Willmar tribune., 1914-09-23
Creatbatt|e un-
decided.
FIERCE FIGHTING
ON ALLIES LEFT
French Are Bringing Up More
and Bigger Guns.

London, Sept. 21.-One OF the nerc.
est battles of all times, which has
been raging across Northern France
for a week, with first slight advan-
tage on one side and then on the 9TH
er, remains undecided.
The great armies which have been
fighting for month, with few, if any
intermissions, have dug themselves
into entertainments on rivers and
mountain ranges on front reaching
from the Disc to the Meuse and thence
southeastward along Franco-German
frontier.
Artillery duels such as never have
been seen before are being carried on
with the hope of compelling the
evacuation Of the strongly held posi-
t1ons, with occasionally successes to
the opposing sides, while the infantry,
In the face of a CALLING fire, has
charged right up to the guns, only to
make their opponents give way slight
ly, or to be repulsed with great losses.
Fighting has been fercest on the
allies left, which lies on the right
bank of the Disc river in the vicinity
of Rheims, the famous cathedral of
which has been set afire by German
shells, and between that town and
the Argonne ridge it has been give
and take all the time.
The French official report, however,
again claims slight progress on the
French left and that the allies again
have repulsed strong frontal attacks
between Craeonne and Rheims.
Win and Lose Near Rheims.
Around Rheims itself matters have
been about equalized, as the Germans
have recaptured the heights of Bri-
mont, while the French have taken
the defenses of La Pompelle.
The French also have scored a suc-
cess between Rheims and the Ar
gonne, where they have taken the vii
lage of Souain and have captured
numerous prisoners. In addition the
French report progress on the west
ern slopes of the Argonne, where the
crown princes army is opposed to
them, while the Germans have retired
beyond the frontier in Lorraine,
evacuating Avricourt.
In all cases these are separate at
tacks and counter attacks by the
armies lying in the trenches waiting
for their artillery to compel the other
side to slacken it's fire. The losses
in these attacks must be enormous,
for the men cannot move a foot with
out being made the targets of the
heavy guns posted on the hills above
them.
The British apparently have learn.
ed something from the Japanese at
tack on Port Arthur. They make
rush forward and when the fire be-.
comes too heavy for them to make
further advance they again dig
trenches for themselves and remain
there until another opportunity offers
for them to gain few more yards.
Fight May Go on for Days.
The Germans have had most of
their artillery at work, but the French
are bringing up more and bigger guns.
This kind of fighting, with both sides
In strong positions, may go on for
days yet, but sooner or later one side
must find the continual fall of shells
and the disconcerting infantry attacks
too much for them and, leaving
strong rear guard, will draw back for
a breathing SPELL
The battle resembles in many par
ticulars that Of the Shaiho, in 1904,
where the Japanese and Russians,
with much more time to do it, estab-
llshed positions which each thought
to be impregnable Shells and infan-
try attacks, however, finally compelled
the Russians to withdraw with losses
that at that time were without prece-
dent With all the hard, long fight
ing behind them the Germans again
are making attacks toward Verdun,
while the allies are making frontal at
tacks on the German right and are
once more attempting to outflank it.
The German cavalry has been show
Ing considerable daring and has been
trying to cut the communications of
the allies between the Disc and the
coast.
French reports bring confirmation
of the rumors that the Saxon army
under General Won Hausen has been
reorganized. The reports used the
phrase "broken up," but this is taken
to mean that it has been reorganized
and the parts distributed among the
other armies. It's cavalry for In.
stance, has been sent east.