Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1914-09-23
Much Fighting But Little Success
Although Desperate Efforts Have Been
Made the Allies Proceed Slowly.

On the battle front, Sept. IS -
(By way of Paris. $3.50. p. m.-
The gigantic battle or. more prop.
erly, battles, continue day and
night along the entire front from
Novon to the frontier. The fight
ing does not consist of sustained
and combined movement but in
reality of several combats pro-
ceeding inoessantly at the strong.
est points Of the Germans defend
ing line along the river Aisne.
Each encounter, however, in
fiuences the execution of the gen.
efal idea of the commander-in-
chief of the allied armies. At
tacks and counter attacks follow
one another in rapid succession
every hour of the twenty-four.
During the night of Septem be +
1915 the Germans attempted a
formidable movement in the west.
ern sphere but were met by the
French and British with couargn
that was marvellous against over,
whelming odds. The Germans
returned to the attack no fewer
than 10 times with remarkable
tenacity and intrepldity but where
unable to break through the firm
bone presented by the allies in
fantry.
The fight just before daybreak
was the most violent Of all. The
Germans appeared to throw in tn"
charge all that remained of thei.
enegry but were rolled back with
enormous loss ss. Before retiring
behind their big guns they sacrlfic.
ed many of their number, display
ing resolution which approached
desperation. A vigorous counter
attack from the allies ensued,
during which a small extent of
ground was gained.
Last night was relatively calm
along the front, but today the
fighting became more furious than
evr. During the darkness op.
eratlohs are rendered difficult
owing to the reluctance of the
opposing commanders to use
searchlights, which might expose
their positions.
After this stage of the fight was
concluded the Germans appeared
to retire about seven miles. Dur.
ing the combat the adversaries IN
many instances came hand. to.
hand clashes and the bayonet was
extensively used. The carnage
was terrifying but the troops of
both armies appear to have been
hardened to such scenes and
fought with great ccolness.
The allies aviators apparently
discovered today the placements
of big German guns, notwith-
standing the cleverness with
which they are hidden beneath an
earthen covering strewn with the
branches of trees. The allies ar.
tillery opened concentrated fire
Oh certain portion of the line
and the heavy German artillery
shortly afterward lapsed into
slle1ce at that spot, although it
is not known whether they were
rendered impotent or merely were
effeeting change of position,
1t is impossible to learn from
any portion of the line what is
occurring st other places. but an
inclination to recede slightly
seemed evident on the German
side, although they offered the
most obstinate resistance and
I fought as though made of iron.
The allies at the same time dog
gedly pursued the smell advantage
they gained and kept at the heels
of their reluctantly retireing foe,
At a point where the bulk of
the British troops formed part of
the allies line the fighting was
furious yesterday and today and
some of the most famous English-
Scottish and Irish regiments, IN,
Guiding the Guards and Highland.
ers, suffered severely. They per-
formed the task set for them un.
flinohingly, advancing and oc-
cupying some of the advanced
German positions, but at terrible
cost.
Behind the fighting line along
the Aicy. Puisseux road still lie
many of the dead who fell in the
fighting of September 5. Labor
ers engaged in the task of inter
ment declare that although they
had buried great numbers, more
than Thousand bodies still
awaited removal from the bate
field.
Reports differ as to the prog.
ress of the great battle IN North.
ern France between the allied
British and French armies and
Germany. Some indicate that
there is extremely heavy fighting
while others tell of great masses
Of troops lying in flooded trench.
es, many of them utterly exhaust
ed.
At some points, at least, fierce
engagements have been fought
with the tide flowing first in one