The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-23
German Opposition on River Aisne Proves More Seri- ous Than Anticipated by the Allies
is IMPOSSIBLE TO
 FATHOM MOTIVE OF
 GERMANS ACTION
May Be Working for Stra- tegic Advantage-Prog- ress of English Activities Given in Detail

London. September 22.-(9:35 p. m.) The following descriptive account from Field Marshal Sir John French's headquarters of the British army's operations up to September Is was issued tonight:
 General Headquarters, September IS, 1914:
 At the date of the last narrative. September IA, the Germans were making determined resistance along the River Aisne Opposition, which at first was thought might possibly be of rear guard nature, not entail Ing material delay to our progress. has developed and has proved to be more serious than was anticipated
 The action now being fought bv tha germans along their line may. it is irue' nave been undertaken to gain time for some strategic operation and may not be their main stand. But if this is so, the fighting is naturally on scale which makes it undistinguish able in Its progress from what is known as a-'pitched battle thonrh tba tnemy certainly showed signs of con siderable disorganization during the earlier days of their retirement phase
 Whether originally 1t was intend- ed by them to defend the position thev LOOK ep as strenuously as they have oohe' or whether the delay gained for tnem during the l2th and 9th by their artillery has enabled them to develop their resistance and force their line 10 an extent not originally contem- plated cannot yet be said.
 Just Across River
 So far as we are concerned the action still being contested is the hat tie of the Aisne. The foe we are fight : Ing fJ just across that river along the whole of our front to the east and west The struggle is not confined to the valley of that river, though it will probably bear its name.
 The progress of our operations and the 'French armies nearest us for the 11th, 10th. 16th and 17th will now be described:
 "On Monday, the 14th, those of our troops which on the previous day had crossed the Aisne. after driving in the German rear guards on that evening x Tn prepared defensive positions on the IlSht bank and could do little more than secure footing north of the river This. however, they maintained In spite of two counter attacks in which the fighting was severe.
 During, the 1fth strong reinforce ments of our troops were passed to the north bank Close cooperation was maintained with the French troops and the general progress was good, al though the opposition was vigorous and the state of the roads, after the heavy rain, made movements slow.
 Failed to Secure Ground
 "One division alone failed to secure the ground it expected to- The first army corps after repulsing repeated attacks captured. 600 prisoners and 12 guns. The cavalry. also took a number of prisoners. Many Germans taken be- long to the reserve and landwehr form ations. which appears to indicate the enemy Is compelled to draw on other classes of soldiers to fill gaps in his ranks.
 There was heavy rain through out the night of September 14-15 and dur ing the 18th the situation of the Brit fish forces underwent no essential change. But 1t became more and more evident that the enemys defensive preparations were more extensive than at first apparent
 "To counterbalance these we took measures to economize our troops and to secure protection from the hostile artillery fire. which was fierce and our men continued to improve their own entrenchments The Germans
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