New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-19
NO LET-UP, HE SAYS,
INLONG, HARD FIGHT
He and Gen. Joffre Quick
to Act When Germans
Attack Slackened.
HEAVY ARTILLERY
IN CONSTANT USE
Valor of British Army Shown IN
the Prolonged and Terrific
Battle of the Aisne.

London. Oct. 1s.-In two long reports
made public here to-day Field Marshsl
Sir John French, commander in chiet
of the British forces on the Ccnti-
nent recounts with considerable de-
tail the fighting in which the British
expeditionary force was engaged dur
ing the month ended September 70
The fighting included the retirement
from Mons southwark to the Seine and
the advance, after most vigorous Of
fensive on the part of the Allies, back
20 the River Aisne. and tho first stage
of the des1sx-rte encounters siorg the
line Of that river, which included the
.ro.sinp Of the stream in the face ot
do,.rmined opposition by the Ger
mans.
The first report discloses that 1t was
sor+ember s that the Allies took tne
offensive, which checked tho German
General Won Kluck's advance to inc
soutbca.t of Paris, and that 1t required
four davs 20 compel the Germans 70
turn their backs on the Fronch cspi''''
Battle Of the Aisnc.
rvo davs later the Germans, accord
ing TO the report, were back across the
A;sne. having lost heavily in men, guns
and transports in their retreat Then
commenced the battle Of the Ai'ne,
which lasted for month, and the first
nbases Of which are dealt with.
In the second report, which is dated
October 8. General French refers to the
attacks and counter attacks, which were
st;ll going on when the report was
concluded. on September 20.
In one of the reports General Frenen
makes special mention Of long liS' OF
officers and men who have distin-
guished themselves in the lighting.
The first report, dated September H.
call. special attention to the fact tns'
"from Sunday, August %, up to the
nresent date, from Mons back almost
to the Seine and from the Seine TO the
Aisne. the army under my command
has been ceasclessly engaged, without
one single days halt or rest OF any
kind"
Further along Field Marshal frencn
saws: ain spite of very determined
resistance on the part Of the enemy
who i. holding in strength and WIN
great tenacity a position peculiarly
favorable to defence, the battle when
commenced on the evening OF the I'm
inst. September 12) has so fsr
forced the enemy back from his hrst
position, secured passage of the river
and inflicted great loss upon him, m
c,udinr the capture of over 1000 pfls-
oncrs and several guns
The dispatch gives details of the re-
treat on August rs and 20. Generals
Cough and Chetwode, with the Sd and
9Th cavalry brigades, covered the re-
treat, repulsing the Germans ~i'n
great loss
Conferred with General Johre-
"The pursuit By the enemy con-
tinues the report, "wss very vigorous.
Some five or six German corps were on
the Somme, facing the fifth army; on
Tho Disc at least two corps were sd-
vancinr toward my front and were
crossing the Somme east and west OF
Ham; three or four more German corps
were opposing the sixth French army
OH my left
"This was the situation when at l
o'clock 7 received a visit from General
Joffre at my headquarters. strongly
rspresented my position to the French
commander in chief, who was most
kind. cordial and sympathetic, as he al
wsys has been. He told me he had
directed the fifth French army on the
Disc TO move forward and attack the
Germans on the Somme with view to
checking the pursuit.
81 finally arranged with General
Jofrc TO effect further short retire
Continued ON page nine column tue.