New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-21

AS announcer OF lNpm lOlO me TINS
morning; The Germans retired much
more quickly than they came. Our
guns were pounding them and our rifle
fire laid them out in heaps. They could
not get near US. and after they had re-
treated their dead and dying lay out in
the rain, so that we we're sorry for
them
"All night attacks are unnervinE,
end on this night, when the wind was
bowling and the rain lashing down,
our men needed all their courage.
Shrapnel was whistling down with
the wind and many men fell, but the
enemy was not made of the right stuff
10 turn our soldiers out OF their en-
trenched positions.
German Soldier Inferior.
The truth is that the German sol
Gier, in spite of qualities of courage
which may not be lightly disrcgarded,
has not proved himself as yet a match
for either the French or the English
soldier in individual work. He will
sacrifice himself blindly, and he knows
how to die at the word Of command
with pitiful obedience, but he is a poor
fighter with the bayonet and in open
order without the immediate support
Of his quick frers.
Unfortunately, the enemy's artillery
has been very effective during the
present battle in the ncighborhood Of
Scissors AS soon as one Of our men
puts his head above the trenches said
soldier who has just left them. 1T is
blown off by shrapncl We have 70
lay low and hug the earth
"The accuracy and rapldity with
4 - Il wv u
range is quite remarkable, and is due
largely to the skilled work Of their
aviators, who indicate positions by
dropping scraps of paper and bombs
which act as smoke signals. The great
I 1l-;nch guns were particularly dis
tressing, owing to their formidable pro-
jectiles and their length Of range, and
it was a joyful thing to our gunners
when three OF them were located yes
terday and put out of action by sue
cessful ruShes OF infantry.
Impossible to Shift Guns.
The enemy had to retire from po-
sitions which had been taken up by
this heavy artillery, and as 1t was I'M
possible for them to shift three guns,
/ embedded in cement, they abandoned
/ them to US One Of the monsters. now
ever, ST.. remains, and its exact po-
sition has not yet been discovered.
Yesterday it placed one Of its huge
shells close to our headquarters with
astounding precision and several OF
our staff officers had very narrow es-
capes. Headquarters were immediate
IL shifted. and none too soon, for
within half an hour fifty more shells
had dropped on the same spot, scatter
ing destruction with internal effect.
Fortunately, il is still true to say
that many Of the German shells fail TO
burst before they reach ground, so that
the loss of life is not so great as would
otherwise be. Nevertheless they have
/ torn great holes in the hillsides and
/ taken a great toll of life.
while the instant effect Of heavy
B gun fire is very serious, one OF the
most tragic features Of the present
/ fighting is the awful plight OF the
wounded on both sides. Owing TO inc
deadly hail Of Shrapnel, IT IS very DIM
cult and in many cases absolutely I'm
possible for ambulances to get lnto
touch with casualties, 50 that lhey lie
on the field Of battle without help'
Field Hospital Shellcd.
at is a tragedy upon which do net
care to dwell and only one OF the IN
evitable horrors of the war. YESTERDAY
one Of our field hospitals was sheIie9
by the enemy, and before the wounded
could be removed several of them were
killed outright, the staff Itself beng
wounded in attempting 10 rescue them:
at is impossible to give any idea oil
the number Of British casualties sus-
tanned since the enemy's rear guard ac-
tons after their stand upon the Alsne,
but they have been rather heavy IN the
district between NOyon md SCISSORS,
of which only am entitled to speak.
at the time Of writing the great
battle is beginning 10 slacken down,
while each side is engaged in strength
ening its positions, but German Shrap-
mel is still busy, especially where they
see the flick Of our photographs or To-
cate our wireless stati MS, so that this
work has to be done under heavy fire.
"The Royal Engineers, too, arc not
having a soft time, as they say, and one
little party Of them, busily repairing
a bridge previously ] own up by the
French, during the time Of retreat
lust had a test of erves from German
shrapnel The shell burst close to
them. and at the sound Of its warning
whistle they lay q on their faces cx-
pecting instant death.
"But not a man was killed, much TO
the surprise Of every one, and a few
moments lat the bridge members were
bnsv with their picks and shoyels,
crowbars and jacks, as though nothing
had happened to upset them.
Results Of Strategy.
"For several days French official
oornuniou6s have admitted no more
tban slow and difficult progress along
inc line Of the Aisne, but the points
navpod above show that mastery STRAIT
egy has already produced very notable
rssSSults. the exact character Of which
cannot vet De stated for reasons OIL
Military discretion. These reasons .aP-
NV malay at the moment. ! imagine
70 the extreme left wing Of the Allles,
and on this side it must suffice to point
ont that Noyon lies as far north as
Tson and has before it the broad, river
yaIIev of the Disc stretching east-Rortn-
cast 10 La Fere and beyond. 1t may be
assumed that the west triangle, Noyon-
Comniegne- is now in the hands
Of the Allies The German positions
remain very strong. but they have 9eGn
pierced. and what looked in the middle