South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-08
KAISER SADVANCE
GUARD IS DRIVEN
BACK TEN MILES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)
forced to continue their rearward
movement but are able 10 keep their
main lines intact the French gen
eral believes that the invaders can
be pushed back into Luxemberg.
A heavy British force, supported
BY French troops is said 10 be NOV
ing IN a nOrtheastward direction
along the TedOtte I'm an effort TO get
IN the rear eff the German flank.
The German force lying between
Senlis and Compiegne has beer
forced TO retire. owing to the pressure
OF the British who set fire to the for
ests behind which the Germans had
taken mp their position
10 is estimated that there are
100000 men in the two gigantic
grand armies which face each other
although not all Of them are taking
an active part in the battle that is
now going on.
Fate OF Paris Depends.
The advance guard of the Germans
had been able to swing farther south
than was believed. One section of
IL reached Vitry-le-Francois, los
miles east by southeast from Paris,
and 40 miles south of Rheims.
There is no doubt that the fate
OF Paris may depend upon the out
come Of this conflict The allies
have been sending huge bodies of
troops TO strengthen their western
wing which has Paris for its base
1t was the immense strength of this
section of the allies army that is
responsible for the retreat of the
German right flank
IL is Indicated that the fighting
over a considerable part Of the battle
line has consisted of a long range
artillery duel, and that the soldiers
of the opposing forces were not
really at each others throats
At other points the men were at
grips and the fighting is furious.
This is attested by the large num-
Der of wounded that were brought
into this city during the night
Soldiers from the front said that the
hostilities around Meux were sharp
and bloody. The Germans tried to
press in a southwesterly direction
but ran into the powerful positions
of the English and French and
were hurled back. Time after time
the German generals sent their
legions forward against the devastat-
platoon after platoon in a desperate
effort to dislodge the defenders. The
German lines weakened and shatter-
ed wavered and gave way and then
the allied troops advanced to take
instant advantage of their oppOr-
tunity.
Engagement Becomes General.
There was desultory fighting along
the line on Friday and on Saturday it
grew into the proportions of an en-
gagement The losses, especially on
the German side have been heavy, but
NJ official figures have been gwen out.
Especially heavy losses were in
dicted upon the rear guard OF the Ger
man right flank when il gave way and
moved toward tle northeast in re-
treat. French artillery shelled the re-
treating ranks and the Germans left
the field fun Of dead and wounded.
According to wounded soldiers who
were on the firing line the German
officers were frantic with rage when
their men began to weaken The Off
GERS galloped along the lines amidst
the hail of French and English bull
let's. shouting enCouragingly or ours
ing the weakness of their troops.
Others rode into the wavering ranks,
slashing with their swords the sold
iers who dared to fall back a step.
While the German officers sacrificed
their men, they showed the utmost
courage. being continually in the van
where the bullets were railing thick
est
Here's War Office Statement.
The French war office statement is
sued just before midnight gave the
following information.
THE allies had advanced their