Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12
TERRIFIC FIGHTING AND LOSSES
REVEALED BY PARIS, IN REVIEWING
THE RETREAT OF THE GERMANS

Great battle were the Germans. The lat.
ter learned Of 1t none too soon and their
diversion from the route to Paris, here.
tofore attributed to fear Of the Paris de
tense works. was simply a clever maneu.
yer to escape desperate situation.
The Germans penetrated France In
three columns, but the force consisted OF
I'VE armies and at least $4,000 men. The
plan evidently was for quick, direct at
tack on Paris by Gen. Won Kluck, while
the armies Of Gen. Won Bueiow. the
princes Of Wurttemberg and Saxony
ana the crown prince dealt with the
other armies Of the allies.
Shows Resourcefulness.
The audacious commander of the Ger.
man right wing. surprised by the resist
ance of the allies at Guise and Com
piesne. was rendered cautious and
must have discovered the presence of the
army OF Paris on his flank. He showed
his resourcefulness by a sharp counter
movement against this protecting force
The critics give Won Kluck full credit for
skill as well as hardihood. and. referring
to Gen. Joffre's plans. say 1t Is a match
between masters in the art Of war. Gen.
Joffre failed. they believe. by the mar
| rowest margin In gaining one Of the most
brilliant victories in history.
1t is generally thought that this loop
ing of the loop adds immensely to the
dangers of Won Kluck's army. The worm
| out forces. doubling on their own tracks.
necessarily must lose courage. 1t 10 argu-
ed, as we'll as streng III. and have to count.
not only with the extraordinary endur-
ance Of the allies, but with the constant
danger from the flying column of the
comparatively fresh army of Paris.
Reviews Recent Fighting.
A review Of the recent fighting east Of
Paris from the standpoint Of the French
war office is made in an official COM
munication issued yesterday afternoon.
The offensive movements Of the allies
are described as successful. The state
ment follows:
"As we have already announced. bat
tie has been taking place since Septem-
Der 6 over a front extending in a gem
eral way from Paris to Verdun.
From the very outset Of this action
the German right wing, the army conn
manded by Gen. Won Kluck. which Sep.
TENDER had reached the d strict to the
north of Provins, was obliged to fall
back because Of the danger Of being
enveloped. BY its clever and rapid move-
ments this army was succeeding in es-
Gaping from the allies grip. and was
throwing itself with the greater part
to the north Of the Marine and the west
Of the Ourcq river. But the French
troops which were operating in this
region. powerfully aided by the bravery
OF our British allies. inflicted consider.
able losses on the enemy. and gained the
t me necessary to allow our Offensive
to press forward and at present on that
side the enemy is in retreat toward
Aisne and the Aise.
Falls Back Many Miles.
HE has thus fallen back more thar
sixty or seventy-five kilometers thirty.
seven to forty-six miles, in four days
In the meantime the Anglo-French forces
which had been operating to the south OF
the Marine have not ceased to pursue their
offensive. Starting some Of them from
the district south Of the forest Of Cirey
and others from the region north of Pro
wins and south of Esternay. they opened
out from the Marine on the left, the army
of Gen. Won Kluck as well as the army Of
Gen. Won Buelow falling back before oul
troops.
at is In the region included between
the plateau to the north Of Sezanne and
Vitry-le-Francois that the most desperate
fighting occurred. In this region there
have been operating, besides the left wing
Of the army Of Gen. Won Buelow, the
commanded by the Prince Of Wurttem.
berg. The Germans have tried to break
our center by repeated and violent at.
tacks. Our success on the plateau te
the north Of Sezanne enabled us in oui
turn to take the offensive. and in the
course Of last night the enemy stopped
fighting on the front between the marsh
Of st. Gond and Sonlmesons district an6
fell back In the region west of Vftry-le.
Francois.
Fighting on ornain River.
ION the Ornain river. as between the
Argonne forest and the River Mouse
where the armies of the Prince of Wurt.
temberg and the Crown Prince Of Ger.
many were operating. fighting was still
going on, with alternate advances and re-
treats, but without any great change ir
the situation.
THUS the first phase of the battle o.
the Marine Is turning out In favor Of the
wing and center at present are In re-
treat.
ION our right the situation remains
without notable change in the Vosges and
around Nancy. which the Germans have
tried to lombard with some long-rangt
guns.
1.-THE general situation has thus beer
| completely transformed during tho las
| two days, both from strategic and tactica
| points of view. Not only have our troop,
stopped the Germans march, which they
thought was a victorious one. but thu
enemy has fallen back before us at nearly
] every point" .,