Evening journal., 1914-09-25
Eve Witness Sees Won KIuck'S
Army Beaten Back by Allies

tion which would show the disposi-
ton Of the French-British troops.
I had been in scissors a week ago,
when the allies and the Germans were
battling for possession Of the city. II
is now held by the French, but the
Germans have mounted their artillery
on the ridge that extends 10 the north
ward of the city and for eight days
now they have maintained their posi-
tions
They alternately she'll the French
position to the south of the city, ana
the city itself. And it was my prlNi-
lege to witness duel in the air be-
tween a French aviator in biplane
and a German artillery squad posted
on the ridge cOmanding the CITY
Probably no more thrilling spectacle
has ever ben seen by mortal. Ihe
aviator was ordered to ascend carry
ing an officer assigned to locate the
exact position OF the German guns
which il was desired to silence.
was able to follow his every move
ment through a pair of powerful held-
glasses.
AS l watched the air craft swing
and turn through the small clouds
realized that the aviator was literally
playing hide and seek with death. Ihe
shells we're bursting near him, but ne
was always on the alert. The biplane
would suddenly surge almost directly
upward, then describe giant spiral,
then drop far down and always the
movement came in the very nick OF
time TO spoil the range of the Ger
man artillerymen who were serving
their guns with remarkable precision.
The shells were constantly burst
ing all about the plane and it was
oniv by the exercise Of all of his skill
that the pilot was able to keep MS
machine unscathed. He swung tar
across the German lines and discov-
cred that the German artillery was
posted in a rock quarry in what was
| practically an impregnable position,
| with the guns masked and mounted
so they commanded the entire British
positions. The camp was provlsloneu
| for a long siege and because OF the
nature Of the ground both IN 'front.'
and behind il can only be taken py
tremendous sacrifice.
However, the aviator, after report
ing TO the commanding onicer, Neh'
nm again and passed through the same
ordeal. This time, however, he was
giving the range to the French artil-
lervmen who had brought up their
nowerful three-inch guns and posted
them advantageously; the Germans
we're finally compelled to slacken tneli
fire. although they did not abandon
their position.
The city of scissors presents mos
terrifying appearance. There is haru'
ly a house that is unscathed by th'
terrific artillery fire that has been II
progress now for eight days. The an
cient cathedral of Notre Dame is badl!
battered. Its windows have been re
duced to powder. There are man,
holes in its roof and there is big hol'
through the spire. The hotel where
managed to get something to eat 1
half demolished The streets of tn
\ citv are deserted The populace re
mains in hiding in cellars while Tn
4 wooden shutters of the houses are al
closed as though in mute appeal 10
mercy. The shrapnel drops every
where. whenever the Germans tur
their guns toward the city itself.
No one dares across the badly ba
s tered bridge that traverses the ASH
river. The appearance OF a singl
person near the approach to the bridg
is the signal for the fire TO begin an
the Germans have the exact range
the structure.
But the thing that most impresse
mo was the desire Of everyone fC
news OF what was transpiring
other points. The troops that al
fighting the Germans have no doul
OF the result here. They declare thi
already the Germans are giving wa
and that within a very short tin
4 they will be in complete retreat. Bl
the soldiers and the residents of Sol
sons who have stayed at their posts a
want to know what the situation
to the eastward where It is known Il
Ge.man attack is also beng presse
The Paris newspapers we're eager
welcomed and devoured. The hig
ranking officers were especially II
terested i'm the official communiqui
and they declared after persuing the
they were satisfied that the entil
eiiuation was even better than the
had dared hope for.
The above despatch received
1903 d. m. today from William Phi
lip Simms, the United Press Sta
Correspondent at Paris. bears ev
dences at certain points Of the wol
OF the French censor. Simms II
cluded in II no mention of his a
rest by the military authorities Il
going to the battle front 20 get actu
news. The United Press howeve
has learned from other sources tn
Simms and Grundy. of the New Yoi
Sun, we're arrested for that offens
If Simms included this fact in h
n despatch, as is likely, the censl
eliminated IT, However. as the sto
was allowed to come through IL
considered evidence that he was quicl
IL releasd