The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-19

LONDON. oct. lS.-Gen. French's
second despatch reviews the operations
OF the British force since September 10
and from September II To September -
covers the advance to the Asne and the
battle Of the Aisne River. which is 10
feet broad and > feet deep in the centre
and unfordable. The British COM
mander says:
THE position held 10y the enemy was
very strong either for delaying action
or a defensive battle. one Of the chief
military characteristics was that from
high ground on neither side can the
top Of the plateau on the other side be
seen except in small stretches This Is
chiefly due to the woods on the edges
OF the slopes. Another important point
was that all the bridges were under
direct or high angle artillery tre
The tract OF country above described
which lies north Of the Aisne Is well
adapted TO concealment and was so skill
fully turned to account by the enemy
as to render 1t impossible to Judge the
real nature of his opposition to our
passage of the river or to accurately
guage his strength, but have every
reason to conclude that strong rear
/
were holding the passages early on the
morning of the 18th, That morning
ordered the British forces to advance"
Gen. French then gives an account
OF bridging work during the night of
the 18th and the following days. The
work was incessant. Under a generally
heavy artillery fire, eight pontoon
bridges and one foot bridge were
thrown across and three road and two
rail bridges repaired
Allies Cross the Aisne.
Gen. French relates an incident which
has already been unofiiclally reported of
the Fifth Infantry Brigade crossing in
single file under fire by broken girder.
The pontoon was completed in the after
noon. Then follow details of various
crossings, sometimes by ferries and RATS
and elsewhere other than on pontoons.
The pontoon at Scissors was compul-
sorily abandoned owing to the fire of
the Germans heavy howitzers
During September 10 and II eight
pontoons and one foot bridge were
placed, generally under heavy artillery
hre which was necessarily maintained
on most of the crossings. After their
completion the weather became very
wet anu inns duueu 10 the dlfncultieS by
cutting up the already indifferent an
proachcs, which entailed a large amount
of repair work. The General continues:
ION the evening of September IA II
was still impossible to decide whether
the enemy was only making tempo
rary halt or whether he intended to de-
fend the position. With a view of
clearing up the situation ordered a
general advance. The action OF the
First Corps on this day under the direc-
ton Of Sir Douglas Haig was so skill
ful. bold and decisive that he gained
the positions which alone have enabled
me TO maintain my position for more
IMAM three weeks of very severe fight
ing on the north side of the river"
series of operations is then de-
scribed, detailing the work of various
regiments In the face OF a severe fire
from the enemy There was a series Of
attacks and counter attacks, the latterI
delivered at first by the enemy with
great vigor but later with decreased
strength All were driven off with
heavy loss.
Further tribute is paid to the valuable
services of Gen, Sir Douglass Haig and
his command
DAY after day and night after night"
says the report, the enemy's infantry
has been hurled against Gen. Haig and
his command in violent counter attack.
which never on any one occasion sue
ceeded while the trenches all over his