The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-26
GERMANS SUDDENLY CHANGE PLANS
WHEN ALMOST AT GATES OF PARIS
BY n. Nj. ToMLINsoN.
International News Sersice

I
greater significance than that worked
on the German plan by Lege. Lege
only interrupted that plan Just when
it seemed certain of success, the plan
had been definitely changed.
Why was it changed when Paris ap-
peared within reach?
After my first journey along the
battle line I indicated the rapid ad-
vance Of the German right wing NOV
ing directly on Paris through Amiens
The tunnels Of Amiens were blown up
behind the last train Of fugitives OF
| whom I was one Saturday, August
%, the enemy seemed irresistible.
The northwest coast OF France as far
| as Dieppe was in their hands.
But even then had reason to be
heve the allies were favorabIy dis
posed to check that advance.
I was unpleasantly surprised on my
second journey south to find that at
Beauvais, south of Amiens, I was
actually between the French and Ger
man forces
A rapid and perilous fight from
! there along the German front brought
me to Criel, 80 miles north Of Paris
I found the British headquarters and
| center of the allies there. That night,
September 2, the main armies were
in contact I spoke to British sol
diers engaged that day at Senlis, only
II miles from the Paris Notifications.
Big Battle Beginning.
Paris was within sound of the Ger
man guns. A stupendous battle was
| beginning.
The German forces were beginning
to strike as I got into Paris. But the
allies were between and ranged on
either flank of the Germans in the
northeasterly direction TO Aumale and
hezieres.
The scenes in Paris viii never be
forgotten.
Parisians could learn nothing from
their heavily censored press They
could not believe me when I told them
the English infantry had encountered
the Prussian cavalry close to their
city. There were, however, no signs
Of panic.
Indeed, 1 have seen nothing Of that
/ sort in the whole French war area.
What one saw in Paris was grief.
The streets and railway stations
became filed with weary, anxious
! fugitives. Was there anything on
earth which could stop the Germans?
The French soldiers smiled content
eddy when discussing the matter. It
looked bad enough, they admitted, but
what if the Prussians thought so,
too?
Driver Back Now.
And s-
so close to Paris. They realize that
something to their disadvantage has
occurred and have changed their
minds about at $3.50 a. N. The train
was so full of refugees that they we're
massed in corridors propped up
against each other asleep. had part
Of compartment floor to sleep on.
The horrors Of that journey are
part Of the Armageddon, no doubt.
But they do not come into this mar.
rative.
We crept stealthily through long
lighted tunnels. The wheels hardly
moved.
A few days before the country to
the east was only possible" as
Frenchmen put IT. The Germans
were everywhere. As we now pro-
crossed I became conscious that a
weight had been lifted from that part
Of France.
The Germans Gone.
The Germans had gone. There was
no doubt Of it We saw men fishing
and pulling carrots in a district that
but q few days before seemed over
run by the enemy's Iegions.
ha4 -
~ very little The French force, !
can vouch, was far too weak to be
effective. It really looked as though
there were an invitation for them to
come that way.
Had the three days battle at Creil
checked the enemy? Something mo-
mentous had happened
To the northeast the Germans had
passed Rheims. A hurried motor
} journey showed in that direction the
} land was clear.
! It was quite evident they had
changed their plan Of attack and theil
front and were marching southeast
with their usual rapidity.
New Move Seen.
: I set out to discover what had hap
ROACo- " 90 NAO Ddll4C -OuSnL Dg luS
, German right at Cren intended Il
mask a new German movement Il
J break through the French forces
ranged northeasterly through Rheims
The German forces had been NOV
; ing with exceptional mobility am
strength almost due south from tn,
/ line of Lille and Namur
: The French and British forces hat
been forced back from position to Do
sition- Indeed, it is wonderful tn
-----~-~~---~-~-~---o-~0-