Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
NINTH WEEK OF WAR
BATTLE ON AlSNE RIVER DRAGS
ALONG AND END IS NOT
IN SIGHT.
NEITHER SIDE REAL VICTORY
kaiser's Men Seem on Defensive Most
of Time-Beriin Admits French
Progress - Antwerp Attacked
to Keep BeIgians Back

Another week of agony In the Battle
of the Aisne-which might fifty be
called the War of the Aisne-has
dragged it's painful length along. Its
third week ended last Friday Yet
the struggle continues, and the stroke
of doom to put one side or the other
out of the fighting has not fallen.
Neither combatant has been able to
win the strangle-hold that renders the
other helpless.
The general character of the conflict
has not been quite the same as before.
Then 1t was siege, bombardment and
assault; now it is mainly defensive
offense by the German in endless ef-
fort everywhere to break the allies
advancing investment at the center
and their outflanking movement in the
west and north. A week ago the mill
tary experts believed the end at hand,
but today they only feel sure that 1t is
near. The French ana British action
on the allied left and the German en-.
deavor on the allies right to pass the
eastern forts and pierce the French
lines there persisted obstinately. The
invaders gained little ground tenn
porarily, but the allies center and left
simultaneously made constant and
lasting gains. The German left in
eastern France month ago suffered
much severer defeat than was then
suspected and has been ineffective
ever since, though struggling desper-
ately to outflank the French right be-
fore the AnglO-French left could out
flank the German right Whoever sue
ceeds first in these thanking actions
acquires decisive advantage. The
German center has been materially
weakened by reinforcing the German
right, and only its artillery and almost
impregnable entertainments, the prep
aration of which during the advance
on Paris betrays German uncertainty
of success, enabled it to delay the
French advance here, which, neverthe-
less, gained and kept new ground. The
German right, despite the strategic
genius of it's general, heavy reinforce
ments and inexpressible heroism and
endurance, has been forced north and
east within 80 miles of Belgium. Sig.
; nificanct evidence consists in the fact
that, whereas 1t originally faced south
it was forced to face west to prevent
development, and now fronts north
west, leaving it's flank and rear ex
posed. 1t is in the air, unsupported
like the French right, by fOrtresset
and entrenched positions. Its base Il
, critical. Its next move must be t.
, face north and retreat-if it can, ant
If it's roads are not held by the enemy
3 Judgment of the weeks develop
, ments is based on German evidence
; The Official authorities at Berlin &C
t knowledge that the French and Brit
= ish progressed steadily. German news
/. papers publish damaging admission
/. that fortnight ago would have cause
e suspension. German attacks on Ant
+ werp have been begun in order. II pot
n sible, to keep the dangerous Belgian
from harassing the German garrison
towns all along the Rhine are bein
}. strengthened These preparations ia
(: in the rear of the French battle reves
(: Germany's real views as to the cours
/. of military events in France. Meal
/ while-Russia is at the east gate.