Gilpin observer., 1914-09-24

Dltter disappointment. From letters
found on dead soldiers there is no
doubt there was a general impression
amongst the enemy's troops that they
were about to enter Paris.
Hand-to-Hand Fighting.
"On Tuesday, September 8, the Ger.
man movement northeastward was
continued. Their rear guards on the
south Of the Marne were being
pressed back to that river by our
troops and by the French on our right.
the latter capturing three villages
after hand-to-hand fight and the in
fiction of severe loss on the enemy.
"The fighting along the Ourcq con-
tinued on this day and was of the most
sanguinary character, for the Ger
mans had massed q great force Of ar
tillery along this line. Few Of their
infantry were seen by the French.
THE French fifth army also made
a fierce attack on the Germans in
Montmirail, regaining that place.
"On Wednesday, September 9, tho
battle between the French sixth army
and what was now the German flank
guard along the Ourcq continued.
British Take Up Pursuit.
The British corps, overcoming
some resistance on the River Petit
NORM. crossed the Marne in pursuit of
the Germans, who now were hastily
retreating northward. One of our
corps was delayed by an obstinate de-
Tense made by a strong rear guard
with machine guns at La Ferte-Sous-
Jouarre, where the bridge had been
destroyed.
"On Thursday, September 10, the
French sixth army continued its pres
sure on the west, while the fifth army,
by forced marches, reached the line of
Chateau Thierry and Dormans on the
Marne. Our troops also continued the
pursuit on the north of the latter river.
and after considerable amount Of
fighting captured some 1900 prisoners.
four guns, six machine guns and fifty
| transport wagons.
Many Of the enemy were killed or
| wounded. and the numerous thick
woods which dot the country north Of
the Marne are filled with German
stragglers. Most Of them appeared
| to have been without food for at least
two days.
| Germans Eager to Surrender.
Indeed, in this area of the opera
tions the Germans seemed to be de-
moralized and inclined to surrender in
small parties, and the general situa-
| tion appears to be most favorable to
the allies.
| Much brutal and senseless damage
has been done in the villages occupied
by the enemy. Property has been wan
tonly destroyed. Pictures In chateaus
have been ripped up and houses gen.
orally have been pillaged.
Interesting incidents have occurred
during the fighting. On September
10 part of our Second army corps ad.
vanced into the north and found itself
marching parallel with another in
fantry force at some little distance
away. At first 1t was thought this was
another British unit.--After some time
however, 1t was discovered that it was
body of Germans retreating.
Germans Caught In Trap.
| Measures promptly were taken to
head off the enemy, who were sur.
rounded and trapped in a sunken road
where over 400 men surrendered.
"On September 10 small party un.
der noncommissioned officer was cut
off and surrounded. After a desperate
resistance it was decided to go on
fighting to the end. Finally the non.
commissioned officer and one man
only were left. both Of them being
wounded.
THE Germans came up and shouted
to them, Lay down your arms!' The
German commander. however, signed
to them to keep their arms and then
asked permission to shake hands with
the wounded noncommissioned officer
who was carried off on his stretcher
with his rifle by his side.
"One of the features of the cam.
paign on our side has been the success
obtained by the Royal Flying corps.
Praise to British Avfators.
1T is impossible either to award too
much praise to our aviators for the
way they have carried out their duties
or to overestimate the value of the in
telligence collected. more especially
during the recent advance.
THE constant object of our aviators
has been to effect an accurate location
of the enemy's forces. and. incidental
ly. since the operations cover SO large
an area. OF our own units.
Nevertheless. the tactics adopted
for dealing with hostile air craft are
to attack them instantly with one or
more British machines. This has been
so far successful that in five cases
German pilots or observers have been
shot while in the air and their ma
chimes brought to the ground. AS a
consequence the British flying corps
has succeeded In establishing an In
dividual ascendancy which is as SER
viceable to us as 1t is damaging to
the enemy"