The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-11-05

Issued long reports from Field Mar
shall General Sir John French detailing
the operations OF the British expedi.
tionary force in France and their prog.
ress from August % TO October is.
This covers the retirement OF the
British from Mons southwark TO the
seine and the advance back 10 the
River Aisne and the Iirst stage OF the
desperate encounters along the line of
that river, II was September S when
the allies took the orfense.
The report contained this startling
information:
1T is fact that between September
IL and October the total OF killed,
wounded and missing among the Brit.
ish expeditionary force has reached
b6l officers and l2.ss0 men. proving
the severity OF the struggle in which
our troops have been engaged"
Following is the statement issued
by the press bureaus
Sir John Frenoh's lrst report. dated
September II says:
In spite OF very determined resis.
lance on the part OF the enemy, who
Is holding In strength and with great
tenacity a position peculiarly favor
able to defense. the battle which com.
menced ON the evening of September
IL has so far forced the enemy back
from his first position, secured pas
sage OF the river, and inflicted great
loss upon him, including the capture
OF over 1000 prisoners and several
guns"
The dispatch gives details of the
retreat on August 2s and 30. GEN
erals Cough and Chetwode, with the
Third and Fifth Cavalry brigadea,
covered the retreat repClsing the Ger
mans with great loss.
German Pursuit Vigorous
THE pursuit by the enemy contin.
ues the report, was very vigorous.
Some Ave or six German corps were
on the Somme facing the flfth army;
on the Disc at least two corps were
advancing toward M front and were
crossing the Somme east and west OF
Ham; three ar four more German
corps were opposing the Sixth French
army on my left.
"on September s General Joffre do
cided to take the offensive. as he
considered conditions very favorable
20 success"
Field Marshal French believes that
about noon on the 9th the enemy re.
allied that a powerful threat was
being made against the flank of his
columns moving south and east and
began the great retreat which opened
the battle.
This battle. 30 far as the Sixth
French army. the British army and
the Fifth and Ninth French armies
were concerned. was concluded on the
evening OF September 10. when the
Germans had been driven to the Sois-
sons-Reims line. with the loss Of
Thousands OF prisoners, many guns
and enormous masses OF transport.
On the sth both the First and Sec
ond army corps made large captures
and took some guns. On the 9th
after forcing the passage OF the Marne,
they inflicted a heavy loss In killed
and wounded on the Germans, while
the Second division took some huR.
dreds OF prisoners and a battery OF
eight machine guns.
Field Marshal French's second re-
port, dated October s. concerns the
operations OF the British 70, Ses since
the evening Of September 10. II reads;
Early in the morning OF the nth
three corps crossed the Oureq. fur
Their pursuit of the enemy being prac.
tically unopposed. the cavalry reach.
Ing the line OF the Aisne, two brig.
AIDES south OF Scissors and three brig
AIDES at Couvrellis and Carseuil. on
the afternoon OF September ~.
Battle Of Aisne opens.
''The Fifth division approached Mis-.
Ey. but we're unable to make headway.
The west army corps reached the
neighborhood Of Vauxcere without
much opposition. In this manner the
battle OF the Aisne commenced
The position Of the enemy was
very strong either for delaying action
or for defensive battle.
ION the morning OF the 18th ! or
dered the British forces 10 advance
and make the passage OF the Aisne,
The FIRST corps and cavalry advanced
on the river The first division was
directed on Chanouville, via the canal
bridge al BourE.
by niRhtfall the hrst division oc-
eupied the area around Moulins. Passa
and Geny. The Second division biv.
ouacked on the southern bank OF the
river. leaving only the FIFTH brigade
on the north bank TO establish a
bridge head
Checked BY Artillery.
"In the approach TO Missy. where
the Fifth division eventually crossed.
there Is some open ground, which
was swept by artillery ERE from the
opposite bank The Thirteenth bri.
Eade. therefore. Was unable TO adj
vance. but the Fourteenth. directed to
less exposed point was RATED over.
and at night established itself on the
left Of Salnts Marguerite. where later.
with the Fifteenth brigade supported
b. the Fourth division on their left. II
succeeded In repelling heavy counter.