Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-14
First Stage of "The Bat
tie of the Ages Held
Allies Victory.
BIG CLASH is TO COME
Military Experts See Splendid
Opportunity for Defensive
Action by Invaders.

LONDON, SEPT. 14-THE FIRST
STAGE OF THE BATTLE OF THE
MARINE, WHICH, FROM THE NUM-
BER OF FIGHTING MEN ENGAGED,
THE EXTENT OF THE LINE OF
BATTLE AND THE TERRIFIC
SLAUGHTER, is PERHAPS COR
REcTLY DESCRIBED AS "THE
BATTLE OF THE AGES" APPEARS
TO HAVE BEEN WON BY THE
FRENCH AND BRITISH ARMIES,
STILL INTACT AND THE SUPREME
CLASH is STILL TO COME.
The present week may see even more
desperate encounters than any which
have taken place.
Metz, the capital of Lorraine, and a
on the Moselle, IT miles north Of
Mebe, form a strong pivot for the
German left, while the river courses
and the dense forest on the frontier.
together with strategic roads. give the
German army of invasion, now in re-
treat, a splendid opportunity for de-
fensive action, should the French pur-
ers foresee all kinds OF perplexing pos
sibilities in the event of the Germans
regaining the position they held before
they started the rush of 100000 men
on Paris. particularly should they sue
ceed in retrieving any large portion of
their losses in personnel.
Won k1uck Led Into Trap.
London, Sept. 1.-THE Times cor
respondent wires from five miles
south of Provins: Il travelled to this
point practically along the whole line
of the allied army, though always in
the rear. General Won Kluck's host in
coming down over the Marne and
Grand NORM rivers to Sezanne, 20
miles southwest of Epernay, were led
into a trap. The fighting Sunday, Sept.
6, was of a terrible character. 1t be-
gan at dawn in the region of Laferte
and Gaacher. The French and Eng
lish fought sternly and slowly beat
the enemy back. Attempts of the Ger
mans to cross the Marne at Meaux
entailed terrible losses. Sixteen at
tempts were foiled by French artillery
directed on the river and in a trench
500 dead Germans were counted. The
whole country was strewtn with dead
and dying. Monday saw tremendous
encounter on the Ourcq. A great deal
of hand-to-hand fighting and bayonet
work resulted in the Magdeburg regi-
ment beating retreat Monday night
General Won Klucks army had been
thrown back from the Marne and
Norm to the region of Sezanne and his
position was serious. Immediate steps
were necessary to save his line OF
communications and retreat Rein
forcements were hurried north to the
MeauX district and to Ourcq and ire
mendous efforts were made to break
I'D the French resistance in thiS quar-
ter The second attempt on the
Ourcd shared the fate of the first. All
Monday night and well into Tuesday
great guns doomed along this river,
but the resistance of the allies could
not be broken. While the Ourcq was
being held the struggle of Sezanne was
bearing splendid fruit. German re-
sistance on this Thursday morning
was broken. i heard the news in two
ways-that German guns were silent
and from the wounded who poured
down to the base. The wounded were
no longer downhearted, but were eager
t rejoin the fray. On every French
lip was the acclamation. They are
rushing back home and in the same
breath came general recognition of the
great help given by the British army.
Fifteen Trains of Wounded.
"I am convinced the full extent of the
rout is not yet appreciated in Eng
land. II truly is of terrific character
and the blow will not fail to have last
ing effect. The number of wounded en-
tailed colossal transportation work.
counted Is trains in eight hours. A
fine grim set OF men, terribly weary,
but amiable. except the officers. The
enemy crossed the Marne on the re-
turn journey north under great diff
culties and a whitening fire from the
British. who pursued them. German
artillery operated from a height and
there was again mucL hand-to-hand