Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-09-22
GREAT BATTLE 60.
IN FRANCE IS
YET UNDECIDED
Gigantic Armies Struggle on With
No Marked Advantage on
Either Side.
IS COSTING MANY SOLDIERS
1nfantry's Advance is Target for
Heavy Guns Posted on
Hilltops.

London, Sept. 21.-Cne of the
fiercest battles of all times, which
has been raging across northern
France for a week past with first !
slight advantage on one side and
then on the other remains undecid'
ed.
The great armies which havo
been fighting for a month, with few
if any intermissions, have dug
themselves into entertainments Oh
rivers and mountain ranges on a
front reaching from the Disc to the
Meuse, and thence southeastward
along the Franco-German frontier.
Artillery duels such as never
have been seen before being carried
on with the hope of compelling the
evacuation of the strongly held posi-
lions, with occasional successes to
the opposing sides, while the infan-
try, in the face of a CALLING fire,
have charged right up to the guns,
only to make their opponents give
way slightly, or to be repulsed with
great losses.
FIERCEST ON LEFT.
Fighting has been tiercest on the
allies left, which lies on the right
bank of the Disc river, in the vicin-
ity OF Rheims, the famous cathed-
raj OF which has been set afire by
German shells, and between that
town and the Argonne ridge it has
been given and take all the time.
The French official report, how
ever, again claims slight progress on
the French left and that the allies
have again repulsed strong frontal
attacks between Craonne and
Rheims.
Around Rheims itself matters
have been about equalized, as the
Germans have recaptured the
heights of Brimont, while the
French have taken the defences Of
La Pompelle. The French also have
scored success between Rheims and
the Argonne, where they have taken
the village of Souain and have cap
tured numerous prisoners.
PROGRESS ON WEST.
In addition the French report
progress on the western slopes Of
the Argonne, where the crown
princes army is opposed to them,
while the Germans have retired be-
yond the frontier in Lorraine, evac-
uating Avricourt. ..
In all cases these are separate at
tacks and counter attacks by the ar
mics lying in the trenches waiting
for their artillery to compel the
other side to slacken it's fire. The
losses in these attacks must be enor-
nous, for the men cannot move a
foot without being made the targets
of the heavy guns posted en- the
hills above them.
The British apparently have
learned something from the Japan
csc attacks on Port Arthur. They
make a rush forward and when the
fire becomes too heavy for them to
make a further advance they again
dig trenches for themselves and re-
main there until another opportun-
ity offers for them to gain few
more yards.
BRINGING BIGGER GUNS.
The Germans have had most OF
their artillery at work but the
French are bringing up more and
bigger guns. This kind of fighting,
with both sides in strong positions,
may go on for days yet, but sooner
or later one side must find the con-
tinual fall of shells and the discon-
corning infantry attacks too much
for them, and, leaving strong rear
guard, will draw back for a breath
ing spell.
Shot May Destroy Eye.