South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-15
Frederick William Heads Men
of Center in Offensive Move
ment Which Attempts to Join
Germans East of MeuSe.
KAISER'S men RETIRE
TO LUXEMBERG DUCHY
BY FRANKLIN p. MERRICk.

4
PARIS. sept 15.-The center OF
the German army composed Of the
troops under the crown prince mas
taken the offensive against the French
troops stretched along the Meuse be-
tween Nerdun and Toul in an effort
10 break through. but has been re-
pulsed.
This information was conveyed in
an official statement issued at II
o'clock.
The evident intention Of the crown
prince is to pierce the French lines so
that his army can form junction
with troops east Of the Meuse.
The following is the official an
nouncement.
The crown princes army attempt
ed 20 break through along the Meuse
between Verdun and TOul He has
bOmbarded TroyOn which resisted
valiantly. The German forces were
repulsed.
1T is believed in well Informed cir
cles that the German army retreated
into the grand duchy OF LuXem-
burg. and into the Belgian province
of Luxemberg and endeavor 10 rally
behind their fortihcations."
Verdun lies southeast Of the for
est Of Argonne. and about 40 miles
east OF Paris. Tt is a strongly forti-
fed position which has been held by
the French and the chief object OF
the German attempts against the
place was 20 open up new route or
communication between Germany and
the German army in France. Toul. az
does Verdun. lies upon the Meuse and
is about 4 3 miles south OF Nerdun.
The German crown prince hampered
by unfavorable territory lying north
OF him. turned toward the east in an
endeavOr TO extricate himself from a
difficult position).
Supported by reinforcements from
Belgium, the right wing Of the re-
firing German army under Gen. Won
Kluk has rallied and is giving battle
to the allies north Of the river
/ Aisne. Further 10 the east north
/ OF Rheims, the Germans are also
! resisting but the retreat east Of the
Argonne forest IS reported TO be con
tinujng. This was the situation along
! the front today SO far as could be
! gathered by advices from the scene
1 OF action and government reports.
Statements issued by the French
war office during the past "a hours
are confusing.
An announcement made in this city
shortly before midnight said;
The enemy appears 10 make
stand along the river Aisne- on the
| center, similarly, il would seem as II
/ the enemy intends 10 resist on the
/
/ Rheims"
Enemy North of Aisne.
| Another official statement issued
some hours earlier in Bordeaux said.
! ION our left the enemy appeared
! 4 the north Of the Aisue. between
! Compiegne and Soissons. A line Of de-
fense which ne mas been forced 10
abandon. In the center likewise, the
/ Germans had prepared defensive
! position behind Rheims. which they
were unable TO hold"
The significance OF this discrepancy
! is lhat the statement announcing that
a German stand was the later one
| issued
An unofficial report TO the effect
that Maubeuge had been relieved and
i12OOO Germans had been taken
prisoners there was in circulation
! here. but lacked conformation such
| a development at MauebuEe would
compel the Germans 20 retire through
the narrow gap Ranked By Maubeuge
and Verdun, II they continued their
retreat.
CNote-It had been officially an
nounced by the German government
| in Berlin last week that Maubeuge
had been captured from the French
and 10000 prisoners and large
number OF guns had fallen into the
hands OF the Germans.)
Too Early to Claim Decisive Victory
While official reports are optimis-
tic beyond doubt 10 is too early 90
claim a decisive and overwheiminc
victory for the allies By mastery
| strategy the Germans have been able
| 20 keep the main lines Of their vast
army intact although thousands oc
! CONTINUED or PAGE TwOl