The Washington herald., 1914-09-08
ALLIES FORCE
GERMANS BACK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

vader's line toward the allies front. ef-
fectuaIIy trapping the enemy.
1t is the greatest battle Of the war. i
began Sunday, and is stiI raging. This
was announced officially today in the
following statement:
'sThe biggest battle of this war began
yesterday Sunday. The frent goes from
NanteuiI-le-Haudouin through Meaux to
Verdun. The French and British armies
are engaged"
The front along which the Germans
and the allies are engaged is approx
mately 160 miles long. From Nanteuil-le-
! Haudouin to Meux 1t extends in a south
| easterly direction. From Meux 1t stretches
eastward in a crooked line to Verdun.
| The idea of the German commander in
throwing out his extreme western wing
into a northerly direction was, evidently,
taken to present a front to the heavy
French force stationed along the Marne
River from MeUx westward to Paris.
The battle was, evidently, opened upon
| the extreme right flank of the German
line which had taken up a position north
Of the Grand Norm, a tributary Of the
Marne east Of Paris. An earlier official
announcement gave notice of fighting
there, stating that the allies had come
into contact with the west wing of the
German line in that region The French
were said to have begun an offensive
! operation, pushing northward to the
Ourcq River at a point above La Ferte-
Sous-Gouarre.
Meux is twenty-three niles east of
Paris. Rheims (Which city the Germans
claim to have occupied Saturday. is fifty
eight miles east by northeast from Meux.
Verdun, which is given as the extreme
eastern flank of the battle lines, is sixty
three miles east by southeast from
Rheims.
Nanteul-le-Haudouin lies on line
drawn straight through Chateau-Thierry
and Senlis in a northwesterly and south
easterly direction. 1t is twelve miles
north Of Meux and twenty-three miles
northeast of Paris.
According to the indications. there is
fighting along the valley Of Marne and
the frontier opposite the Aisne and
Ourcq rivers.
Each Column an Army.
In their sweep toward the southeast
the Germans moved in separate columns,
each a big army in itself. In addition to
these columns, there is a considerable
force of troops around Senlis.
Neat La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre, about
thirty-three miles east of Paris, is a
German column facing the allies lying on
the great NORM. Another army is south
west Of Rheims. Between Rheims and
the forest of Argonnes is another Ger
man force. Another German column lies
southwest of Chalons. All these columns
are supposed to face the south.
There are indications that the French
and English are trying 4 flank move
ment. Field Marshal Sir John French.
commander Of the English expeditionary
force, was said to be in active command
Of the troops that have been pounding
away at the Germans right flank.
The German armies are believed to he
the first under Gen. Won kiuk; the sec
ond under Gen. Won Haussn and Gen. Won |
Buelow; the fourth under Grand Duke |
Albrecht, and the seventh. combined
force under Crown Prince Frederick |
William and Crown Prince Ruprecht' ot
Bavaria The French armies are sup |
posed to be the Fifth, probably COM !
nanded by Gen. Paul Pau and the Sew
enth under Gen. Joffre's direction.
The war ONCE statement says:
THE allied armies have again come |
into contact on our left wing, under 1
good conditions, with the right wing Of |
the enemy on the banks Of Grand NORM. |
Around Paris the engagement began |
Saturday between the allied army and |
the flank of the advance guard Of the |
German right has extended. We have |
advanced TO the River Ourcq without |
great resistance. The situation of the !
allied armies appears good as a whole"
An earlier official announcement had |
claimed a French advantage southeast |
of Paris. but the fight was admitted !
small one.
British in Center of Line.
The British forces have taken up their !
position in the center of the line, fanked |
on the right and left by French troops |
Owing to the extended formation of the |
allied line in its rearward movement |
during the past fortnight many detach-
ments of officers and privates have be-
come separated from the main force, but |
it is hoped they have escaped capture |
and soon will rejoin the colors.
The superior numbers Of theSGermans |
is offset by these facts:
The allies in their rearward movement
have practically selected their own bat
tlefield for the decisive engagement which |
seems to be at hand; the Germans are /
on the point of complete exhaustion by /
their forced marches under a sun of |
tropical qualities.
The weather has been exceptionally hot
for early September. but 1t has proved
a greater hardship for the invaders than
it has for the defenders.
Fighting between Rethen and Verdun
in the extreme eastern part Of France
is taking place upon difficult territory.
The French have a strong force con-
centrated there, but are opposing a Ger
man army of equal size. Such ADVANTAGE
in numbers as may rest with the Ger
mans is offset by the strength of the