The Washington herald., 1914-09-22

finding the situation. as to its main
points. unchanged 40.
1T now became evident tnht tniS w
-. r.ar ruard OF Germans. but deter |
-oJrsd ,tand Of the army Of Gen. Won
Kluk Moreover II was strongly sus-
nected that German re-enforcements
were coming up.
Beat Back German Charges.
"on Tuesday afternoon very severe
attack was made by the enemy who eyi-
dentIy had been REINFORCED and who
seemed determined TO break through the
allied lines between Vic-Sur-Aisne and
Soissons This attack was heralded by
tremendous outburst Of the heavy Ger
man artillery, followed by a systematic
advance of the infantry. The infantry
OF the allies, aided by machine guns,
stood their ground, however, In Q most
splendid fashion, pouring deadly nre
into the attacking Germans. At certain
points. the allies repulsed the Germans
at the point Of bayonets.
with unabated fury, this battle con-
tinued an night and throughout We'd
nesday and Thursday. On Wednesday
night the Germans, in great fury at
tackled the French in the region near
Rheims. Three times they attacked, and
on each occasion they were repulsed with
attacked the English with equal fierce
ness In the neighborhood Of SoissonA
and again they were hurled back with
tremendous losses.
TrainIoads of Wounded.
'T have seen the terrible proof Of these
attacks and counter attacks in the train
loads of wounded that moved slowly
down the lines on the long journey to
the coast. Some of the wounds were
terrible, indicating the rigor and &C
curacy OF the shell.
'I had the Joy OF seeing a train Of
wagons passing me that carried about
a dozen of the artillery pieces that the
allies had captured from the Germans
zone soldier, describing the attacks OF
the Germans on Wednesday night and
Thursday told me that the soldiers OF
the enemy were literally thrown away.
He said the Germans were hurled upon
the allied troops with the force and the
speed Of a landslide, the officers evidently
feeling that the impetus charge would
sweep back the allied troops.
Germans Counted Upon Weight.
The Germans were hurled at the al
lied troops in close formation with eK-
treme wrecklessness as to human life.
Summed up in a word, it seemed as II
the German strategy was weight
The first sign of weakening on the
part OF the Germans was noticed Thurs
day afternoon after their fierce attacks
on that day had been repulsed with huge
losses.
The scene in the river valley Thurs
day was terrible yet wonderful despite
the rain that poured down. High over
head, above the clouds OF smoke, airships
were skimming. Guns thundered out
their murderous fire, and the air was ill-
ed with bullets and exploding shells. In
the marshes by the river the troops
were moving about over ground strewn
with the dead Of three nations. Dead
horses lay everywhere, mingling IN the
mass that covered the ground were brok-
en- machine guns, foundered cannon,
thousands OF different accoutrement
Farther along on the heights OF the
north bank were the trenches OF the
| allies. in which lay the soldiers, hidden.
but not so completely hidden that their
presence could not be discovered from
the air above the trenches.
Allies Gain Aisne Heights.
The battle then was almost a week
old The soldiers, wearied by their pur-
! suit OF the fleeing Germans. and even
more wearied and caTeworn by the con-
| slant fighting since Sunday, however.
were kept up by their indomitable will
power. Shells burst over them and all
around them. but they minded them not.
They had faced bullets. bayonet and
shells that carried their message Of death
! so often they had become used TO II.
As night fell on Thursday the allies
began TO drive back the Germans along
the extreme west OF the position back
from the river bank; that is. Noyon.
! The work was slow and laborious and
: the Germans contested every inch OF the
way. but the attack OF the allies was
relentless and foot by foot the Germans
backed away. At last the allies gained
six miles and took the nights above the
river.
The allies TODD 600 prisoners and a
number of fine machine guns.
Charges stagger Germans.
The allies made several charges on
the heights, facing the terrible hre OF
the enemy's artillery from the district OF
! Noyon, Laon and Fontenay. The charges
fairly staggered the enemy because OF
| their fierceness and suddenness, and they
accomplished their object.
"a German prisoner told me that the
courage OF the French and English dur
ing those charges amazed the Germans
I AT scissors only a slight advance was
made by the allies. This was due &c
placed in the Quarries, which form a
strong natural position. and by virtue
of their big guns and their position were
able to hold the allied troops partly ir
check.
The cost Of the fighting in the slopes
above the beautiful old town has beer
fearful.
"As I write the impression exists thai
the enemy's resistance is weakening. her
in the trenches state that the fire Of the
Germans has died down somewhat.
"One Of the German prisoners told ms
that Gen. Won Kluk, hoping TO smash
the allies lines. had hurled his entire
force upon them with all the fercenes:
possible, but that instead OF smashinG
the enemy's lines his own line had beer
broken and he was forced to leavev th'
heights to the west in the enemy!
hands.
"Soissons has suffered terribly. i
was subjected to daily bombardmentI
by the great German guns. Almos
iirreparable damage has been done Il
the famous cathedral and to tn
Church of st. Jean des Vignes.
TT is feared that II the lombard
ment continues the town will be re