The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-19
ny q. w. PRICE.


london "Ddliv Ndi'
Specidi cattle Despdtch 10 THr srv.
PARIS Sept Isl have just come from
Reims. where from church tower I
watched the fighting.
The Germans are at bay on the ridge
Of "A line of low. wooded hills northeast
Of Reims. They are occupying the old
dismantltd forts and are furiously bonn
harding the unfortified town. regardless
OF the rules of warfare
This point is the key Of their posi-
ton. To the west their right lies on
the Aisne. whore they were vigorously
attacked yesterday by the allies from
the direction Of Scissors. To the east of
Reims they hold the wooded crests of
low hills that stretch toward the forest
Of Argonne.
, Along this line the Germans have held
their ground for three days. Their
heaviest guns are hidden in forests. and
the French artillery has not yet been
able TO gain the mastery The German
/ infancy is intrenched along the edges
OF the woods in which the heavy guns
. NV N'Al' fNitis bul II IL ptllB dlliCkeu
alternately by artillery fire and infan-
try charges The assaults of the French
/ infantry are being driven home right
, into the heart OF the woods in which
the German batteries are masked.
Every night the Germans have made
counter attacks, but these have been
invariably repulsed.
German stand Firm.
From personal observation | can say
that the Germans are making a most
determined stand along the line OF these
wooded hills. The stronghold OF their
position is Nogent rAbbcsse, three
miles east of Reims. There the Ger
mans occupy sites which were forts
before the defences of Reims were dis
mantled. The bombardment of Reims
Is being carried on from these old forts.
At o'clock this afternoon Rcims was
on fire in eight different places.
There are the best OF reasons for as
sorting that the battle will he long
drawn out. The Germans are lighting
from hlltops with concealed artillery.
while the French are attacking over an
open plain
Furthermore. Rems is a stratcgical
point of the utmost Importance. 1t is
the junction OF all roads leading to the
north from Chalons, Epernay, Mont
mirail and other points For nifty miles
to the east OF Relms there is "A great
open tract of almost deserted country.
At Reims, where four railway lines con-
verge. it is of the utmost Importance to
the Ger,ua rs that they hold back their
pursuers and prevent them as long as
possible from getting past Rcims
on Tomorrow or the next day there
will be terrific work around the old
cathedral city. The hills from which
the Germans are to-day sending shells
that fall In the centre of the city will
be subjected to tremendous bom-
bardmcnt from the French artillery, and
the French infantry. now lying In
trenches beyond the city. will he
launched against the German positions
while shells from their own guns fly
over their heads.
Villages In Ruins.
on the way to Rems passed through
many villages which had been ruined by
the invaders. At Buoy every house
seemed 10 have been wrecked deliber-
ately, Furniture had been hammered
to splinters The Germans had gone
to the trouble of punching holes In
every picture or looking glass with wine
bottles. Such wine as they hadn't been
, able To drink they threw away anc
there were piles OF bottles behind every
house.
Buoy was picture Of peace compared
TO some villages I passed through
began to make a list of the names OF
these hamlets along the line OF tn,
German retreat. Mailly, Montmort