South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-16
Allies Force KaiSer'S Army Into
Defensive Battle on North
Bank of AiSne Where e.
100000 Men Are Fighting.
FIRING LINE STRETCHES
OUT OVER 12O MILES
TeutOnS Choose Battle Ground
Where They Make Last Stand
Against AngIo-FrenCh Force,
Hoping to Resume Offensive.
BY FRANKLIN p. SnERRICK.

PARIS, Sept f6.-The deci-
sive battle is on. 1t will deter
mine whether the German inva-
sion of France is a success or fail
me. Fighting is hard all along
the front.
The allies are on the offensive.
The battle line is about i2O miles
long, extending from a point east
Of ST. Quentin to the Meuse river.
The following announcement was
issued at 5 O'Clock this afternoon:
"a great battle in which the
Germans have been compelled to
keep strictly on the defensive, has
been on all along the front since
Sept. II (MOnday.)"
Battle In Full Swing
The Germans began their precipi-
tate retreat on Monday. Throughout
that day the rear guard Of the Ger
mans and the advance guard OF the
allies were constantly engaged. On
Tuesday larger bodies Of troops were
rushed TO the firing line and today
the great battle is in full swing with
the main army Of the Germans and
the Anglo-French forces opposing
each other.
The fight which ended the advance
OF the Germans almost at the gates OF
Paris is known as the battle OF the
Marne. this conflict viii probably 60
down in history as the battle OF the
Aisne being fought along a line just
south Of that river.
25O0,0C0 Men Engaged.
More than 1000, 600 men took part
in the battle Of the Marne. II IS
probable that the allies and the Ger
mans since that conflict have re-
ceived at least 500 900 relnforcements
making a total OF 100000 soldiers
engaged in this terrific conflict
The Germans picked the battle
ground, falling back across the Marne
and the Aisne until they reached a
line Of hills which gave them an ad-
vantage Trenches which had been
utilized by the French and English
on their retirement south we're seized
and occupied.
The present position OF the German
army all along the line east across the
high ground Of Rheims. is more salts
factory TO the invaders than the
ground which they held in the Marne
valley.
Six German Ar1nies Engaged,
Six German armies are believed 10
be engaged in this conflict. the main
purpose Of which is 10 check the ad-
vance Of the French and British in
order 20 give the Germans another
opportunity 90 resume the offensive.
The line Of the allies has been ex-
tended in a great semicircle by the
pursuit Of the Germans on the
other hand the battle front OF the
Germans is nearly a straight line aC-
cording TO the latest dispatch from the
front II lies from east to west. I'm
this conflict the German lines have
been pressed into concentrated
mass which makes unnecessary any
extensive troop movement over roads
and fields which are deep with mud.
While the German rear guard was
fighting 10 hold OF the advance
guard OF the allies. the Germans were
able 10 plant batteries along the
heights above the Aisue 10 command
the territory in front OF these emin-
ences.
All Arms in Battle
Infantry. cavalry and artillery are
all engaged in the conflict The stopps
under Gen. J0fre and Field Marshal
Sir John French are lighting desper-
ately 10 hurl the Germans from their
present position. The soldiers or
both armies are worn out by their
constant marching and lighting and
the fresh reinfOrCements have been
pushed 20 the front 10 bear the brunt
OF the contest.
United states Ambassador Herrick
received a telephone cali just before
noon asking that automobiles be
rushed 10 MeauN. IL was stated that
a train bearing wounded French and
English soldiers from the Marne val
ley had been wrecked there.