Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-16
Gen. Won kIuek Captured.

Should the bulletin from London on
Tuesday afternoon, prove true, the
most unlocked for and significant
stage of the war has been reached,
This bulletin flashed round the world
the intelligence that the army Of Gen
erai Won Kluck had been forced to
surrender Ii would indicate that
the first phase of this titanic struggle
had been decided in favor of the allies,
For several days 1t has been known
that the German forces were in re-
treat Mondays dispatches showed
faster advance of the forces of the
allies than did the Germans after
crossing the French border. The
Germans seem to make greater
progress backward, and il last nights
reports are to be entirely credited, the
German line is already half way to the
Belgian frontier driven so miles far
Their from Paris and thus preeiuding
all thought of a possible siege Of Paris
In the near 1utufe,
In weeks time. the positions have
become reversed, and the mighty and
somewhat generally accepted as tr-
resistible German pursner has become
the pursued. With more than usual
interest, the people of America will
await the details of the reported cap
ture of the great fighting force Of
General Won Kluck At this time 1t
would appear that persistent Belgian
offensive had prevented reinforce
ments in the north from coming 10
Kluck's assistance. IL would seem
that Frances stragetical defensive
had succeeded beyond all expectations,
as viewed from this side of the water,
Advancing OF Yetreating, the Germans
are feeling the intensity of the Bel
gian resentment of their outraged
neutrality. Every day the world Is
seeing a new demonstration of the
fghting capabilities OF that wonderful
little nation which inhabits the nat
ural battle-ground of Europe,
The allies have been the aggressors
for several days, and at this time, u
reports can be rAlied upon. many
things are in their favor, Mondays
dispatches reported an entirely new
and fresh French army as launched
London Times placed this new factor
at 500, 900 men. IL 1t is half that
unmber with the German forces all
ready retreatng, and wearied from
campaign of several weeks in a for
eign country, and far from it's base OF
supplies it would seem to make such
possibilities as reported today entire-
ly possible.
Combining yesterdays confirmed res
ports, with today's uneenfirmed DULLES
tins, it would appear that General. Won
Kluck, lighting tooth and nall" to
prevent the French left from inter-
eepting his line Of retreat, the French
general had suddenly hurled this new
battering ram upon him, while Bel
gian forces had shut off possible re-
Inducements, To many 1t seemed a
fooihardy thing when General Won
Kluek drove his mighty military
wedge almost to the gates OF Paris.
many long leagues from his base OF
supplies, in a hostile country with
enemy before, and defeated but not
vanquished enemy in his rear, 1t was
a great feat, and undoubtedly created
tremendous military enthusiasm in
Germany and temporarily proved the
claim that the German land forces
were irresistible to any other military
force on earth. To-Day, his army
tired out, its strategists wearied by
weeks of mental as we'll as physical
strain, the allies have sprung the
Jaws of trap that may figure largely
in the fortunes of the war from now
ON.
1t may even be guessed that the
long drawn out retirement of the all
lied forces, almost into the suburbs Of
the French capital. was for no other
purpose than to weary the German
forces, entice them away from their
base of supplies, and give the allies
time In which to perfect their cam
paign and bring up fresh forces that
should speak decisively.
The steady, logged courage Of the