The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-25

of French cavalry had demolished
part of the railway to the north. cut
ting at least temporarily. one line OF
communication which IL of particular
Importance TO the enemy.
eomhsrdment Resumed.
ON Saturday. the 18th. the bonn
bardment was resumed by the Ger
mans at an early hour and continued
Internationally under reply from our
own guns Some of their infantry
advanced from cover. apparently with
the intention Of attacking. but on COM
Ing under fire they retired
Another hostile aeroplane was
brought down by us, and one of our
aviators succeeded In dropping sew
erai bombs over the German line. one
incendiary bomb falling with consid-
erale effect on a transport park near
lie Fere. A buried store OF the en-
emy's munitions of war also was found
not far from the Aisne. ten wagon
loads OF live shells and two wagons of
cable being dug up. Traces were dis
covered Of large quantities of stores
having been burned-all tending to
show that as far back as the Aisne the
German retirement was hurried.
"On Sunday. the twentieth. nothing
OF importance occurred until the az
ternoon when there was a break in
the clouds and an interval of feeble
sunshine, which was hardly powerful
enough TO warm the sos xing troops.
The Germans took advantage of this
brief spell OF fine weather to make
several counter attacks against diff
ferent points. These were all repuls-
ed with loss to the enemy. but the
casualties incurred by us were by No
means light
Offensive Renewed.
The offensive against one or two
points was renewed at dusk, with no
greater success. The brunt OF the
resistance has naturally fallen upon
the infantry. In spite of the tact
that they have been drenched to the
skin tor some days. and in spite OF
the incessant night alarms and the al
most continuous bombardment TO
which they have Deen subjected they
have on every occasion been ready
for the enemy's infantry when the
latter attempted TO assault, and they
have beaten them back with great
loss.
The object OF the great proportion
OF artillery the Germans employ is 10
beat down the resistance of their
enemy by concentrated and prolonged
fre. to shatter their nerve with nigh
explosives. before the infantry attack
IL launched. They seem to have re.
! lied on doing this with US. but they
have not done so. though IL has taken
them several costly experiments 10
discover this fact.
From statements OF prisoners. II
appears that they have been greatly
disappointed by the moral effect pro-
duced by their heavy guns, which, de-
spite the actual losses inflicted. nas
not been at all commensurate with TIE
colossal expenditure OF ammunition
which has really been wasted. BY this
II Is not implied that their artillery
nre rs not good: IL is more than good
lit is excellent But the British sol.
dler Is a difficult person to impress or
depress, even by immense shells filed
with a high explosive. which detonate
with terrific violence and form crates
large enough to act as graves for five
horses.
The German howitzer shells are
from eight TO nine inches in caliber.
and on impact, they send up columns
OF greasy black smoke.
"A considerable amount of informa.
ton has been CLEANED from prisoners.
IL has been gathered that our lombard
ment on the 18th produced a great i'm
preston. The opinion is also reported
that our infantry makes such good
use of the ground that the German
I companies are decimated by our rife
nre before the British soldier can Re
seen.
From an official diary captured nv
! the first army corps. IL appears that
one of the German corps contains an
extraordinary mixture of units. IL
the composition of the other CORPS is
similar, IL may be assumed that the
present efficiency of the enemy's
forces In no way comparable with
what II was when the war commenced
The loss in officers are noted as
; having been especially severe. A
Brigade is stated to be commanded by
a major: some companies OF foot
guards by one year volunteers. WIFI,
after the battel OF Montinirail one regi-
ment lost ffty-hve out OF sixty officers.
The prisoners recently captured ap-
preciate the fact that the march on
Paris has failed and that their forces
are retreating but state that the object
OF this movement IL explained by tne
Officers as being to withdraw into
closer touch with the supports which
have stayed too far in the rear.
The officers are also endeavoring
to encourage the troops by telling
, them that they will be at home BY
Christmas a large number OF the
men believe that they are beaten.