort of the soldiers holding the
ne, the wet weather to rome extent ma
lmpered the motor transport service wv
hich was also hindered by broken Si'
-idges. an
EFFORTS GREW LESS ACTIVE ctr
'On Wednesday, the 10th, there was lit yov
e change in the situation opposite the the
ritish, the efforts made by the enemy up
ere less active than on the previous of
~, though their Commandment contin- ma
I'd throughout the morning and evening or
lr artillery fire drove the defenders off ste
lie of the saients of their position, but we
icy returned in the evening. Forty our
lsoners We're taken by the third division u.s.
'On Thursday the 18th. the situation N"'
III remained unchanged in It's essentials
ne German heavy artillery fire was 1''
ore active than on the previous day o..
lie only infantry attacks made by the 49,,
s,.,o -" '"e eN"eii'e risht OF our THU
-. -, H"u happened pefore' kill
ere fepulsed with heavy loss, chiefly on uit
is occasion, by our field artillery.
IN order To convey some idea OF the
ture of the fighting 1t NAV be said A."
AZ along the greater part of our front Sen
G Germans have been driven back from ana
2 forward slopes on the north OF the loss
err Their infantry are holding strong soy.
es of trenches amongst and along the ,ro
SOS '"e numerous woods which and
'wn the slopes. These trenches are How
borately constructed and cleverly con- dorl
lied. In many places there are wire en- fvip
lglements and leDptha Of HIT, g..