The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-09-22
BATTLE RAGING
IN FRANCE NOT
YET DECISIVE
Back and Forth the Tide of
War Ebbs and
Flows.
GREAT ARTILLERY DUELS
ARE MAKING HISTORY
FlERCEST ENGAGEMENT IN VI
CiNITY OF RHElMS-CATHE-
ORAL SET ON FIRE.
LOSS HAS BEEN ENORMOUS
Opposing Forces Strongly Entrenched
and the Fighting May Continue
For Many Days Yet.
FIERCEST ENGAGEMENT IN VI
CiNITY OF RHElMS-CATHE-
ORAL SET ON FIRE.
LOSS HAS BEEN ENORMOUS
and the Fighting May Continue
For Many Days Yet.
Western Newspaper linton New. Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
London.-One of the fircest battles
of all times, which has been raging
across northern France for week
past, with first a slight advantage on
one side and then On the other, re-
mains undecided.
The two great armies which have
been fighting for a month with few, if
any, intermissons, have dug them
selves into entertainments on rivers
and mountain ranges on a front reach
ing from the Disc to the Meuse, and
thence southeastward along the Fran
co-German frontier.
Artillery duels such as never before
have been seen are being carried on
with the hope of compelling the evac-
uation of the strongly held positions.
with occasional successes to the op-
posing sides, while the infantry in
the face of a CALLING fire, have
charged right up to the guns, only to
slightly or to be repulsed with great
losses.
Rheims Cathedral Damaged.
Fighting has been fiercest on the
allies left, which lies on the right
bank of the River Disc in the vicinity
OF Rheims, the famous cathedral Of
which has been set Attire by German
shells, and between that town and
the Argonne ridge. ii has been give
and take all the time
French official reports again claim
slight progress on the French left and
that the allies again have repulsed
onne and Rheims.
Around Rheims itself matters have
been about equalized, as the Germans
have recaptured the heights OF Bri.
mont. while the French have taken
the defenses Of LaPompelle. The
French also have scored a success
between Rheims ana the Argonne,
where they have taken the village OF
Souain and have captured numerous
prisoners.
In addition the French report gains
on the western slopes of the Argonne,
where the Crown Princes army OPP
poses them, while the Germans have
retired beyond the frontier in Lor-
raine, evacuating Avricourt.
Enormous Losses on Both Sides.
In all cases these are separate at.
tacks and counter. attacks by the
armies lying in the trenches waiting
for their artillery to compel the other
side TO slacken its fire. The losses
m these must be enormous, for the
men cannot move a foot without beine
made targets of the heavy guns posted
on the hills above them.
The British apparently have learned
something from the Japanese attacks
on Port Arthur They make rush for
ward and when the fire becomes toe
heavy for them to make further ad
vance they again dig trenches and re
offers for them to gain a few more
yards.
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 or
for days yet, but sooner or later one
side must find the continual fall ol
shells and the terrific attacks toe
much, and leaving strong real
guard will draw back for a breathing
spell.
German Cavalry Shows Daring.
The battle resembles in many par
ticulars that of the Sha-Ho in 1904
where the Japanese and Russians
with much more time to do 1t, estab
lished positions which each thought t
be impregnable. With all the hard
long fighting behind them the Ger
mans again are making attacks 10
ward Verdun, while the allies are max