Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-09-01
fOfficial Statement Tells of
| Difficulties Troops En-
countered, CHASING Cam
paign Of Weeks as a War
of Sieges.
FIRST OFFENSIVE
THEN DEFENSIVE
No Sooner Is a Position
Occupied by Enemy Than
1t Is Fortified, Making
Progress Of French Ex-
ceedingly Slow.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATCH1


PARIS, Aug. 31-The following Off
ciaI statement was issued by the war
office this evening:
"The situation is actually as follows:
First-In Vosges and in Lorraine, it
must be remembered that our forces,
which had taken the offensive at the
beginning of operations an driven the
enemy outside of our frontiers, after
wards underwent checks.
Before Sarresburg in the region of
Morrohagne where they encountered
very solid defensive works our forces
were obliged to fall back and reform,
one part on Courrone De Nancy and the
other on the French Vosges. The Ger
mans then assumed the offensive, but
our troops after having thrown them
back upon their positions resumed the
offensive two days ago. This attack
continues to make progress, although
slawly. 1t is a veritable war of sieges
as each position occupied is immedi-
ately fortified. This explains the slow
ness of our advance, which neverthe-
less is characterized each day by fresh
successes.
"Second-The region of Nancy, in
Southern Wavre. Since the beginning
of the campaign this section between
Metz on the German side and Toul,
and Verde on the French side, has not
been the theater of important opera
tions.
"Thrd-In the department of Meuse
between Verdun and Mesieres, it is to
be remembered. the French took the
offensive in the beginning toward
Longwy Neufchateau and Palissul
Troops operating in the region of Spin
court and Longwy have been able to
check the enemy's army under the
command of the German crown prince
In the regions of Neufchateau and Pa
lissul certain of our troops received
partial checks which obliged them to
retire upon Meuse without having their
organization broken up. This retiring
movement compelled our forces oper-
ating in the neighborhood of Spincourt
to withdraw also toward Meuse."
During the last few days the enemy
endeavored to spread out from Meuse
with considerable forces, but by vigor-
Gus counter offensive movements. they
were repelled with great losses. In the
meantime fresh forces of German SOL
diers advanced to the district of Roc
roy, lin Ardennes) marching in the di-
rection of Reuthel Now a general
actibn is taking place between Meuse
and Reuthel, and it is still impossible
| to see definitely the issue of this.
"Fourth-The operations in the
north. The French took up a position
! in the Meuse and Charleroi country and
Mons They endured several repulses
and the forcing of the Meuse defenses
| by the Germans near Givet upon oul
flank. compelled our troops to retire
"The Germans seek continually tc
move toward the west. 1t is under
these conditions that our English al
lies, attacked by the enemy in greatly
superior numbers in the region of Le-
| toward the south, at the moment tha
our forces are operating in the distric
of Avesnes and Chimay. The retiring
government was prolonged during sew
eral days
I'm the meantime a general battle
took place in the region of st. Quentin
and Nervier and at the same time il
| the Hem Peronnes district. This battle
was marked by the important success
| by our right, where we have thrown
back the Prussian guard of the tentf
army corps into the Disc
| Owing to the progress of the Ger
man right wing, where our adversarie:
united their best corps, we had to mari
| a new retirement.
| "On our right after partial checks
we have taken the offensive and the
enemy is retiring before us
"In the center we have had alternate
lchecks and successes"
"On our left by a series of circum
stances which turned in favor of th'
Germans, despite lucky counter at
tacks, the Anglo French forces wer'
obliged to give way. AS yet our ar
mics, notwithstanding few incontest
able checks, remain intact.
sThe morale of our troops is excel
lent in spite of considerable losse
which are also being rapidly filled from
rapinepta1 6enots"