The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-15
French Endeavor to Break
Through the German Lines.
Berlin Reports That the Enemy
Was Defeated.
GEN. Won KllIcK IS ON HIS way
But Nobody Seems to Know
Where He Is Going.
Has Passed the Line of His
Prepared Defenses.
HALT ENDAN6EnS HIS FLANK |
Continuation of His Retreat Is |
Confidently Expected.
Rigid Censorship Obscures
Movement of Both Armies.
HALT ENDANGEnS HIS FLANK
Continuation of His Retreat Is
Confidently Expected.
Rigid Censorship Obscures
Movement of Both Armies.

Berlin, Sept. 15.-The German staff
today gave out the following official
announcement:
In the We stern theater of war the
right wing of our army has been en-
gagged in heavy but undecisive battles.
The French who endeavored to break
through our lines were defeated.
At other points where there had
been fighting no decisive results have
.'seen reached.
Where Is Won Kluck.
Paris, Sept. 15.-Amateur strategists
find difficulty in arranging General
,3Von Kluck's retreat for him, while the
professionals wisely admit they don
know what destination to give to TIE
beaten army. The probability is that
Won Kluck himself does not know ex-
actly, the forces In retreat not being al
"a ways master Of their own movements.
Having passed the line of Com
piegne and Scissor, where a defense
had been pr pared. it was thought he
could not make stand before the
Meuse was reached. Late co,nmuni-
cations created some confusion on
this point the first saying that the al
lies had crossed the Aisne river and
the second stating that the Germans
were trying to make a stand on the
Aisne.
=
latter communication is that from
Laon to Sissonne which is the most
favorable position for a rally this side
of the Meuse. A halt there is accom-
panied by immense danger from a
fianking movement and the experts
look for news OF a continuation OF
the retreat today.
The rigid censorship leaves room
for all sorts of hypothesis. One of
these is that the allies in their re-
treat south left strong force at
Rheims which is prepared now to
erals Won Kluck and Won Beulow or
the armies of General Won Hansen
and the Prince of Wurtemberg.
Surrender Is Reported.
London, Sept. 15.-The correspondent
of the Central News at Dieppe. under
date of Monday. September IA, trans
mits a report that the ---~- army
under General Won Kluck had been
forced to surrender.
Preparing for a Stand.
Paris, Sept 15.-The Germans are
collecting their scattered forces from
the northwes. and are preparing for a
stand cas-. at Amiens. They are on a
semi-circular line that takes in St.
Quentin. Guiz and Vervins on their
right and then swings rapidly south
ward toward Retheul- and the Aisne
river line to the neighborhood of ST.
Menehould, which was yesterday
abandoned by the crown princes
army, and everything pointed today
to a renewal of serious fighting. The
Germans are making their stand in
positions from which only a week ago
they drove the allied armies.
If they can get their lines to hold
they will be able to reform their shat
tered column and make another attempt
to assume the offensive. This, how
ever. is lust what the F oh +----
ing to prevent but all accounts today
showed conclusively that the German
retreat had lost most of its force and
that the French persuit would en-
counter a resistance that compelled re-
spect.
The Germans are now using their ar
tillery all along the line to protect their