The Washington herald., 1914-09-09
FORCE
GERMANS BACK
CONTINUED PROM PAGE ONE.

to believe that the German plan Of be-
sieging Paris, IL not abandoned. has been
rendered absolutely impossible by the
days events, work OF preparing the de-
fenses for attack continues.
None but soldiers are permitted within
the chain OF forts. and the railroads con-
Meeting the various defenses are filled
with trains transferring men and sup
plies.
An official war ministry announcement.
issued at midnight. states:
After retreating across the Petit Mo-
rim, the Germans delivered fierce. unsuc-
cessful attacks against the French troops
threatening the German lines Of COM
munication.
The British continue their offensive
work in the direction OF Marne, north of
SeZanne.
The allies troops are progressing. but
with difficulty.
"The French center has engaged in a
violent fight, with varying fortunes.
"On the French right the situation is
favorable to the allies before Nancy and
in the Vosges"
Must Form New Plans.
London, Sept S-A Paris dispatch to
the Times says:
The news that the Germans have eyac-
uated the neIghborhoOd Of COmpiegne
and Senlis and have abandoned for the
present their advance on Paris is very
reassuring. They seem to be throwing
the bulk Of their forces eastward in an
endeavor to break the French line and
to pen the main army up between the
eastern frontier and the Upper Seine and
the Marne. but whatever may be their
intention II is clear that for the moment
they are embarrassed.
Their original and acknowledged de-
sign was 10 strike straight for Paris
and seize the capital a move which they
believed would paraIyze the French re-
sistance
Another desire. Of secondary Importance,
no doubt, to the general stan, but cher
ished, apparently, with bitter earnestness
by the whole German army. was to
| smash the British army to pieces so that
II should not longer exist as a fighting
force for the rest Of the war.
Both of these hopes they have had TO
| abandon for the present and cast their
plans afresh.
Further proof Of this breakdown OF
their strategic hypothesis is the with
drawal reported by the swiss and Italian
papers from Basle. Of the bulk OF the
large army which was holding the
French forces engaged IL not hemmed in,
in the region Of BelfOrt. No theories.
however. which can be formed here as
to the movements or Intentions of the
respective armies can possess any value.
Think 1t TIue to strike.
The prevailing feeling is that now is
the time TO strike hard when. in the
opinion of leading military authorities
Of the city. Gen JOffre has the German
army at bay. II is pointed out that the
exhausted troops of Emperor William
who are estimated at 5000 men-Rre
now forced TO encounter on a field OF
the allies own selection the relatively
fresh troops OF France and England in
a position within easy reach of sup
plies and re-enforCements.
The Germans are in a hostile country
and at distances relatively great from
their home bases. The invaders today.
II Is believed. are at their greatest
strength. while the defenders Of France.
especially the British contInEents, are
constantly being augmented.
250.uOO RuusSianS Landed.
Atop Of this tho runor is persistently
spreading that 2jN.OIO Russians have been
landed in France from England. and as
a part of the general Offensive movement
against the Germans shortly will be
started south in sweeping attack on
the invaders rear.
Similarly. the BelEians have shown re-
newed activity simultaneously with the
advance movement Of the allie. and they.
too. are counted upon to aid in the rear
attack which in conjunction with the
Russians. may result In the severance
OF the enemy's communication with his
base at AiX-la-Chapelle.
The fighting along the l36-mile line east
Of Paris to the German frontier undoubt-
edly will last for a number Of days.