The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-10-30
GEN. FRENCH REPORTS ON DESPERATE
FIGHTING IN BATTLE OF THE A|SNE

the enemy's artillery and machine
gun fire from the direction of vregny
became so severe that no further prog
ress could be made. The positions
reached were held until dark.
The Third corps made an attempt
to throw heavy pontoon across the
river late in the afternoon, but gave
up because of the heavy howitzer
fire of the enemy.
I'm the evening the enemy retired I
at all points and intrenched himself |
on high ground about two miles north !
of the river, along which runs the |
Chemin des Danes
Build Pontoons Under Fire.
During the night of the 18th and
on the 14th, and following days field
companies necessarily worked night
and day, throwing eight pontoons and
one foot bridge across the river under
generally heavy artillery fire, which
was necessarily kept up on most OF
the crossings after their completion.
THE action of the First corps on
this day under the direction and COM
mand of Sir Douglas Haig was Of SO
skillful, bold and decisive a charac
ter 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.
About 1 p. m. the enemy obtained
footing between the First and Sec
ond corps and threatened to cut the
communications of the latter. Gen
eral Haig was hard pressed and had
no reserve In hand. | placed cav
airy division at his disposal, part of
which he skillfully used to prolong
and secure the left flank of the
Guards brigade Some heavy fight
ing ensued, which resulted in the en-
envy being driven back with heavy
loss.
General Advance Ordered.
About four o'clock a weakening of
the counter-attacks by the enemy and
other indications tended to show that
his resistance was decreasing, and a
general advance was ordered by the
army corps commander
Although meeting with consider
able opposition and coming under
very heavy artillery and rifle fire,
the position of the corps at athe end
of the days operations extended from
the Chemin des Danes on the right
through Chivy to LIE Cour De Scupir.
with the First cavalry brigade ex-
| tending to the Chavonne-Soissons
| road. On the right the corps was in
close touch with the Frenc. Noroc-
can troops of the Eighteenth corps,
which were entrenched in echelon to
it's right rear During the night they
entrenched this position.
! Throughout the battle of the Aisne
this advanced and commanding posi-
ton was maintained, and | cannot
speak too highly of the valuable serv
ices rendered by Sir Douglas Haie
and the army corps under his "om
| mand.
ION the morning of the 18th be
came convinced that the enemy wa:
making a determined stand. Reports
| reached us from the French armies
on my right and left clearly indicating
that the enemy was occupying {
strongly intrenched line along the
whole Valley of the Aisne.
General Hamilton, with the ThirC
division, attacked vigorously and re
gained the ground lost on the 14th
Il was compelled to change m,
plans when l learned that further ad
vance of the First corps would hav,
dangerously exposed my right flank
and further also learned from tn
French commander-in-chief that h,
was strongly reinforcing the Sixtl
French army corps on my left, wit
the intention of bringing UP the allie,
left to attack the enemy's flank an
thus compel his retirement.
"On the 18th, 18th and 18th tn
whole of our line was heavily bon
barded The First corps was cor
timately driven back with heavy loss
"On the 18th information reache
me that General Joffre had detel
mined to attack and envelop the Gel
man right flank.
Night Attack Repulsed.
"On the evening of the 10Th tn
enemy became active. After dark h
continued his attack on the Secon
division, only to be driven back. Gu
losses in these two days were consit
cradle, but the enen.y's, as obtained
|. vastly exceeded them.
: ..On the night of the 21st anothe
violent attack was repulsed by til
Third division. the enemy losing hea'
! lily. On the 23d four-inch howitze
batteries from home arrived The
were brought into action on the Eat
, with very good results.
"On the 23d the action of Genera
! de Dastelnau's army on the allied lei
, developed considerably and withdre
considerable forces or the enemy froI
: the center and the east. Until tn
, goth it appeared as though the Ell
emy's position in our front was veal
! ening.
ION that day, however, marke