South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-19

DeSplIe neaVy rains which are
| falling over the great French Dattle
field where the Germans and allies
are locked in a grip Of death. the
invaders have taken the offensive
on the center in order to re-
lieve the pressure of the British
against Gen. Won Kluk's army on
their right. Unofficial but apparently
reliable reports received here today
say that the Germans have taken up
position near the Supp river east by
northeast from Rheims, and are
bonn harding that city.
Several sections of Rheims are re-
ported to have been set on fire from
bursting shells which were directed
against the French troops in that
city
The government has not yet issued
any official figures in the great battle
of which this is the seventh day, but
unofficial estimates place the German
loss at 100, 600, and the allies at half
that number in killed and missing.
BOmbarding Rheims.
An English correspondent who has
succeeded IN getting through from
Rheims gives the following account
Of the situation near that point:
1.-THE stronghold of the German po-
L'Abbesse, three miles due east from
Rheims. There the Germans occupy
the site of what used 10 be the forts
Of Rheims and from there they are
bOmbarding the city. which was on
fire in eight places at o'clock
Thursday afternoon when 1 came
down from the tower Of the cathed-
raj from which I had been watching
the fierce battle since morning"
1u11 seams n have fallen Ox--ar q
battle front at some places, according
to the official war Office statement is
sued late last night but at other
points the artillery duel is proceed
ing with unmitigated violence. There
has been ferOcious night attacks in
which the soldiers struggled in hand
: to-hand combat. The troops on both
sides are fighting like men Of iron.
No Change I'm Lines.
SO far as known there has not been
any great change in the battle lines
Both the Germans and the allies have
taken up new positions at some
points. French and British cautiously
| advancing as the placements CT hid
den German batteries have been dis
! covered.
It is reported. but not officially,
that a German corps was surrounded
| by the allies on the Aisne river. The
allies sent forward a flag Of truce
with a demand for surrender. but the
Germans refused 10 give up and the
fighting at this point went on more
hercely than ever.
At many places on the Aisne line
the Germans were successful in mass
ing batteries upon the wooded hills.
4 The heavy hOwitZers OF these bat
teries have kept up an incessant can
nOnade, the shells doing havoc among
the French and British troops on the
south side OF the valley.
When the British and French aero
planes went up to discover these
placements they were met with a
murderous fire from the hilltop bat
| teries Of the invaders. In several in
| stances. however, the German guns
were located and the British and
French artillery concentrated against
them, compelling them to move.
Use SmOkeleSs Powder.
IN order TO prevent the location Of
these hidden batteries from Being
discovered the Germans used smoke
less powder in their cannon.
Some OF the trenches are half full
Of water from the heavy rains and
the troops are soaked through and
through. The soggy condition OF the
clay soil Is impeding the work OF dig
ging fresh trenches but the Germap
soldiers are held 10 this task and
night and day the labor goes forward
These lines are being constructed
all along the front They ara covered
with screens TO protect the soldiers
from shrapnel and at intervals plat
oons Of machine guns are stationed 20
sweep the ranks OF the French and