The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-30
MANNING, S. c., WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 80, 1914
TELLS OF WARFARE
SIR JOHN FRENCH MAKES RE-
PORT Up TO MONDAY.

Battle For Last Week Continued tt
Remain an Artillery Duel, Say:
British Official Dispatch.
The London official press bureau
Thursday night issued report from
Field Marshal Sir John French's
headquarters, supplementing the dis
patches of September %, on British
operations in France. The report
says:
1.-The enemy is still maintaining
himself along the whole front and is
throwing into the fight units from
the active army, reserve and Land
wehr, as is shown by the uniforms
of prisoners captured.
"Our progress, although slow, is
certain directions has been contin-
uous, but the present battle may well
last for some days more before de-
cision is reached, since it now approx
mates somewhat to siege warfare.
"The Germans are making use OF
searchlights. This fact, coupled with
their great strength in heavy artil-
lery, leads to the supposition that
they are employing material which
may have been collected for the siege
of Paris.
''The nature of the general situa-
ton after the operations of the 18th,
10th and 20th can not be summariz-
ed better than expressed recently by
a neighboring French commander to
his corps: Having repulsed repeat
ed and violent counter attacks made
by the enemy, we have a feeling that
we have been victorious
$50 far as the British are con-
cerned, the course of events during
these three days can be described IN
a few words. During the 18th artil-
lery fire was kept up internationally
by both sides during daylight. At
night the Germans counter attacked,
but the strokes were not delivered
with great vigor, and ceased about 2
a. m. During the days fighting an
aircraft gun Of the third army corps
brought down German aeroplane.
News was received also that a body
of French cavalry had demolished
part OF the railway to the north, cut
ting at least temporarily one line Of
communication of particular impor-
tance to the enemy.
ION Saturday, the 10Th, the bonn
bardment was resumed by the Ger
mans at an early hour and con-
tinued intermittently under reply
from our own guns.
I'VE brought down another hos
tile aeroplane and one of our fliers
dropped several bombs over the Ger
man line, one falling with consider
able effect near La Fere.
"On Sunday, the Goth, nothing Of
importance occurred until the after
noon, when the Germans made sew
eral counter attacks against different
points. These were repulsed, with
loss to ourselves and the enemy.
"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 fact that
they have been drenched to the skin
for some days, and their trenches
have been deep in mud and water,
and in spite of the incessant night
alarms and the almost continuous
ombardment to which they have
been subjected, they have on every
occasion been ready for the enemy's
and have beaten them back
with great loss. Indeed, the sight of
the troops coming up has been posi-
tive relief after long trying hours of
inaction under shell fire.
THE object of the great proportion
of artillery the Germans employ is
to beat down the resistance of their
enemy by concentrated and prolong-
ed fire, to shatter their nerve with
high explosives before the infantry
attack is launched. They seem to
have relied on doing this with us, but
they have not done so, though it has
taken them several costly expert
ments to discover this fact.
From statements from prisoners
it appears that they have been great
ly disappointed by the moral effect
produced by their heavy guns.
THE German howitzer shells are
from to inches in calibre, and on
impact they send up columns Of
greasy black smoke. On account of
this they are dubbed Coal Boxes,
Black Marias' or Jack Johnsons' by
the soldiers.
"a considerable amount of infor-
nation has been CLEANED from the
prisoners. 1t has been gathered that
our bombardment on the 18th pro-
duced a great impression. The opin-
icn is also reported that our infantry
makes such good use of the ground
that the German companies are deci-
mated by our rifle fire before the
British soldier can be seen.
"The losses in officers are noted as
rs having been especially severe. A
brigade is stated to be commanded
by a major; some companies of foot
guards by one-year volunteers. while
after the battle of Monmirail one