The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-21
BACKWARD.

l
Austria continues while the Montene-
grins are reported within few miles
of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.
| One reason for the dearth of news
from the battle Is to be found in the
bad weather which has rendered ordi-
unavailable. Stories now filtering
through s.. forth tina. the Germans
made desperate efforts, the middle or
Hast week. to recapture the ground they
had lost along the river ASH.
| Rheims, where the ruins Of the fam
Gus cathedral are still smoking. Is like
ly to prove an object of controversy
long after the military forces now in
tie field have cease to contend for Its
possession. The Germans claim the
cathedral was in the line. OF fire and
that it was impossible to save 1t. in
spite of their instructions to spare the
building.
According to this intelligence. a COM
bined Serbo- Montenegrin army expects
to, enter Sarajevo within asweek.
While the fortunes OF battle nuctuale
between. the lines along the center OF
the extended front in France, desperate
efforts are being made to execute turn
ing movements on both Hanks
1 Th0 Anglo Preach sleft wing In sexerSs
ling every ounce Of strength TO turn. the
flank OF the German General Won
Kluck, who is reported as having re-
ceived heavy reinforcements. while the
German left, according to4a cautiously,
worded announcement in Berlinr .
making equally strenuous, efforts to
outfank the French right resting on
Verdun.
| Under ordinary weather conditions
the Anglo-French task would be the
easier, for the reason that Verdun,
heavily fortified. must fall before the
French right can be seriously threat
ened; but IN the German right the
cy1oh q
of the valley of the Disc that the allies
are hardly likely to move along what
would be their natural course until the
German front north OF Scissors has
been driven back. The high ground be-
tween Noyon and Chauny has been
heavily fortified by General Won Kluck
and it dominates the whole valley of
| the Disc.
That the Germans chose their present
defensive position deliberately is 1nd1-
Gated by the fact that their heavy artfl-
llery rests on cement foundations. Some
reports received in London declared the
reason for the desperate German coun-
ter attacks on Rheims Is found In q
movement of the allies which has viz
! tually isolated Rheims from Laon,
town thirty miles to the nortnwest. II
this is true, all of General Won kluck's
marvellous strategy in protecting his
sorely pressed left flank will have
proved futile.
| French Follow Advantage.
Paris, Sept. 21.-The following official
announcement was given out IN faris
today:
| First-Our left wing. on the right
bank of the River Disc. we have ad-
,vanced as far as the heights OF Las
signy, west Of Noyon. 40 the east Oise
and to the north of the river Aisne the
Germans have given evidence OF re-
Icrudescence of activity.
| HALL Rack to ArdenneS?
Paris. Sept. e1.-The Echo De Paris
| declares it has the best of authority
for stating that General Won kluVk,
lwho has suffered such tremendous
4 Ardennes where he will make another
stand.
Paris, Sept. 21.-In the region Of
Craonne there have been violent en-
counters which did not stop short of
everywhere repulsed, with consider
able losses. In the country around
Rheims the enemy has not undertaken
any infantry attacks combining him
our front. from heavy guns.
Second, on our center, in the
| Champagne country. and on the west
ern slopes of the Argonne river. an ex-
ception being made OF Souain. we have
taken Mesnilles-Sur- and Massigs.
In the Woevre district the enemy still
holds the region Of Thiaucourt. and
has ccnnonaded Hasson Chatel:
i ION our right wing. Lorraine and
the Vosges, there is nothing new. The
lGermans are terrifying themselves in
the vicinity of Delmiet, to the south
of Chateau Salins."
| London. Sept. 21.-A Paris dispatch
Ito the London Chronicle says:
Il "The German positions are still
strong but have been pierced. Instead
of a continuous wall they are now d.
lvided into three groups on intrenched
hills which arc liable to be isolated.''