Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-19
Staff Officer Of Sir John French
Gives Account Of Fighting
in France.
SIX RIVERS BEFORE ADVANCE
These run Across Direction Of
Forward March, Ht Any OF
witch Germans Able 60
Make Resistance,

RHH'N AhaleNhNt sNHAtAhNNN w. ANo
British army made steady progress in It's
endcavor to drive back the enemy In CO.
operation with the French The country
across which It had to force Its way and
with have TO continue to do 30, Is undulat-
ing and covered with patches OF thick
wood
within the area, which faced the Brit
ish before tho advance commenced, right
M to Laon. the chief feature Of tactical
Importance Is tho fact that there
are six rivers running across the d.
rectlon OF the advance. at all Of which
II was possible that the Germans might
make resistance. These are. in order
from the south, tho Marine. Ourcq. Vesl.
Alsne. Ailette and Disc.
Held Line Of Marine.
THE enemy held the line OF the Marine,
which was crossed by our forces septem-
Der ?. as q purely rear guard operation.
Our passage Of the Ourcd, which here
runs almost duo east and west, was not
contested. The Vesle was only lightly
held. while resistance along the Alsne,
both against the French and British, has
been and stu is OF determined char
actcr
position was met with along any part OF
our front and the direction OF the advance
Was, for the purpose OF cooperating with
our allies. turned slightly to the north
east. The day was spent in rushing for
ward and gathering In various hostile de-
tschmonts, BY nighttan our forces had
reached a line north OF the Ourcq. extend
ing from Oulchy-le Chateau TO Longpont.
General Advance of French.
"On this day there was also general
advance OF the French ell along their
whole line. which ended in a substantial
success, Inc one portion OF the field, Duke
Albrecht OF Wuerttemburg's army being
driven back across the Saulx, and else
where the whole artillery OF a German
corps being captured. Several German
colors also we're taken.
1T was only on this day that tn, full
extent OF the victory gained by the allies
on September was appreciated by them
and the moral effect OF this success has
been enormous An order dated Sep
TENDER and issued by the commander
! OF the German Seventh corps, was picked
up. 1t stated that the great object Of
the war was about to be attained, since
the French were going to accept battle.
| and that upon the result OF this battle
would depend the issue OF the war and
the honor OF the German armies.
Counted on French Retreat.
at seems probable that tho Germans
not only expected to find that the Brit.
ish army was beyond the power of as.
Stunning the offensive for some time, but
counted on the French having been
A.. 80
and that though surprised to find the
latter moving forward, against them
after they had crossed the Marine, they
were In no wise deferred from making a
great effort. On Saturday. September H.
the enemy we're found to be occupying
a very formidable position opposite us on
the north OF the line at Scissors They
! had both sides OF the river and an en-
trenched line on the hills TO the north OF
eight road bridges and two railway
! bridges crossing the Aisne. within our
section OF the front. Seven OF the for
mer and both OF the latter had been de-
molished
Gains Some High Ground.
Working from the west to the east
our Third army corps gained some high
ground south OF the Aisne overlooking
| the Asne valley, to the east of Soils
sons. Here q long range artillery due
between our guns and those OF the
French on our lett and the enemy 9
! artillery on the hills continued durins
| tho greater part OF the day, and did not
cease until nearly midnight. The enemy
had very large number Of heavy how
tiers In we'll concealed positions
The movement OF this army corps
was effected in cooperation With tie
! French Sixth army corps on our left
which gained the southern half OF this
town during the night.
The Second army corps did not cross
the Aisne The First army corps got
! over tho river Vesle. TO the south OF this
Aisne, after the crossing had been Sc
cured by the First cavalry division. L
then reached a line south of Aisne prac
tically without fighting.
Meets with Opposition.
AT Braisne the First cavalry division
met with considerable opposition from In
| fantry and machine guns holding tn,
town and guarding the bridge. with tbs
aid OF some OF our infantry * gained
possession OF the town about midday
driving the enemy 10 the north. SOM
| hundred prisoners were captured arount
! Braisne, where the Germans had throw
a large amount OF field gun ammunitioI
| into the river. where II was visible unde
/ two feet OF water
"On our right the French reached tn,
| line OF the river Vesle. On this day be
| gan an action along the Aisne which &
! not yet finished and which may be merel!
| OF a rear guard nature on large scale
or may be the commencement Of bat
tie OF a more serious nature.
Rains Heavily.
1T rained heavily on Saturday after
noon and all through the night, which
severely handicapped transport.
"On Sunday. September 10. eKtremel!
strong resistance was encountered tn,
whole of our front, which was some fif
teen miles In length. The action still
consisted for the most part OF long rang,
gun fire. that Of the Germans being 4
a great extent from their heavy howit
GERS. which were firing from cieverl!
concealed positions. Some OF the aetua
crossings of the Aisne were guarded b!
strong attachments. OF infantry with ma
chine guns.
by nightfall portions OF all three corp
were across the river, the cavalry re
turning to the south side. BY this might
or early next morning. three pontooT
bridges had been built and our troop
also managed to get across the rive