The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-12
Titanic Struggle Between Ger
man and Allied Armies
Still Continues without Any
Decisive Results.
INVADERS ARE FORCED BACK
Both on Their Right Wing and
Right Center.
Effort to Smash ThrOugh the
French Line Has Failed.
REPORTS GENERAL Retreat
The Paris Official Statement In
Optimistic in Tone.
French Advance Encounters but
Feeble Resistance.
Effort to Smash Through the
French Line Has Failed.
REPORTS GENERAL RETREAT
The Paris Official Statement In
Optimistic in Tone.
French Advance Encounters but
Feeble Resistance.

London, Sept 12.-News of a de.
cisive character from east Of vitry-Le-
Francois, where the army of Saxony
and parts of the armies commanded
by the prince of Wurtemburg ana
General Won Buelow are fiercely
striving to break through the French
right and center, still hangs fire and
the anxiety of both forces grows keen
er as it is recognized that the result of
the battle in this quarter is likely to
have a decisive effect upon the whole
line.
Should the Germans smash through
the center of the French line in this
district they would turn the line of
French frontier forts and seriously en-
danger the rear of General Castleman's
sixth army corps. already engaged up
to the hilt with a corresponding host
of Germans before Nancy.
1t is fully realized here that the
driving back of the German right wing
and right center in no way is con-
elusive and that as the France-British
forces rallied after the long retreat.
SO may the Germans turn and retrieve
their present reverses
The public is warned that the pres
ent situation merely is the first phase
OF a great battle and that the battle
itself is only the first stage of a titan
ic struggle between the nations which
will continue as long as the main
armieg remain intact, as they are at
| present.
The latest unofficial reports from
| the plains of Cha 1pagne tell of con-
s-derably larger numbers Of German
guns and prisoners being captured
than were mentioned in the last offi-
cial communication.
R01 nF7
defeat of Germans by the troops NOV
ing southwark from Antwerp, but
while there Is no reason to doubt that
the inv aders are evacuating parts of
Belgian territory, it seerls probable
that they are purposely avoiding bat
ward move is to get in the fighting
zone of the Marne and to relieve pres
sure there.
French Official Statement.
Paris. Sept. 12.-An official COM
munication says: "On our left wing
the Germans have begun general
retreating movement between the
Disc and the Marne.
Yesterday their front was be-
tween scissors. Braine ana Fismes
Ind the mountain Of Reims.
Their cavalry seems to be ex-
hausted. The Anglo French forces
which pursued them. encountered on
"At the center on our right wing.
the Germans have evacuated Vitry-
LIE Francois, where they had fortified
themselves, AID also they have evac-
uated the valley Of the Saulx river.
Attacked at Seermaize and at Re-
vigny. they abandoned a large guam
tity Of war material.
''The German forces which have
been occupying the Argonne region
have begun to give way. They are re-
treating to the north through the for
est Of Bellenone.
"In Lorraine we have made slight
progress. We occupy the eastern
boundary OF the forest of Cham
penoux. Rehainvillers and Gerbenvi1-
lers. The Germans have evacuated
Saint Die. In Belgium, the Belgian
army is acting vigorously against tho
German troops, who are before the
fortified position Of Antwerp.
I'm the Servian field Of operations
the Servians have occupied Semlin,
Austria"