The Washington herald., 1914-09-19
ARTILLERY DUEL
RACES ON AISNE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

/
going TO leave decision Of the gigantic
conflict to the big guns. The struggle Is
50 titanic that mere numerical strength,
even when that strength Is counted into
the millions, has proved itself inade-
quate to force the issue to decisive con-
clusion.
To hurl more of these human atoms
forward from their intrenched positions
against the deadly fire of the rival bat
teries has been found suicidal even by
the Germans. whose utter disregard for
losses has been the wonder OF the wPr.
The French are rushing more big guns
to the attack in an effort to dislodge the
Germans from the intrenched fortified
positions they still maintain on the
heights north Of the Aisne, despite the
six days Of furious onslaught which con-
tinues with undated fierceness.
Allies Assaults Fail.
In this period which equals the dura-
ton OF the battle OF the Marne the allies
occupying superior positions and fighting
an army far removed from its base, has
only been able TO keep the Germans on
the defensive. All attempts to break
through the invaders lines have failed.
The German lines still are intact and
they have succeeded in gaining another
Jay WHICH inc CTO"n dIIlg
may make good Its withdrawal from the
eastern frontier under cover.
From six days the big battle may even
stretch into two weeks. The allies are
fighting methodically and method means
elaboration. Also the heavy rains have
rendered the roads almost impossible
and II will take several days for the
additional heavy guns to reach their po-
sitions on the line and make themselves
E-NG a - Al
German positions they will be depended
upon by the French general stan to de-
eide favorably the great artillery duel
which is being waged.
French Claim Progress.
At the first sign of a break in the Ger
man front. which is torn by the allies
shells, cavalry will be hurled into the
breach, followed quickly by the infantry.
Official news late tonight was confined
to the statement that the French had
progressed slightly on the left. and that
there had been a general lull In the Tight
ing late in the day along the whole line.
Dispatches from the front to the war
Office during the day told Of three yio-
lent night counterattacks by the Germans
which were repulsed by the allies from
Craonne. From Craonne to Rheims the
allies had pressed forward slightly. A
night assault by the invaders to retake
Rheims as base for their operations was
repulsed with heavy losses. The Ger
mans have thrown up important fortih-
cations for their defensive campaign from
north of Rheims to the Argonne region.
In these attacks and counterattacks the
loss Of life was enormous. This is true
with the French, who have been fighting
in open order; the losses sustained by
the enemy, who has been attacking and
t.. IL aNrNr
have been much greater.
On Defensive in Alsace.
Pressure against the armies OF the
Crown Prince Frederick William and
Crown Prince Rupprecht. Of Bavaria. by
the French right wing continues from the
Suippes River east across the Meuse- The
German line at Vsrennes has been moved
to the northward and the enemy has
abandoned the towns Of Farrette, Moosch,
and Hinringen.
East of the Argonnes, In the Woerye
the situation practically is I'M
changed.
In Lorraine and vosges the Germans
have occupied defensive positions near
the frontier, and at Thanh, in Alsace, re-
Gently retaken by the French, and at
Belfort, in France. the enemy is reported
to have opened bombardments-
Along the Sambre River, from the vi
entity of Maubuege, near the Franco
Belgian frontier, to Namur, the Ger
mans have intrenched strongly, erecting
at Sobre CprobabIy Sofre-le-
Chateau, Thuin, Farciennes, Tamiens,
and Floreffe. the Inhabitants being forced |
to go to work under threats Of the Ger |
man troops.
Corps de Garhe Wiped Out.
The Prussian Corpe de Garde, the Kais- |
er's pride and the military elite organi- |
zation of Germany. has been almost |
wiped out by the successive disasters II |
has met on the Meuse. the Marine, and
the Aisne.
Seven thousand German prisoners, !
mostly wounded, from Bavarian. Saxon. !
and Hanoverian regiments arrived in /
Paris today. They reported that the !
Germans everywhere were short OF food. |
Reports OF the fighting on the allies |
left, which have just been received from |
Bordeaux where they were made by Of
icers returning from the front give 1
graphic descriptions Of night attack Of |
September Il, in which the Germans were |
ten times, but each time came |
on again in dense masses. The slaughter
was terrific, but at dawn the French /
reversed their positions and 1t was found |
that instead of being driven back by the |
fierce attacks of the enemy they had
gained ground.
More desperate fighting occurred on
September II. when the Germans were
hurled back over bitterly contested
ground more than six miles losing 600 |
men and a number of rand fire guns