New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-19
VALOR OF BRITISH
SHOWN ON AISNE
Continued from page 1


Is some open ground. which was swept
by artillery FIRE from the opposite bank.
The 18th Brigade therefore was unable
TO advance, but the 14th, directed to n
less exposed point, was RATED over, and
at night established itself on the left
of Sainte-Marguerite, where later, with
the 18th Brigade. supported by the attn
Division on their left, IL succeeded in
ropelling heavy counter attacks on the
Sd Corps.
"0n the morning of the 18th the Sd
Corps found the enemy established IN
strength on Nregny plateau. The 18th
Infantry crossed at Nenizel but the
bridge was so damaged that the artil-
iery could only be manhandlcd across
/ IT, Meanwhile the construction OF
fridge began close 10 the road bridge
at Nenizel.
at . p. m. an infantry attack in the
direction of Chivres and Nregny had
made good progress, but at $3.50 p. M.
the enemy's artillery and machine gun
fire from the direction of Nregny be-
came so severe that no further prog
rCss could be made. The positions
( reached were held until dark. The I'D
Corps made an attempt TO throw a
heavy pontoon across the river late IN
me afternoon, but gave up because OF
the heavy howitzer fire Of the enemy.
an the evening the enemy retired at
all points and intrenched himself on
high ground about two miles north OF
the river, along which runs the Chemln
des Danes. Detachments of infantry,
however, strongly intrenched in COM
handing positions down the slopes and
On various spurs, were left in front OF
oil three army corps, with powerful ar
: tillery IN support of them.
Bridged River Under Fire.
During the night of the 18th and
on the 14th and following days held
companies necessarily worked night
| ana day. throwing eight pontoons and
one foot bridge across the river, under
generally heavy artillery fire. which
was necessarily kept up on most OF
tie crossings after their completion.
The other wagon and railway bridges
were temporarily repaired to take foot
/ passengers; one would take a weight
/ up to six tons. The operations OF the
/ field companies during this trying time
we're worthy the best traditions of the
/ Royal Engineers.
wet weather added TO the Difficult
ties. On the evening of the l4th II
/ was still impossible to decide whether
the enemy was only making tempo
rary halt or intended to stand and
defend his position. With view TO
clearing the situation, ordered a gen.
eral advance. The action of the LIST
/ Corps on this day under the direction
ard command of Sir Douglas Haig, was
of so skilful, bold and decisive char
/ acter that he gained positions which
alone would have enabled me to main
tain my position for more than three
weeks of very severe fighting on the
north bank of the river.
"By noon of this day the position
roughly was that two brigades eX-
tended along line running east and
west; on the north, line to Troyon,
/ on the south to Chemin des Danes.
! about l p. m. the enemy obtained a
/ footing between the LIST and I'd corps
and threatened to cut the communica-
/ tons of the latter. General Haig was
I hard pressed and had no reserve in
| hand. | placed a cavalry division at
/ his disposal, part of which he skill
/ fully used to prolong and secure the
/ left flank of the Guards brigade. Some
/ heavy fighting ensued, which resulted
/ in the enemy being driven back with
/ heavy loss.
Counter Attacks Weaken.
about 4 O'Clock a weakening Of the
counter attacks by the enemy and othec
indications tended to show that his re
sistance was decreasing and general
advance was ordered by the army corps
commander Although meeting with
considerable opposition and coming
under very heavy artillery and rife
fire. the position of the corps at the
end of the days operations extended
from the Chemin DIES Danes, on the
right through Chivy 10 lie Coup dc
Soupir. with the 1st Cavalry Brigade
( extending TO the Chavonne-So scissors
road. On the right the corps was IN
close touch with the French Moroccan
troops Of the 18th Corps, which were
/ intrenched in Echelon. to it's right rear.
/ During the night they intrenched TINS
/ position. -.
this advanced and commanding posi-
ton was maintained, and cannot
sneak too highly of the valuable ser
vices rendered by Sir Douglas Haig
and the army corps under his COM
mand. Day after day, night AFTER
night. the enemy's infantry has been
hurled against him in a violent coun-
ter attack. which has never on any
one occasion succeeded, while the
trenches all over his position nave
been under continuous and heavy ar
tillery fire.
The operations Of the lst Coros on
this dav resulted in the capture OF
several hundred prisoners and some
field pieces and machine guns. The
casualties were very severe, one bril-
gade alone losing three Of its four
colonies.
"The Sd Division commenced FUR
Their advance and had nearly reached
the plateau of Airy when they were
I driven back by a powerful counter at
tack supported by heavy artillery. The
division. however. fell back in the best
order and finally intrenched itself
about a mile north of Vailly bridge,
effectively covering its passage.
Enemy Makes Firm Stand.
'Tbe 4th and 9Th divisions were un-
able 10 do more than maintain their
ground
"On the morning of the 18th, after
a close examination, | became con-
WINGED that the enemy was making a
determined stand. This was confirmed
by reports reaching me from the
French armies operating on my right
and left, which clearly indicated that
the enemy was occupying a strongly
intrenched line along the whole valley
of the Aisne. A few days previously
the fortress of Maubeuge had fallen
and a quantity of siege artillery had
been brought from there to strengthen
the enemy's front.
During the day shells, judged by
experts to be from S-inch guns, fell
on our position. These had a range of
10000 yards, and during the course OF
the battle our troops have suffered