The Sentinel=record., 1914-09-12
Five Days Struggle Finds Germans Falling
Back and Fighting on the Defensive All
Along the Line i'm Marine District.
Both England and France Are Conservative
i'm Their Claims That Only the First
Epoch of Big Battle Is Passed.

engagements in which the British
took such a prominent part so we'll
that they are the object of the hlgn-
est compliments on the part Of
French military men.
The combat, according to the Off
cial announcement, seems to be de-
veioping into an abandonment of at
least the advance positions held by
the Germans who, 1t is announced,
are retiring along a greater part of
the line, This retirement is said to
have been for 46 miles at some
points.
Furious onslaughts, sometimes Dy
the French and again by the Ger
mans, occurred about the center of
an extensive line in the vicinity Of
Vitry-le-Francois.
Three great German armies COM
manded by General Won kruek, the
Crown Prince Frederick William and
the Duke of Wurtemberg effected
junction and repeatedly hurled them
selves against the French positions
With The greatest yigor bat they were
not able to achieve their seeming OBJ
ject of breaking the allies center aud
thus dividing the Anglo-Freneh ar
mics.
The French and British offered an
equally vigorous resistance, event
ually compelling the Germans to
withdraw. The fighting continued
throughout last night and the allies
position, it is understood, was inn
proved today.
A rain storm caused great diffic%
ties in the marshy districts but did
not stop the operations. The fusil-
ladies' of the troops and the artillery
duel proceeded all day. 1t is ~
lieved the retiring Germans suffered
more than the allies from the storm
as their Withdrawing columns were
encumbered with baggage and ammu-
milton wagons.
The military authorities descrip-
tion of the battle follows:
AS we Already have announced,
battle has been taking place since
September 6 over front extended In
a general way from Paris to Verdun.
From the very outset OF this ac-
ton the German right wing. the army
commanded by General Won Klucx.
which on September had reached
the district to the north of Provins,
was obliged to fall back because OF
the danger of being enveloped. BY
its clever and rapid movements this
army was succeeding in escaping
from the allies grip and was throw
ing itself with the greater part of its
force against our enveloping wing 60
the north of the Marne and the west
OF the Ourcq river. But the French
troops which were operating in this
region. powerfully aided by the brav-
cry of our British allies, inflicted con
siderable losses on the enemy and
gained the time necessary to allow
our offensive to press forward and It
present, on that side, the enemy Is
in retreat toward Aisne and the
Oise.
He has thus fallen back 81 to is
miles in four days. In the meantime
the Anglo-F'rench forces which had
been operating to the south of the
Marne have not ceased to pursue
their offensive. Starting, some of
them from the district south of the
forest OF Grey and others from tie
region north of Proyins and south q
Esternay, they opened out from the
Marne on the left, the army of Ge<
eral Won Kluck as well as the army
OF General Won Buelow falling back
before our troops.
1t was the region included between
the plateau to the north Of Sezanne
and Vitry-le-Francois that the most
desperate fighting occurred. In this
region there have been operating, be-
sides the left wing of the army of
General Won Buelow, the army of
Saxony and part of the army COM
manded by the Prince of Wertum-
berg. The Germans have tried to
break our center by repeated and vio-
lent attacks. Our success on the
plateau to the north OF Sezanne etS