The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-03
GERMANS MAKE
DESPERATE EFFORT
TO BREAK Line
Won Kluck's Men Are Litter
ally Fighting Back to Back.
With No Relief in Sight
Thanking Move
Goes Steadily On
Kaiser's Forces Have Been
Forced to Quit Left Bank of
Meuse---Communications Sc
riously Threatened.


Paris, Oct. 2.-If the allies can
withhold the German attack ~ III
Roye for the next day or 90, the
kaiser's armies must withdraw
rapidly from France or be crushed
piecemcal. That Is the certain
opinion here after the announces
ment of the results Of tho twcn-
tieth day OF the battle OF tho
Aisne. Although strongly rein.
forced, the Germans failed agAin
today in the desperate effort -
break through the allies limo be.
tween Roye and Lassigny. These
attacks, every one more violent
than the preceding. accomplished
less than nothing. since the allfes
held like a rock at the Royo baso
while steadily continuing thu
Ranking movement that hourly
places Won kluclxs army in great
er danger.
At the east as well as At the vet
OF the battle. the German line b b.
ing bent back. While tho allies ares
nearing Vailencienes and the Belgian
border within easy striking distance
of Won kluck's communications, they
are progressing with similar succam
in the Woevre district. where tho Ger
mans are being hammered back from
the Meuse. Only the splendidly foy-
tilted center from Noyon to the ridge
Of the Argonne enables the GermasSai
to proIong their resistance.
1~v~tn ovrtv
port contains striking evidence O4
the rapidly increasing danger OF the
German armies and Of the German
commanders realization that dt1As~
ter Is imminent Won Kluck'S sol.
diers are literally fighting back ~
back. They are facing attacks from
the northwest, the west and south,
where the allies are receiving rein
forcements of men and heavy guns.
The allies have mustered enough
strength to Withstand assaults IT the
west center and center while contin-
uing their circling movement. Thiss
movement seems to be penetrating
more and more toward the rear ~
the German west flank. A few miles
more advance will seize from v0M
kluck every railroad depended upon
for communication with Belgium. But
he has not been able to lessen thax
strain because attempts to drive y
wedge through the allies line hayA
come to nothing.
German Final Defeat Near.
The communilue and unofficial Re-
ports make 1t appear that German
retreat is all the nearer because e8-s
forts to break the Verdun-Toul line
cf fortresses have failed. Grounal
gained by the Germans at st. Mthtea
has been lost The grip OF tho a.
lies is everywhere tightening
News apart from battle reports si9-5
nifies an early withdrawal from France,
There Is report that the German
general staff has moved from Luxemss
burg to Mainz; that the Germans aras
preparing TO withdraw from Brusae1o
and that the preparations for the d.,
Tense of Cologne are being rusnsuss
The line of retreat through Belgium ~
already threatened sSs
The communique issued by the GOv-s
eminent tonight indicates that the all
important thanking operation has mot
been halted by the terrific German H.
tacks at the allies left center and That
the eastern barrier is still holding Otgbs
The text OF the communique iaeMeA4
at 11:10 p. NJ. was as follows:
ION our left wing ono OF our o.
tachments which was advancing froa4
ArTaS, mas SAS MY s0ssDh MA1AlEs
north of that town. North Of -
Somme we have made progress. -
You'd Albert between Roye and L.
sixny. the enemy made violent Attacks
which were broken by our resistancDs@
There Is calm on the rest OF t44s
front.
Around St Mihiel there arc ~
longer any Of the enemy's forces, o.
the left bank OF the Meuse." ssa
Aftern00n Report. y
Slightly more satisfactory details ~
the French people were contained III
the communicate Of the afternoon. pax.
ticularly in reference to the opera.
lions in the woeyre district whore ~
German attempts to hold the loft naa&Es
the Mouse failed utterly. The cosuM
munique. given out at $40 r. N. wAAa
u follows u sss
ION our left wing the battle Gen.
tinues with terrific nghting. notably III
the region Of Roye. whore tAe 0N
mans appear to have concentrated lnNfi
portant reinforcements. The I'm n
extends more and more toWae1 41
north. NJ ~ u NJ ssss Y y & "a
"The front OF the battle nno = Ii
extended into the region " ~
of Arras Upon the Aeusa tAo s.
mans attempted at night u tGS6
bridge acroas the river near 0fz
hiel. The bridge wAs dsstrsx
our guns n S q 81