The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-19

made it impossible to judge of the real
 Dature of his opposition to our passage of the river, but I have every reason to conclude that strong rear guards, at least three army corps, were holding the passages early in the morning." "On that morning I ordered the British forces to advance and make good the Aisne. The First corps and cavalry ad- vanced on the river. The First division was directed on Chaneuille, via the canal
 bridge at Bourg On the right the cavalry
 and First division met with little opposi- ton and found passage by means of the canal aqueduct which crosses the river.
 This division therefore was able to press
 on, supported by the cavalry bn the outer flank, driving the enemy before it.
 "On the left the leading troops of the Second division reached the river by 9
 o'clock. The Fifth infantry brigade only was able to cross the river in single file,
 under considerable shell fire by broken
 girder of bridge which was not entirely submerged in the river. A pontoon bridge
 was constructed by o'clock in the after noon.
 The Fourth Guards brigade met with severe opposition at Chavonne, and only late in the afternoon were able to estab- fish foothold on the northern bank of the river
 By nightfall the first division occupied the area around Moulins, Paissy and Geny. The Second division bivouacked on the southern bank of the river, leaving
 only the Fifth brigade on the north bank to establish a bridge head. The Second corps found all the bridges destroyed ex- cept that at Condo, which was in pos session of the enemy, and remained so un- til the end of the battle.
 Tn the approach to Missy, where the Fifth division eventually crossed, there iv rv,d {aI,a by artillery fire from the opposite banks. The Thirteenth brigade there fore was unable to advance but the Fourteenth. directed to less exposed point, was rafted over and at night es- tablished itself on the left of St Mar guerite, where later with the Fifteenth
 brigade, supported by the Fourth divis- ion on their left. it succeeded in re- polling heavy counter attacks on tile Third corps.
 "On the morning of the 18th the Third corps found the enemy estab- lished in strength on Vregny plateau. The Twelfth infantry crossed at Venizel, but the bridge was so damaged that the artillery could only be man-han-
 dled across it. Meanwhile the construc- ] tion of a bridge began close to the road l bridge at Venizel.
 At 3 p. m. an infantry attack in | the direction of Chivres and vregny had made good progress but at 5:30 D. m the enemy's artillery and machine
 gun fire from the direction of Vregny became so severe that no further prog ress could be made. The positions reached were held until dark. The Third corps made an attempt to throw a heavy pontoon across the river late In the afternoon but gave up because oi the heavy howitzer fire of the enemy
 'In the evening the enemy retired at all points and entrenched himself on high ground about two miles nortl of the river. along which runs tho Chemin des Danes. Detachments of in fantry, however. strongly entrenchet in commanding positions down tht slopes and on various spurs were lef
 in front of all three army corps witt powerful artillery in support of them
 Incessant Work
 During the night of the 18th ant on the 14tht and following days fiele companies necessarily worked nigh
 and day. throwing eight pontoons ant
 one foot bridge across the river unde
 n generally heavy artillery fire, whicl was necessarily kept up on most O
 the crossings after their completion
 The other wagon and railway bridg , was temporarily repaired to take foo , passengers; one would take a weigh up to six tons. The operations of tn