Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-09-18
GERMANS LOSING
GROUND IN FRANCE
ARMY or THE CROWN PRINCE
SUFFERS DEFEAT IN ATTACK
ON THE FRENCH LINE.
Allies Driving German Invaders Back
In Series Of Battles Which Prevents
Faaaed Soldiers from Securing
Moments Rest

Parfs.-The tide OF battle seems TO
have turned and the German forces
are on the defensive.
A furious battle is raging to the
north of the Aisne, where the Ger
mans have halted their retreat, thrown
up temporary earthworks and have
turned to resist the oncoming allies,
who have been hanging persistently
at their heels for six days.
The line Of the battle which will de-
eide whether the German army shall
be driven from France to pursue the
war on German territory extends from
the Aisne river to Verdun.
Five German armies have been con.
centrated here OF the seven which
constitute the army Of invasion ipl
France.
The army of the crown prince him.
self has suffered defeat in its attack
on the French line between Verdun
and Toul, where the Germans at
tempted to break through In order to
form a junction with the supporting
force east of the Mouse.
The part OF the line above the Aisne
on which the hardest lighting has oc
Aigle and Craonne, twelve miles
northeast Of Laon. Here the right
wing OF General Won Kluk and a part
of the forces Of General Won Buelow,
the latter having been driven back
from Rheims, on the Vesle river, to
ward Rethel, on the Aisne, twenty
two miles northwest of Rheims, are
bearing the brunt of the attack.
The fighting started with the rally
by the pursued Germans when the
British were attempting the crossing
OF the Aisne. Vicious attacks were
fleveled at the British ranks protecting
the engineers and the British finally
succeeded In forcing the passage with
great loss. Once the English troops
were safely lodged on the north side
Of the river the crossing of the French
right and left support was compar
atively easy task.
Meantime the main body Of the
Germans had chance to reform, but
no chance for rest, for the tagged sol
diers were driven to digging trenches
and throwing up the breaHtworkf
which now mark the front they are
defending.
The right OF the German center
army has taken up q strong position
20 the north of Rheims and Chalons.
The Amiens detachment Of the Ger
man army, which retired toward st
Quentine and Peronne after the eva.
cuation of Amiens, has been defen.
sively organized to the west of Rheims
ON line Of the old forts Of Nogente
PAbesse, Vitry and Fremont
Headquarters of one of the French
armies have been established In
Rheims.
In the French reoccupation Of
Rheims 600 German prisoners ant
twelve guns were captured.
Terrific rains that have continued
for three days greatly hinder the riva
armies, making the roads difficult o
passage and converting the marsl
lands into veritable lakes.
On the allies right, where thu
French have been opposing the arm,
of Grown Prince Frederick William
the Germans have been doubled bacl
on Etain, In France, and on Metz
Define and Chateau Salins, all in Lor
raine. The allies have reoccupied tn
fort of Troyon in the Woeve district
Although the Germans have beel
badly punished In their long retrea
and have lost many guns and mer
they maintain cohesion, and unles
the French succeed In their attemI
to get between the army Of the crow
prince and those operating to the wes
Of him, Emperor Williams forces wi
present a solid front when the tim
comes for another clash which will b
fully as important as the recent ba
tie.