The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-30


 shaken.
 Admired Even By Enemies
 Then the German war machine com menced an advance that excited the ad- miration even of their enemies. With their heavy field artillery, the efficiency of which the world had never suspected. they battered the allies line of retreat. These heavy krupp guns are indeed the surprise and marvel of this campaign. Mounted on motor carriages they move with great swiftness. I understand that the Germans put them into the fight un- supported; that is, in advance of their infantry lines. The French field artillery, which is reputed to be the best in the world and after which our own service Is modelled. is considerably embarrassed by thees tactics. They turn their 775 nm. guns on to a German mortar and at lentsh bowl 1t over. But no sooner this Is done than another is rushed up to it's place and in a few moments is roaring with as deadly effect as its stricken pre- decessor had been before it was put out of action.
 The infantry. too, follows these same formation and despite the havoc the ene- mics rife fire and rapid fire guns play in their ranks they throw against the allies trenches the dead weight of mum bers. If the line of resistance gives away they seize the enemy's late position; if it holds they continue to concentrate against it the weight of massed battalions until it does give away. If the front line becomes exhausted they bring up fresh regiments to take it's place. The firing line is supplied with ammunition, arms and provisions by the supporting lines Every gap that Is pounded into the line is immediately filled in. Everything that is destroyed Is replaced except human life, which seems to be regarded lightly by this great fighting machine.
 Nothing to Do But Retreat
 In the face of this attack the English and French had nothing to do but retreat. protecting their own men and harassing the enemy wherever they could There Is no doubt that during this retreat both sides lost tremendously, but the allies kept their lines intact, though not with out making large sacrifices to do so. Sir John French. in his report to Lord Kitch- eher' makes no attempt to minimize his ioss' Indeed, he states that at one point ne was faced with annihilation but by a series of quick and clever moves es- capped it.
 At length the allied army reached the south bank of the Marne, which gave .neln a position which they could attempt
 rs SifiIi6 DdItle themselves and striking with their entire strength all along the line. The Germans. meantime. were Tn state of exhaustion from their terrihc forced marching, and it is prob auie that tneir assaults on the allies who were resting in their positions as much as possible, were not so powerful as iormerly. At all events the Germans were souhdly beaten, and themselves had to taste the bitterness of retreat with a TelenLleSS enemy hail the positions they had paid so heavily to gain.
 High Tide At Meaux
 The wave of the German invasion in thls campaign reached it's high tide at Meaux. Look at the map and you will see how very close to Paris this point IS. The battle there was terrific dur Ing several days. The ground was fought over so much that in some cases the wounded were left unattended on the field Tor two days, and the dead are not even buried by now, I believe I have talked With number of people who witnessed the battle or visited it shortly after- ward. It was very difficult to get out to the battlefield and 1t was rather fool nardy for one to. try it, for besides the danger of being shot by a sentinel one ran great danger of being arrested as spy. German spies were being caught
 
 tempt to pass the lines it is necessary to nave "laisser-pass sser'' from General daliieni or the minister of war. These permits are very difficult to get and there Is so much red tape to go through With and so many different officials have 70 indorse them before they are correct that very few people have so far gotten them.
 Efforts to Get Passes
 
 officers attached to the embassy who were making frantic efforts to get on to the held. About dozen of them were young men lately graduated from West roiht, and Of course they were very anx ious to get out themselves The onlv one or these younger men who seems to have succeeded at all is a tall North Caro- hiliah' ana It appears that he has seen more than anyone else His inoapt,itv in providing himself with passes and ,sat, ung through the lines is exceptional mar ucuiarly as he speaks very little French am told that he has several times got ten right on to the French firing line ana there does not seem to be any part of 1he held between Meaux and Soissons that he Is not acquainted with. Yester- oay ne told me that the Germans had penetrated considerably closer to Paris than Meaux. He said he had found con siderable numbers of German dead at a point IT kilometers from the city which must have been right under the guns of the outer defenses of Paris.
 Another officer, captain, told me that he had driven his automobile right m into the French trenches while they were un- der ire. He said that from this position he could see the German gunners work ing their big mortars. After the firing ceased he walked out over the field nar. ticularly where were found the German dead. His description of this scene wac particularly vivid. Though the carnage had been horrible, yet. from the profess sional standpoint the work of the French had been beautiful, he said. The mitrail- leuses. or rapid-fre guns, had swent tba German advance with such dense ao- curacy that 1t seemed as if whole lines of men were toppling over together while the dreadful 75's were tearing the lines with shrapnel. Most of the dead, he said had many wounds
 One Face Attracted Attention
 There was one face so he told me. among the dead Germans that arrested his attention particularly. It was that of young fellow of 20 or 21 who was lying considerably in advance of the po- sition the Germans had occupied. He had fallen there in kind of kneeling pos