New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-31

n
their corpses. The river itself.
strewn with bodies Of men ard horses,
literally ran red with blood. the
most tremendous fighting took place
for possession Of the bridges, but the
French engineers blew them up one
after another as they retired south
ward. No less than thirty-three
bridges were destroyed in this way
before they could be seized by the
German advance guard. The fighting
was extended for a considerable dis
lance on either side Of 'he Mouse,
and many engagements took place be
tween French and German cavalry and
regiments working away from the
main armies.
5000 Checked 10000.
There was, for instance. the mem
orable encounter at Marville. when IS
one Of the most heroic episodes OF the
war. Five thousand French soldiers OF
all arms engaged 10000 German IN
fantry. In spite Of being outnumbered,
the French dash and bite as they cal!
il. was so splendid that they beat back
the enemy from point TO point IN a
| fight lasting for twelve hours, lnfict-
| inC tremendous punishment ana SUI
fering very few losses
"Neyertheless, the Germans sue
ceeded in forcing their way steadily
down the Meuse as far as Mezleres,
which is divided by a bridge from
/ Gainesville. or the other side of the
, river. This is in the neighborhood OF
Sedan. and in the hole. or 'trou,' as 1t Is
called. which led TO the great disastei
in 1870. when the French were caught
in a trap and threatened with annihlla-
ton by the Germans, who had taken
possession Of the surrounding helghtS.
There was TO be no repetition OF that
tragedy. The French were determined
this time the position should be re-
versed.
: THE German outposts reached
I Charlesville Tuesday. They were at
[ lowed to ride quietly across the bridges
into the apparently deserted town
Then suddenly their line of retreat was
cut of. The three bridges were blown
nm By contact mines and the mitrall-
| leuses hidden in houses were played on
the German cavalry across streets
killing them with frightful slaughter.
| Ii was for a little while sheer mas
sacre. but the Germans fought with
extraordinary tenaclty, regardless OF
the heaped bodies of their comrades
and utterly reckless Of their own lveS'
/ They. too had brought qulck-hrerS
across the bridges, and, taking cover
behind the houses, trained their guns
upon those from which the French
eunners were firing their last shots.
! There was no way of escape for these
heroic men, who voluntarily sacrificed
themselves. and it is probable that
every man died. because at such time
the Germans are not in the habit oil
giving quarter.
4 German GRAVEYARD.
"When the main German advance
came down the valley the French ar
tillery on the heights raked them with
a terrific fire in which they suffered
heavy losses. the forefront OF the co..
umn being moved down, but under tins
storm they proceeded with incredible
coolness to pontoon bridges acres'
the river. and although hundreds OF
men died on the banks they succeeded
in their endeayor. while their guns
searched the hills with SHELLS and
forced the French gunners 10 retire
from their positions. The occupation
T Of Charlesvllle was a German victory
but il was also German graveyard.
after this historic episode in wnat
has been an unending battle. the mar
body Of French withdrew before the
Germans. VINO were now pouring do~r
the valley. and retired 10 new ground
II was retirements which has hat
one advantage in spite Of its acknowi
edgment of the enemy's amazing peru
nacity. IL has enabled the allle'
armies TO draw closer together. and u
is a firm front, sweeping around IN Z
crescent from Abbeville around soutf
Of Amiens and thence in an irregular
line 10 the eastern frontier.
1.-THE last real fighting was done a.
a place called Bapeaume. All day FRI
day there was very heavy lighting or
the left and centre of the great army
commanded by General Pau, and lead
ing TO a victory which has just been
announced officially in France. A few
minutes before midnight Friday they
came back along the road 10 Amiens
crawling back slowly in long dis
NAL trail ambulance wagons laden
with dead and dying, haycarts piled
+ high with saddles and accoutrements
! upon which lay immobile. like men al
/ ready dead, the spent and exhausted
soldiers.
"They passed through crowds Of
silent people OF Amiens. who only
whispered as they stared at this pro-