The chronicle=news., 1914-09-10

That the enem4 wa. driven hack
all along the line yesterday is the
news cheering to British readers
that Field Marshal Sir John French,
commander in chief of the British
expeditionary forces, sent to Eng
land this afternoon from the battle
line of the allies to the east of Pa
ris. I'd
This statement of the British COM
mander is driven home to English
ment by the further announcement
of the annexation by British troops
OF dozen German Maxim guns and
a battery of German field guns. and
1t is further emphasized by official
information of the capture Of num-
ber of German prisoners.
Field Marshal French's telegram
shows that fighting of the flercest
character Is in progress and his
that the German forces are
very exhausted confirms unofficial
from other quarters that
the counter attack OF the allies has
been delivered with such speed and
impetuosity that the invaders have
been given no chance to recover from
the effects OF their rush from the
north.
That the allies are doing little
more than holding their own is the
deduction of English observers made
today from the meagre available
news Of the momentous struggle
which already has progressed for
four days in the region OF the river
Marne.
This conclusion is based on reports
exclusively from British and French
sources. the German general staff
not having revealed an inkling of
its views of the battle since the ad-
vice Of their forces met its first
check.
British military writer's find con-
siderable satisfaction in the state
ment of the French and English re-
ports that IN the center our ad-
vance is slow but general"
1t is pointed out by these writ
ers that the allies had prepared
their center for the most formidable
and dangerous attack which II sue
cessful would have divided the enc
my. This evidence that the German
rushing tactics had been at least
countered has given
more courage to British optimistics
who believe that the Germans are
feeling the pressure and have found
it necessary to hurry reinforcements
from Belgium and practically denude
Alsace of troops that are being rush
ed to the central fighting zone.
Reports that the Russian invasion
of Silesia is threatening Breslau in
dicates an entirely new move on the
part of the Muscovites. which, II
carried out on a really serious scale,
may claim the easterly attention OF
the German general staff and result
POSSIBLY in further relieving the Ger
man pressure on France.
Diplomats in Rome taking time by
the forelock already are discussing
the point at which a treaty Of peace
will be concluded. The general view
seems to be that peace is most likely
to be brought about ultimately
through the mediation of President
Wilson, in which case the interna-
tional conference would be held at
Washington.
The left end of the curved German
battle line, which on September Z
extended in the shape Of wide cir
Gle from Aux to Vitry LIE Francois.
about 100 miles to the east of Paris.
was hit nv the English army and
forced to double back for distance
of approximately 25 miles. The
British troops, having crossed the
river Marne, are now in a position
to follow up their success. They are
lmenacing the Germans constantly
with a turning movement.
All morning long line OF cour-
|, iers in automobiles coming from the
fighting lines east of the city. has
been arriving at the headquarters of
General Galliena. the military COM
mander of Paris.
An American, well known as an
lautomobilist. is row attached to the
headquarters of Sir John French,
commander-in-chd of the British
forces on the continent. This Amer
lean, speaking of the situation to
the east, said the spirit of the Brit
ish soldiers was cheerful and that
they were confident OF winning.
The British troops are in much
greater force than commonly is
supposed, he said. Figures, for mill