Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-26
FRENCH DEPICTS
BATTLE TERRORS
Field Marshal Reveals Human Side
of Conflict in Report of Brit
ish Operations
GERMANS THINK SELVES BEATEN
This IL Opinion OF Commander, who
Makes Cautious Prediction Of
Victory-HuEe Shells Called
Jack Johnson"


LONDON. Sept. 25.--The official
press bureau tonight issued report
from Field Marshal Sir John
French's headquarters. supplement-
ing the dispatch OF September %,
on the British operations In France.
The text follows;
The enemy is still maintaining
himself along the whole front and in
order to do so is throwing into the
fight attachments composed of
units from very different forma-
tions. the active army. reserve and
landwehr, as is shown by the uni
forms of the prisoners recently cap
tured.
Our progress, though slow on
account of the strength of the de
fensiye positions against which we
are pressing. has in certain direc-
lions been continuous, but the pres
emit battle may well last for some
days more before a decision is
reached, since it now approxmatos
somewhat to siege warfare.
THE Germans are making use Of
searchlights This fact coupled
with their great strength in heavy
artillery, leads TO the supposition
that they are employing material
which may have been collected for
the siege of Paris.
English See victory.
THE nature Of the general situa-
ton after the operations Of the
18th, 10th and Goth, cannot better
be summarized than as expressed
recently by a neighboring French
commander to his corps: Having
repulsed repeated and violent coun-
ter attacks made by the enemy, we
have a feeling that we have been
Victorious
80 far as the British arc concerned.
the course Of events during these three
days can he described i'm a few words
During Friday 18th, artillery fire was kept
up intermittently by both sides during
daylight. At night the Germans counter
attacked certain portions OF our line, sup
porting the advance of their infantry as
always, by heavy bombardment. But
the strokes were not delivered with great
vigor and ceased about a. m. During
the days fighting an air craft gun of
the Third army corps succeeded in bring
ing down German aeroplane.
News was received also that body
of French cavalry had demolished part
of the railway to the north. stopping at
least temporarily, one line of communica-
ton which is of particular Importance to
the enemy. .a,'
Ever Room of Cannon.
"On Saturday the 18th. the lombard
ment was resumed by the Germans at an
early hour and continued internationally
in reply from our own guns,
Some of our infantry advanced from
under cover apparently with the intention
of attacking. but coming under fire they
retired. Otherwise the day was upevent-
full except for the activity Of the artillery,
which is a matter Of normal routine
rather than an event.
Another hostile aeroplane was brought
down by us, and one 'of our aviators
succeeded in dropping several bombs over
the German line, one incendiary bomb
falling with considerable effect on a
transport park near La Fere. A buried
store of the enemy's munitions of war
also was found. not far from the Aisne,
ten wagon loads of live shells, and two
wagons OF cable being dug up. Tracss
were discovered of large quantities OF
stores having been burned-all tending TO
show that as far back as the Aisne, the
German retirement was hurried.
There was a strong wind during the
day accompanied by driving rain. This
initiated against the aerial reconnaissance
English Loss Heavy.
ION Sunday the Goth, nothing of i'm
portance occurred until the afternoon
when there was a break in the clouds and
an interval of feeble sunshine, which was
hardly powerful enough to warm tho
soaking troops. The Germans took adj |
of this brief spell of fine weather
to make several attacks against different
points. These were all repulsed with loss
to the enemy, but the casualties incurred
by US were by no means light
In one section of our firing line the
of the trenches were under the
impression that they heard military
band in the enemys lines just before
the attack developed. II is now known
that the German infantry started their
advance with bands playing.
THE offensive against one or two points
was renewed at dusk, with no greater
success. The brunt OF the resistance
has fallen upon the infantry
In spite of the fact that they have been
lrenched to the skin for some days, and
their trenches have been deep in mud
and water, and in spite OF the incessant
night alarms and the almost continuous
to which they have been /!
subjected, they have on every occasion |
been ready for the enemys infantry when |
The latter attempted to assault, and they !
have beaten them back with great loss !
Indeed the sight OF the troops coming |
up has been a positive relief after long, |
trying hours Of inaction under shell fire. |
Sought 10 shstter Nerve.
THE object Of the great proportion Of /
artillery the Germans employ is 10 beat /
Town the resistance Of their enemy by 1
and prolonged fire, TO shat /
-er their nerve with high explosives, be-
ore the infantry attack is launched. They
70 ba1 Lott tI,g. .,