South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-14

Thousands of square miles Of
French territory have been devastated
and desOlateG by battle and troop pas
sages through the valleys of the
Marne, Oiz, Ourcq, GrandmOrin, Petit
NORM and Aisne rivers.
Leaving Paris by automobile late
Saturday night I have been able
through the influence Of Gen CAL
lieni, the military governor of Paris
TO visit the field headquarters of the
allied army on Sunday and to make a
! journey of about 100 miles through
the war ridden district east Of the
capital Some Of the information in
this dispatch was CLEANED at first
hand. the balance came from French
officers and soldiers, German prison
ers and refugees. owing TO restric-
tions imposed by military precautions
L am prevented from giving definite
locations in some instances and other
details must be curtailed
French Are Now Confident.
In the first place the confident spirit
which pervades the French army
makes it obvious to the observer that
the French officers believe that the in
vasiOn of France by Germany is at an
end. They believe that Paris is hence
forth safe and that the retreat of the
entire German army will develop in a
mad rout But this is only their
opinion. The fortunes Of war some
times prove a wild gamble
During the past week the fighting
has not been one connected engage
ment 1t has been a series Of battles
which will go down I'm war bearing
the names Of the locations where they
were fought. Consequently there will
be one fight called the battle Of
Meaux,' another called the battle Of
the Marine valley" another designated
as the battle Of the Ourcq." and so
on.
The German advance upon Paris
was an extended movement with
great front, more than 100 miles in
length. Thanks TO the French and
English allies. the Germans could not
present strength at all points. As
result of this condition Of affairs. the
German right was able 10 move much
faster than the center and left.
Believed Resistance Gone.
When the allies continued 10 give
ground north and northeast Of Paris
the Germans believed that serious re-
sistanCe was at an end. During this
advance sharp fighting occurred at
some points and northeast France
was flooded with small detachments
OF Uhlans who ride hither and thither
through the country ii must be
acknowledged that in spite Of a tri-
umphal advance the Germans did lit
tie lOOting The majority Of the dam
age came from the fighting. It must
also be admitted that a great deal Of
] damage was done by the French
themselves who dynamited bridges,
| blew up tunnels and destroyed rail-
roads TO impede the progress Of the
| inva ders.
In many instances I am told, Uhlans
paid for what supplies they seized.
West Wing Makes Progress.
The extreme western wing Of the
German army made further progress
than had been generally known. The
advance guard Of the invaders had
rolled down as far as PrOvins. nearly
| so miles southeast Of Paris before the
allies began 10 hurl back the Teu-
tonic forces. II is evident that the
| falling back II the French had in
spired the residents OF the depart
ments Of Aisne-Aube and Marne with
panic. Hundreds fed. leaving all be-
| hind and as they rushed along the
| highways they constantly lifted their
1 eyes aloft for the dreaded Zeppelin
airships and the aerOplane that the
German flying corps uses.
On Friday. Sept 4. skirmishes be-
gan in the neighborhoOd Of the Grand
/ NORM. a small river flowing into the
Marne. when the French and English
attacked the advance guard Of the
\ Germans in that section. The Ger
mans had moved so rapidly that they
! had become detached from the main
/ body. A number Of German prison
ers were taken. Although the British
| pressed heavily against the tired Ger
mans using much artillery. the next
/ day saw the German advance cOntinu-
| ing.
Battle OF Meaux Opens.
On Saturday after a period OF skir-
mishing the battle q Meaux opened.
/ The allies had been heavily reinforced
| by the army OF Paris and seeing IN
opportunity TO attack the exposed
right wing OF the Germans near the
| junction OF the Marne and Ourcq
moved forward engaging the kalser's