Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-09-03
FIRST BATTLE
STORY TOLD BY
AN EYEWITNESS
Engagement Between Germans
and French Described by a
Correspondent.
FIGHTING LASTED ALL DAY
English Observer Warns His Country
men That kalser's Troops Arc
Advancing Like Tidal Wave
Aercplane Brought Down.
By HERBERT TEMPLE.
International News Service.

London.-"I solemnly warn the peo-
pie of England that this is the begin
ming of time Of great trial, for Eng
lishmen must be the backbone Of the
army OF the allies We have corps
(deletion here by CENSOR, but more.
must come. The enemy is advancing
like a tidal wave. Many lives must
be sacrificed to dam the engultng
flood gigantic battle may be fought
on the morrow and whatever the re-
suit. let England be ready"
The foregoing is taken from a dis
patch written by Granville Fortescue,
war correspondent of the Daily Tele-
graph at the front, and sent by tele-
graph from Givet, France, after the
writer had traversed the Belgian and
French advanced posts from Wavre to
Gembloux along the valley OF the
Meuse to Namur, thence to Givet.
The observations Of the war CORE
spondent are taken with the utmost
seriousness. as he Is on the ground
where the conflict is raging and was
able TO secure his information at first
hand. The dispatch further says:
First Writer to See Battle,
81 believe that | am the first war
correspondent to have witnessed an
actual engagement between Frnech
and German troops in considerable
numbers. A force of German light in
fantry. supported by mountain bat
teries, made a determined attack upon
French force. The fight lasted all
day. During the morning the Germans
had the advantage.
The sight of the German flag
reused the French soldiers to fury and
about p. m. heard. for the first time,
the sound OF French field artillery In
action. The first volley brought down
the German flag, its staff having been
shipped The artillery was composed
of two batteries and the French gun
ners set about coolly and methodical-
ly to pour a steady and effective fire
into the German ranks.
''In the meantime re-enforcements
arrived Under smothering fire, |
could see the Germans begin to dis
appear Another French regiment
came up ana the French pushed for.
ward to occupy the position from
which they had been driven during
the morning,
THE road was dotted with dead that
lay Just as they had fallen. They lay
In all sorts OF contorted positions,
their blue coats splashed with red
and their red trousers stained to a
deeper crimson The cheers OF the
French troops died out as the men
came upon this grim spectacle.
(Note-The dispatch did not give
the location OF this fight, but 1t is be-
lieved to have taken place near either
Givet or Dinant)
1.-The use OF aeroplanes as a source
Of getting information about the move
ments of the enemy has proved some
what OF appointment; at least
they have not come up to expecta-
tons.
Aviator Winged by Cannon.
Early on the morning Of the eight
eenth | saw an aeroplane downed by
artillery fire 1t was flying over the
fortitlcations OF the allies at very
low altitude, because Of thick fog
that made 1t difficult for the German
aerial scout to see. A French sentry
saw the aeroplane and gave the alarm
by firing his rifle at It.
THE iniantrymen fired volley at
the aviator, but he was not hit He
took his machine skyward to get out
Of range and finally disappeared In the
fog short time afterward. the guns
in the fort opened and we knew that
the daring airman had been sighted
again and that his machine was the
object Of the cannonade.
IL went forward to position where
could see the aviator. He was wheel
ing his machine in lazy sweeps, like
a huge bird, and ! thought he would
escape. The cannon fire was incessant.
Suddenly the aeroplane lurched for
ward and dropped with sickening
swiftness.
1.-THE Germans have made tentative
assaults upon Yvoir, where the Bocq
flows into the Mouse. The Meuse is
spanned there by big steel bridge
which would be of great value to the
Germans.
THE courage of the French under
fire is unsurpassed. The men 90 into
fighting gleefuIly. One sergeant Of the
One Hundred and Forty-eighth showed
particular gallantry. Although wound
ed, this officer led charge, grasping
pistol In one hand and his sword In
the other.
THE German rife bullet makes a
small clean wound and Is not neces-
sarily deadly, unless It strikes a vital
spot The bullets are hard and
pointed.
~ have traversed the Belgian and
French outposts and all signs point to
the fact that y heavy body Of German
troops has crossed the euse near
Huy The contending armies are In
contact along line about fifty miles
in extent.
Germans Brush BelgIans Aside.
The cavalry of the Germans has
been brushing aside the Belgians who
opposed them.
The Belgian line was SO extended
that 1t was impossible for the Belgians
to hold thier front against concen-
trated attack, supported by artillery.
10 Oh