The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-09-25

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troops had turned back since their
attack on Mons fortnight before, and
from reports received the order to
retreat when SO close to Paris was a
bitter disappointment. From letters
found on dead soldiers there is no
doubt there was a general impression
amongst the enemy's troops that they
| were about to enter Paris.
Hand-to-Hand Fighting.
"On Tuesday, September 8, the Ger
man movement northeastward was
continued. Their rear guards on the
south Of the Marine were being
pressed back to that river by our
troops and by the French on our right,
the latter capturing three villages
after hand-to-hand fight and the IN
Fiction of severe lose on the enemy.
THE fighting along the Ourcc con-
tinued on this day and was of the most
sanguinary character, for the Ger
mans had massed a great force of ar
tillery along this line. Few of their
infantry were seen by the French
The French fifth army also made
a fierce attack on the Germans in
| Montmirail, regaining that place.
"On Wednesday, September 9, the
battle between the French sixth army
and what was now the German flank
guard along the Ourcq continued
| British Take Up Pursuit.
| THE British corps, overcoming
some resistance on the River Petit
Morin crossed the Marine in pursuit Of
the Germans, who now were hastily
retreating northward. One of our
| corps was delayed by an obstinate de-
Tense made by strong rear guard
with machine guns at La Ferte-Sous-
| Jouarre, where the bridge had been
| destroyed.
On Thursday, September 10, the
French sixth army continued its pres
sure on the west, while the fifth army,
by forced marches, reached the line of
Chateau Thierry and Dorpans on the
Marine. Our troops also continued the
pursuit on the north of the latter river,
and after considerable amount of
| fighting captured some 1900 prisoners,
/ four guns, six machine guns and fifty
transport wagons.
Many of the enemy were killed or
wounded, and the numerous thick
woods which dot the country north of
the Marine are filled with German
stragglers. Most Of them appeared
/ to have been without food for at least
two days
Germans Eager to Surrender
Indeed, in this area of the opera
tions the Germans seemed to be de-
moralized and inclined to surrender in
small parties, and the general situa-
ton appears to be most favorable to
the allies.
Much brutal and senseless damage
has been done in the villages occupied
by the enemy. Property has been wan
tonly destroyed. Pictures in chateaus
have been ripped up and houses gem
orally have been pillaged.
Interesting incidents have occurred
| during the fighting. On September
10 part of our Second army corps adj
vanced into the north and found itself
| marching parallel with another in
fantry force at some little distance
away. At first 1t was thought thisywas
another British unit After some time,
| however, it was discovered that it was
body Of Germans retreating.
Germans Caught in Trap.
| Measures promptly were taken to
| head off the enemy, who were sur
rounded and trapped in sunken road,
where over 400 men surrendered.
"On September 10 small party I'M
der npncommissioned officer was cut
off and surrounded After desperate
resistance it was decided to go on
fighting to the end. Finally the nom
commissioned officer and one man
only were left, both of them being
| wounded.
"The Germans came up and shouted
to them, Lay down your arms!' The
| German commander, however, signed
to them to keep their arms and then
asked permission to shake hands with
the wounded noncommissioned officer,
who was carried off on his stretcher
with his rife by his side.
"One of the features of the cam
paign on our side has been the success
obtained by the Royal Flying corps
Praise to British Aviators.
| 1t is impossible either to award too
much praise to our aviators for the
way they have carried out their duties
or to overestimate the value of the in
telligence collected, more especially
during the recent advance.
The constant object of our ayiators
has been to effect an accurate location
of the enemy's forces, and, incidental-
ly, since the operations cover SO large
an area, of our own units.
Nevertheless, the tactics adopted
for dealing with hostile air craft ara
to attack them instantly with one or
more British machines. This has been
so far successful that in FIVE cases
German pilots or observers have been
shot while in the air and their ma
chimes brought to the ground AS a