The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-31
PARIS PREPARING
STRONG DEFENSES
FOR A LONG SIEGE

yet been received, 1t is possible now to
state what has been the British share
in the recent operations.
| "1here has, In fact, been four days
battle the Esd, 24th, 25th and goth
of August. During the whole of this
period, the British, in conformity with
general movement of the French ar
miles, were occupied In resisting and
checking the German advance and IN
withdrawing to new lines of defense.
i'The battle began at Mems on Sun
day, during which day and part of the
night the German attack, which was
stubbornly pressed and repeated; was
completely checked by the British. On
Monday, the gath, the Germans made
vigerou efforts In superior numbers to
prevent the safe withdrawal of the Brit
ish army and 60 drive it inte the fortress
of Maubeuge.
"This effort was frustrated by the
steadiness and skill with which the Brit
| ish retirement was conducted, and, as on
the previous day, very heavy losses far
| In excess of anything suffered by us,
were inflicted on the eneme who, In
dense formation and In enormous masses,
marched forward again and yet again to
storm the British lines.
'FThe British retirement proceeded on
the 25th with continuous fighting. al
Though not on the scale of the previous
TIVE days, and by the night Of the goth
the British army occupied the line of
Cambria, Landreeies and LeCateau.
"Cambral Is fortified town IN the de-
partment Of the north. 80 miles south
east Of Lille on the river Scheldt Le-
Cateau Is IA miles east by southeast OF
Cambria.
ut had been intended TO resume the
retirement at aybreak on the g9th, but
the German attack, In which no less than
FIVE army corps were engaged. was so
close aud fierce that 1t was not possible
to carry out this intention until the
afternoon.
"The battle on this day, the goth, was
of most severe and desperate charac-
ter. The troops offered superb and
most stubborn resistance to the tremen-
doua odds with which they were con-
fronted and at length extricated them
selves In good order, though with seri-
Gus loss and under the heaviest artillery
fire. No guns were taken by the enemy
except where the horses had all been
killed or which were shattered by high
explosive shells.
General French estimates that during
the whole of these operations from the
23d to the 26th, inclusive, his losses
amounted to 5000 or 5000 men, On the
other hand, the losses suffered by the
Germans in their attacks across the open,
and through their dense formation, are
out of all proportion to those which we
have suffered.
"In Landresies alone, on the 25th, as
an instance, German infantry brigade
advanced in close order into narrow
street, which they completely filled. Our
machine guns were brought to bear on
this target from the end of the town.
The head of the column was swept away.
A frightful panic ensued, and il is esti-
mated that 500 or 900 dead and wound
ed Germans were left in this street
alone.
Another incident which may be ehos-
EN- from many like it, was the charge OF
the German guard cavalry division upon
the British II cavalry brigade, when the
German cavalry were thrown back with
great losses and in absolute disorder.
These are notable examples of what has
taken place over practically the whole
front during these engagements, and the
Germans have been made to pay extreme
prices for every forward march they
have made.
"Since the 26th, aside from cavalry
fighting, the British army has not been
molsted. II has rented and reftted aft
er its exertions and glorious achieve
ments. Reinforcements amounting to
double the losses sustained already have
Joined. Every gun has been replaced.
and the army is now ready to take part
in the next great encounter with undi-
minished strength and undaunted
spirits.
To-day the news is again favorable.
The British have not been engaged, but
the French armies, acting vigorously on
the right and left, have, for the time
being, brought the German attack TO a
standstill.
"Sir John French also reports that on
the 2sth the British 5th cavalry brigade
fought IN brilliant fashion with German
cavalry, in the course of which the 18th
Lancers and the Royal Scots Grays rout- |
ed the enemy and speared a large num- /
Der in flight.
at must be remembered throughout |
that the operations in France are vast |
and that we are only on one wing Of the |
whole field Of battle. The strategic posi- |
tions of ourselves and our allies are such |
that, whereas a decisive victory for our |
arms in France probably would be fatal
to the enemy, a continuance Of resist |
ance by the Anglo French armies upon
such scale as to keep in the closest |
grip the enemy's best troops can, If pro-
longed, lead only 10 one conclusion