The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-13
Now in Position to Threaten the
Whole German Battle
Line.
Spsc,ai cable Despafch to The suS.

PARIS. oct. 12.-Gen. Joffre's reports
to-day state positively that the allies
are getting IA foothold upon the heights
OF the Aisne. thereby imperilling the
whole German fortified position from
Scissors to the ridge OF the Argonnc.
While advancing at this point. the
hinge OF the battle line. the French
also are gradually lessening tho strain
near Verdun and are making new
progress against the Germans in the
Vosges Everywhere. from Belgium to
Lorraine, the allied line holds stanchly.
The official reports point to the TACT
that the Germans are generally on the
defensive. are forced to fight for their
communications and are unable to set in
motion a dangerous offensive.
The artillery combats slackened to-
day because of the fog In northern
France. But in the extreme north
cavalry engagements mark the conflict.
while there has been violent infantry
fighting north of Scissors and along
the eastern fortress barrier.
II Is unofficially reported that the
allies are massing rapidly To defend
Ostend and the coast cities and that the
| Germans, while threatening the new
| capital OF Belgium. have been beaten
| back IN several encounters. Slowly the
operations In northern France and In
| Belgium are becoming connected, form
ing a new battle line.
! The Government reports Of to-day as
serted with all possible emphasis that
the allies are either holding their posi-
lions or are making some advances.
The night communique issued at ll:l1
| o'clock, was az follows:
There is no detailed Information
to mako public. Violent attacks
have been made AT many points
/ along the front. We have gained
some ground; nowhere have we lost
any.
| The report OF the afternoon was as
usual. more in detail. and confirmed un-
official reports that the Germans have
nowhere been able to deliver successful
attacks, and that they have suffered
reverses in important regions. The text
OF the early communicates which was
given out at 3:l5 7. NJ, was as follows:
F1rst--Our left wing cavalry
actions continue In the region OF La
Bassee Estaires and HazebrouCk.
Between Arras and the Disc the
enemy mas attempted 10 lhko inc
offensive several times, but has
failed. especially between Lass!gny
and Hoye.
liza Bassee, Estaires and Hazebroucll
are IN the Department OF the Nord. north
OF Paris and only n short distance from
the Belgian frontier. Hazebrouck Is
nearest the French dpast. being only
about forty miles from Boulogne, 1t Is
twenty-five miles northwest OF Lille. La
Bassee and Estaires are, generally speak
ing. on the line OF tho allies thanking
movement to the north Both are slightly
southeast of IAlle and north OF Arras.
SeCond--In the centre We have
made some progress on the plateaux
on the right hank of tho Aisnc.
downstream from Scissors, also to
the east and southeast Of Verdun.
Third-On our right wing in the
Nosgcs the enemy has made "a night
attack in the region OF Ban de Sapt,
to the north OF st. Die. where he
, was rcpulsed.
Ban de Sapt is a small village sis
miles north of ST Die In the Vosges neaI
the German frontier and east OF tn,
} fortress OF EpinaLl
: The mag captured yesterday be-
lonGed to the Sixth Regiment OF
' Pomcrlan Infantry, No 40, OF the
T Second i'russian Army Corps,
The fusllier marincs brigade was