The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-23
VIGOROUS OFFENSIVE
ASSUMED by ALLIES
Secrecy and Speed of This Movement
Believed to Have Greatly
80 Astonislled Enemy.
PROGRESS SLOW AND COSTLY
Germans Lose Initiative, Except for
Local Attacks on Inner Lines by
Which They Constantly Strive to
Recover Freedom TO Manoeuvre.
Hl WILIIAM MAXWELL.

y PLACE IN FRANCE tname de-
1eted by ccnsoD October GIVE
just go grimly OH. This is the best de-
scription can give of the new battle
which has lasted already for ten days.
When 1t will end is less certain than
how IL will end.
We are making PROGRESS. but it is
slow and costly, for neither the power
I.or the will of our advcrsaries has been
broken, and must of the country being
Fought over is easy to defend
The most hopeful sign is that the
enemy has lost his initiative. except for
FOCAL attacks on our inner lines by
which he constantly strives to recover
his freedom TO manocuvre.
Since their retreat from the Marine,
the Germans have not been their own
masters. They wasted month on the
+aisne because they were not allowed to
move. They had to extend their right
wing northward to escape an envelop-
ing movement. They had to reach out
to the sea in order to meet the allied
advance.
If theories were always aNioms in
war. the German army ought to be
stampeded, for It's flank certainly is in
danger. Bat General Won kluck, who
commands the threatened wing. is II
soldier as well rs a strategist who evil
gently shares Field Marshal Won Der
tiolt='s opinion that menace to his lines
OF communication may be disregarded
and ought TO be met by a forward
movement, which will force the enemy
to abandon the threat.
CONDUCT OPERATIONS
WITH GREAT SKILL
This acknowledgement is due to the
skill. energy and resource with which
hazardous operations, though some peo-
pie arc beginning to suspect that the
German Emperor , has taken END eG 6ns and
hidden another strategic retreat. Yet
his army is. retiring all the same. At
!. allies have passed from the active de-
fensive TO vigorous offensive The
secrecy and speed. with which this
ishcd the enemy.
The valor and sacrifices of the allies
Sen did deF NOT as%exe De he
which was to turn the enemy's flank.
they forced him at l.ast to change his
unassailable line. OF the Aisne.
The, success of the French soldiers
the Se Mest aSa ortS snd BY the
desperate efforts the enemy has made.
and is still making. to pierce the centre
is at the centre, along the canal from
Bethune eastward beyond La Bassec.
that the fighting has been the longest
and the fiercest.
This country for some miles is
marshy, and two or three days rain
10 move Beyond the marshes. TO the
north and east arc rolling plains.
dotted with woods, which give good
fire.
Here the enemy is intrcnched along
this POSITION is di,l cult ta HS Artii
lery is useless, although the guns and
e b9 "d da sides
infantry attacks and counterattacks
have resulted only in heavy casualty
lists.
On Saturday the allied forces made
up their minds TO remove this obstacle.
to progress at whatever cost.
MUST KEEP IN TOUCH
DURING NIGHT ATTACKS
Covered by terrific bombardment
which was heard for tiles. the infan-
try. went forward in close order-,for
in touch with one another,
The enemy, whose vigilance never
slumbers, Instantly opened with the
big guns and quck-fring rifles. sweep
ing some OF the advance with deadly
hurricane.
To one who saw with his ears alone.
II seemed impossible that ilesh and
blood could survive such storm OF
fame aud thunder.
geyscrs of lurid earth and the blizzard
Of lead. on and on and on, line upon
line; rushed the dauntless heroes
They are brave men. the German
soldiers. No one who has seen them
in action will question the courage and
fearlessness with which they follow the
are limits even to the bravery of the
bravest lighting Germans. They fled,
leaving behind piled up dead TO bear
testimony to their courage and the au-
ducity Of their assailants.
These things count more chan ~ few
miles OF advance recorded in the .nGi :
cial reports. They, prove beyond .,
shadow OF doubt that the morale of
The allied armies is sound. and that
they arc confident of victory, and
shrink from no sacrifice to achieve 1t.
They have taught the Germans that
mass is not force, and that there is &
factor in war which cannot be found
in the army lists. and not TO be forged,
even by krupp ut Essen.