Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-15
GERMAN DEFEAT
BECOMING ROUT
Continued From Page ~

Won Klucks army had been thrown
back from the Marne and from the
NORM and to the region OF Sezanne
and his position was serious. Immed-
late steps were necessary to save his
line Of communication and retreat. To
this end reinforcements were hurried
north to the MeauX district and to
Ourcq and tremendous efforts made to
break up the French resistance in this
quarter.
1.-The second attempt on the Ourcq
shared the fate of the first. Through
all Monday night and well on into
Tuesday the great German guns boom
ed along this river but the resistance
Of the allies could not be broken.
Hold was the command and every
man braced himself to obey. While
the Ourcq was being held the strug-
gle of Sezanne was bearing splendid
fruit. The German resistance on this
Thursday morning) was broken.
heard the news In two ways-the Ger
man guns were silent and from the
wounded who poured down to the
bases.
French Wax Enthuslastlc.
1.-THE wounded men were no longer
down hearted but eager to rejoin the
fray. On every French lip was the
exclamation that They are In full re-
treat and They are rushing back
home and in the same breath came
generous recognition Of the great help
given by the British army.
IL am convinced that the full extent
of this rout Is not yet appreciated In
England. 1t was Of truly terrific
character and such blow will not
fail to have lasting effect. The
number of wounded entailed colossal
transportation work. l, myself, count
ed fifteen trains in eight hours. final
grim set Of men, terribly weary, but
very amiable except the officers.
"The enemy crossed the Marine on
the return journey north under great
difficulties and beneath WHITENING
fire from the British troops who pur-
sued them holly. The German artil-
lery operated from height; there
was again much hand to hand fighting
and the river was swollen with dead.
ION Tuesday night the British were
in possession Of La Ferte, Sous. Jou-
ARE and Chateau Thierry and the Ger
mans had fallen back forty miles,
leaving long train of spoils behind
them. On the same day In the neigh
borhood of Vitry LIE Francois the
French troops achieved q splendid VIC
tory. Incidentally they drove back the
famous imperial guard Of Germany
from Sezanne toward the swamps Of
st. Geond, where century ago Ma
poleon achieved one of his last sue
cesses, The main body Of the guard
passed to the north of the swamps,
but l heard of men and horses en-
quilted and destroyed.
1T is our revenge for 1914, the
French officers said, If only the en-
peror were here to see. On Wednes-
day the English army continued the
pursuit towards the north, taking guns
and prisoners. On that day found
, myself in a new France. The great
news had spread. Girls threw flowers
at the passing soldiers and Joy was
manifested everywhere.
Germans Wiped Out.
"The incidents Of Wednesday will
astound the world when made known
in full. know that two German de-
tachments of one regiment each, were
surrounded and cornered but which
refused to surrender were wiped out
almost to the last man. The keynote
Of these operations was thu tremend.
GUS attack of the allies I" Ig the
Ourcq on Tuesday which showed the
German commander that his lines
were threatened. Then came the
browning stroke. The army Of the
Ourcq and of Meaux and the army OF
Sezanne drew together like the blades
Of pair Of shears, the pivot of which
was in the region of the Grand NORM
The German retreat was thus forced
toward the east and it speedily be-
came rout.
Il repeat that England scarcely real
| ICES vet what has been achieved alike
| In breaking up the enemy and In
|heartening our troops. The tactics OF
Mons and Charleroi are. completely
| IL, cfifiad -