New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-25
BIG GERMAN GUNS
FAIL TO IMPRESS
British Soldiers Now Dub
Smoky Howitzer Shells
Jack JohnSonS."
INVADERS LETTERS
PRAISE ENGLISH
Say Their Infantry Fire Is Mar
VellOuS - Field Marshal Has
One Translated for Troops.

London, Sept. 24.-The official press
bureau tonight issued report from
Field Marshal Sir John French's head
quarters, supplementing the dispatch of
September % on the British operations
in France. The text follows:
"The enemy is still maintaining him
self along the whole front, and in order
to do so is throwing into the fight de-
tschments composed Of units from very
different formations, the active army,
reserve and ialdwehr, as is shown by
the uniforms of the prisoners recently
captured.
"Our progress, although slow on ac-
count of the strength of the defensive
positions against which VIC are press
ing, has in certain directions been con-
tinuous, but the present battle may
we'll ':st for some days more before
decision is reached, since IL now sp-
proximateJ somewhat to siege warfare.
"lne Germans are making use Of
searchlights. This fact, coupled with
their great strength in heavy artillery,
leads to the supposition that they are
employing material which may have
been collected for the siege of Paris.
"The nature of the general situation
after the operations of the 18th, 18th
and 10th cannot better be summarized
than as EXPIRE ,sed recently by neigh
boring French commander to his corps:
Having rcpuscd repeated and violent
counter attacks made by the enemy, we
have feeling that we have been vic
torious.'
German Attacl L cks Nigor
$50 far as the British arc concerned,
the course of events during these three
dpvs can be described in a few words.
During Friday, the 18th, artillery fire
was kept up ntcrmttcntly by both
sides during daylight At night the
Germans counter Tackled certain por-
tions of our line. supporting the ad-
vance of their infantry, as always, by
a heavy bonberdment. But the strokes
were not delivered with great vigor
and ceased about a. m. During the
days fighting an aircraft gun OF the
Sd Army Corps succeeded in bringing
down a German aeroplane.
News was received also that a body
Of French cavalry had demolished part
Of the railway to the north, so cutting,
at least temporarily, one line of COM
munication which is of particular i'm
portance TO the enemy.
"On Saturday, the 10th, the bonn
bardment was resumed by the Ger
mans at an early hour, and continued
intermittently, under reply from our
own guns. Some of their infantry ad-
yanced from cover, apparently with
the intention of attacking, but on COM
ing under fire they retired. Otherwise
the day WAS uneventtul, except Tor the
activity of the artillery, which is a
matter of normal routine rather than
an event.
"Another hostile aeroplane was
brought down by us, and one Of our
aviators succeeded in dropping sew
eral bombs over the German line. one
incendiary bomb falling with consid-
cradle effect on a transport park near
La Fere. buried store of the
enemy's munitions of war was also
found not far from the Aisne, ten
wagonloads Of live shells and .wo
wagons of cable being dug up. Traces
were discovered Of large quantities Of
stores having been burned-sll tend
ing to show that as far back as the
Aisne the German retirement was hur-
ried.
Counter Assaults Repulsed.
"There was a strong wind during the
day, accompanied by driving rain.
This initiated against the aerial re-
connoitres.
"On Sunday, the 10th. nothing of i'm
portance occurred until the afternoon,
when there was a break in the clouds
and an interval Of feeble sunshine,
which was hardly powerful enough to
warm the soaking troops. The Ger
mans took advantage Of this brief spell
of fine weather to make several coun-
ter attacks against different points.
These were all repulsed, with loss to
Coatinusd On Uaga :. column 3