The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-25
FRENCH WAR OFFICE
ADMITS DEFEAT
Offensive Movement by the Allies Was
Checked and English and French
Were Forced to Fall Back, AL
though They Claim to Have
Inflicted Heavy Loss.

Paris, Aug. 25.-The French war office
issued the following announcement last
night
The French and English, the plan OF
attack having failed, owing to unfore-
seen difficulties, have retired on the
covering positions.
West of the Meuse the English army
on our left was attacked by the Ger
mans, but behaved admirably, holding
its ground with traditional steadfast-
ness.
The French assumed the offensive
with two army corps. An African
brigade in the front line carried away
by their eagerness were received by a
murderous fire. They did not give an
inch, but, counter attacked by the Erls.
sian guard, they were obliged to retire,
only however, after inhicting enormous
losses. The Prussian guard especially
suffered heavily
East of the Meuse our troops ad.
yanced across an extremely difficult
country and made vigorous attack
when they emerged from the woods, but
were obliged to fall lack after stiff
fight south of the river Semois
"On order of General Joffre our troops
and the British troops withdrew to re-
covering positions. Our troops are in
tact; our cavalry has in no way suffered
and our artillery has affirmed its superb
ority. Our officers and soldiers are in
the best of condition, morally and
"As a result Of the orders which have
been issued, the aspect of the struggle
will change for few days The French
army will remain for time on the de-
fensiye, but at the right moment, to be
decided upon by the commander -in-chief,
it will resume vigorous offensive
Our losses are heavy; it would be
premature to enumerate them. 1t would |
be equally so to enumerate those of
the Germans, who suffered so heavily |
that they were obliged to abandon their |
counter attacks and establish themselves |
in fresh positions in Lorraine.
"We delivered four attacks yesterday /,
from our positions north of Nancy, in
dieting very heavy loss on the enemy.
In regard to the general situation we
have the full use of our railroads and
'etain command of the seas, Our opera
ions have enabled the Russians to come
nto action and penetrate the heart OF
vest Prussia. ft is TO be regretted that
he offensive operations planned failed
% achieve their purpose as a result OF
difficulties impossible to foresee. Ii
would have shortened the war, but our
lefences remain intact in the presence of
N already weakened enemy.
Every Frenchman win deplore the
emporary abandonment of portions of
ilsace and Lorraine which we had oc-
upied and certain parts of the national
erritory viii suffer from events of
which they will be the theatre.
"The ordeal is inevitable, but temper
ry. Thus, detachments of German cav
Try belonging to an unattached divis
On operating on the extreme right have i
enetrated to Roubaix (six miles north I
( Lille and the Tourcoing district,
,hich are defended only by territorial /,
eservists
"Our valiant people viii know how to i
nd courage to support this trial with
mailing faith in final success. which is 8
OF TO be doubted. In telling to the c
,untry the whole truth, the government $
nd military authorities give it the b
trongest proof of their absolute con b
denee in victory, which depends only
d our perseverance and tenacity." o