Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-17
River Is Crossed
Under Heavy Fire

London. Sept IT, 344 A. M.-The
| correspondent of the Times at Havre
in describing the battle of Aisne says:
"As opposed to the battle of the
| Marne, which was a battle of rivers
and plains, woodlands and high pla-
teaus. the battle of Aisne was a river
| crossing on a scale as has never be-
| fore been seen in the history of the
world, triumph of organization and
engineering as much as of courage
and fighting powers. The time was
Saturday evening and the moment
had arrived when. if the fleeing host
was to be saved, some sort of stand
must be made.
The enemy gathered hurriedIy to-
gether for great effort on the heights
which overlooked the river. He had
his guns placed and his men ready
when the British and French troops
reached the south bank of the river.
Clearly it was essential to the allies
that a crossing should be made If the
great pursuit was to be continued and
the hard-won victory pressed home.
But the river was swollen. running
swiftly after the recent heavy rains;
bridges must be built under a wither-
ing fire; they must be maintained un-
damaged and must be crossed.
Forces Undaunted
,''All the vantage points were held
by the men rendered desperate and
fighting for their lives. 1t was ter
rible prospect but II did not daunt
our splendid forces
THE attack began Sunday morning
with all the dash that characterized
the great struggle of the week before.
Our guns were brought up. placed in
position and a terrible artillery duel
opened for as long as the German
al tillery remained unsilenced there
was little hope of crossing the river.
During this fire our engineers worked
laboriously bringing up great pontoons
while the fire slowly decreased their
numbers. After some hours after this
supreme effort the enemy's guns on
the north bank are silenced and the
troops begin crossing, while the allies
artillery still swept the heights, pro-
tecting their passage.
"By sunset when the cold rain and
wind starts the heights are won, the
enemy thrown back and our troops
across at three crossing places. While
this battle is proceeding a most excit-
ing battle of aeroplanes, German and
English, occurred high in the air. 1t
was great struggle, the machines
darting hither and thither, till finally
the German, wounded, falls to the
ground"
Chronicles Story
Describing the battle of Aisne from
scissors, under date of September Is.
the correspondent Oh the Chronicle
says:
The unerring, terrific struggle
lasted four days and only now NAV
one say that victory is turning in favor
of the allies. The town of Scissors
cannot yet be entered. for it is still
raked by artillery and rifle fire. while
large columns of smoke marked sew
eral points where houses are burning
in the center of the fighting lines
where the allied pontoon corps have
been trying to keen the bridges thek
succeeded in constructing. Men from
the front tell me that the combat has
been veritable slaughter and that
the unceasing fire of the past four
days puts any previous warfare COM
pletely in the shade.
Several crossings were effected
Sunday, but the German guns got the
range and compelled them to with
draw. Last night however, the allies
brought up heavier guns and these
changed the prospect. The British
got battery across the river and the
Germans were unable to reach It, -he
Germans, therefore. moved to another
position, from which they compelled
the British to retire and leave six
guns behind. But German batteries
hitherto not locatable were revealed
and under the protection of a heavy
bombardment two British batteries
got over and planted at the bridge
head. Very soon the six guns were
recovered and two German batteries
captured.
"On the. western side the French
succeeded in getting over three bat
teries and regiment of infantry
About $500 prisoners have been taken
o-day."