Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-10-30
GEN. FRENCH REPORTS ON DESPERATE
FIGHTING IN BATTLE OF THE AISNE

SnaA GenPTai Sir John French detailing
the operations Of the British expedi-
tlonary fprce in France and their prog
ress from August % to October Is.
This covers the retirement of the
british from Mons southwark to the
seine ard the advance back to the
River Ais and the first stage of the
desperate encounters along the line of
mat river. 1t was September when
the allies took the offense
The report contained this startling
information:
1T Is d fact that between September
IL and October the total Of killed,
wounded and missing among the Brit
1sh expeditionary force has reached
sci officers and 1880 men, proving
the severity of the struggle in which
our troops have been engaged"
Following is the statement issued
by the press bureau:
Sir John Frenchs first report, dated
September II says:
In spite of very determined resis-
lance on the part of the enemy, who
is holding in strength and with great
tenacity position peculiarly favor
able to defense, the battle which com
menced on the evening OF September
IL has 90 far forced the enemy back
from biz first position, secured pas
sage of the river, and inflicted great
loss upon him, including the capture
of over 1000 prisoners and several
guns"
The dispatch gives details OF the
retreat pn August 20 and 20. Cen
erals Cough and Chetwode, with the
Third and Fifth Cavalry brigades,
covered the retreat, repulsing the Ger
mans with great loss.
German Pursuit Vigorous.
1.-THE pursuit by the enemy contin-
ues the report, was very vigorous.
Some i've or six German corps were
on the aomme facing the fifth army;
on the Disc at least two corps were
advancing toward my front and we're
crossing the Somme east and west of
Ham; three or four more German
corps were opposing the Sixth French
army on my left.
"On September General Joffre de-
cided To take the offensive, as he
considered conditions very favorable
to success"
Field Marshal French believes that
about noon on the 9Th the enemy re-
allied that a powerful threat was
being made against the flank of his
columns moving south and east and
began the great retreat which opened
the battle.
This battle, so far as the Sixth
French army, the British army and
the Fifth and Ninth French armies
were concerned, was concluded on the
evening OF September 10, when the
Germans had been driven to the Sois-
sons Reims line, with the loss of
thousands of prisoners, many guns
and enormous masses of transport.
On the 9Th both the First and Sec
ond army corps made large captures
and took some guns. On the 9th
after forcing the passage of the Marine,
they inflicted a heavy loss In killed
and wounded ON the Germans, while
the Second division took some hum
dreds OF prisoners and battery Of
eight machine guns.
Field Marshal F'rench's second re-
port, dated October 5, concerns the
operations of the British forces since
the evening OF September TO- It reads !:
EARLY in the morning of the 18th
three corps crossed the Ourcq, fur
ther pursuit of the enemy being prac.
tica1ly lnopposed, the cavalry reach
ing the line OF the Aisne, two brig
AIDES south Of Scissors and three brig.
AIDES at Couyrellis and Carseuil, on
the afternoon Of September 70.
Battle of Aisne Opens.
THE Fifth division approached Mis-
sy. but were unable to make Roadway
The west army corps reached the
neighborhood OF Nauxeere without
much opposition. In this manner the
battle Ct the Aisne commenced.
THE position of the enemy was
very strong either for delaying actor
or for defensive battle.
ION the morning OF the 18th ! or
dered The British forces to advance
and make the passage of the Aisne
The first corps and cavalry advanced
on the river. The first division wal
directed on Chanouyille, via the cana
bridge BIT Bourg.
by hightfall the first division oc
cupied The area around Moulins, Passi
and Geny. The Second division Div
Duacked on the southern bank of TIL
river, leaving only the Fifth brigade
m the north bank to establish /
bridge head
Checked by Artillery.
I'm The approach to Missy, wher
the Fifth division eventually crossed
there Is some open ground, whicl
was swept by artillery fire from tn
opposite bank. The Thirteenth bri
gade, therefore, was unable to ad
vance. but the Fourteenth, directed {
. less exposed point, was RATED over
and at night established itself on tn
left of Bainte Marguerite, where Iatei
with tile Fifteenth brigade SUPPORTS
by the Fourth division on their left,
succeeded in repelling heavy counter
attacks on the Third corps.
ION the morning OF the 18th tn,
Third corps found the enemy estat
iished In strength on Vregny plateau
The Twelfth infantry crossed at We
n.2el, but the bridge was SO damages
that the artillery could only be man
handled across It, Meanwhile the con
struction of a bridge began close 4