The Holly chieftain., 1914-09-25
BORDER BLAZES AS ALLIES
STRUGGLE IN QUAGMlRES
TO OUTFlANk kAIS-
ER'S TROOPS.
GERMANS DRIVEN BACK
MAKE DESPERATE EFFORT TO
RECAPTURE RHEIMS AND
PRESERVE SUPPLIES.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
London. Sept. 22.-The unparalleled
struggle on the river Aisne, which
commenced about a week ago Satur-
day. has developed into siege opera
tions. The two armies. strongly en-
trenched, are carrying on an artillery
duel, while the infantry makes attacks
and counter attacks which are in the
nature Of sortios from a besieged
fortress. Occasionally one or the 9th
er gains little ground, but 1t is so
little that the opposing forces remain
in their trenches or take up positions
in new entertainments Immediately be-
hind those from which they were driv-
en-. The western wing Of the German
line has been thrust back about seven
miles during the last forty eight hours
as a sequel to continuous fighting
night and day.
Both armies, despite almost superhu-
man fatigue, show the utmost determi-
nation not to yield an inch OF ground
without a terrible struggle; but the
fresher troops at the disposal of the
E
forced the Germans to recede.
1t is now becoming the conviction of
military men that nothing but out
| thanking movements can have any Sc
rious effect on either army. The Ger
mans, according to their own official
report, have been strongly reinforced
both on the right where General Won
| 1IH Hl iS II i'm CT M
in almost impregnable positions on the
hills north of the Aisne, and in the
center where the Germans are making
almost superhuman efforts to recap
ture Rheims.
1t is probably the desire to recapture
this town at all costs, because of it's
importance as the key to important
communications that will improve all
their connections for attack or retreat,
that has led the Germans to continue
the bombardment. which has resulted
in the destruction of the famous ca
thedral. This bombardment has been
of the most severe kind and is being
directed from Brimont, which the
French recaptured but lost again, and
from other hills around the town, and
is of deadly character.
The French have brought up addi-
tional heavy artillery in an attempt to
drive the Germans out of these hills,
for until this is done the situation in
the town must be difficult.
Severe fighting also continues north
of the Aisne and in the Craonne dis
trict, where the Germans, the French
official communication says, have been
repulsed at all points with consider
able losses. This is an extremely diff
ficult country over which to make an
advance. The plateau Of Craonne is
of limestone formation, with the sides
almost as perpendicular as walls. The
valleys in wet weather become quag-
mires. 1t was on this plateau just a
century ago that Bluecher failed to
check Napoleon. The desperate re-
sistance of the Germans is probably
due to the fact that a retreat would
mean the abandonment of their artil-
lery and gigantic siege guns in the
Quagmire.
On the allies left the French report
claims another advance on the right
bank of the river Disc as far as the
heights of Lassigny, west Of Noyon,
which has been the center of heavy
fighting for week past.
The allies apparently have scaled the
walls of the plateau and now hold the
heights, but ahead of them they found
Won Kluck, in great strength, and are
now awaiting the outcome of the at
tempt to turn his flank, which would
clear the road for them.
The French army, which is trying
pushing its way slowly along Start
ing from Compeigne, it reached Noy-
on, and is on the heights of Lassgny.
It's next objective point is Tergnier.
nineteen miles from Laon, an import
ant railway junction which the Ger
mans are using for provisioning their
| forces.
The French have made some head
way in Champagne and on the western
slope of the ArgOnne and have reoc-
| cuppied Mesnil les Hurlus and Messi-
| gCs, but elsewhere the situation re
mains as it was. One thing is certain,
neither front has been broken, all at
tempts to do this having been re
pulsed and, while the German right
may be bending back a little, It is not