Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-17
Called Triumph for Allies, Who
Cross River in Rain of
Shot and Shell.
ACT DEEMED ESSENTIAL
TO PURSUIT OF FOE
Heights Overlooking Stream Finally
Taken-Exciting Aeroplane Fight
One Feature Of Struggle.

LONDON, September II (S:44 ami
The correspondent Of the Times at
Havre, in describing the battle Of
Aisne. says:
"As opposed to the battle of the
Marine, which was battle Of rivers
and plains, woodlands and high pla-
teaus, the battle Of Aisne was a river
crossing on a scale such as has never
before been seen in the history of the
world. a triumph Of organization and
engineering as much as CT courage and
fighting powers. The time was Sat-
urday evening and the moment had
arrived when II the fleeing host was
to be saved some sort of stand must
be made.
THE enemy gathered hurriedly to-
gether for a great effort on the heights
which overlooked the river. He had
his guns placed and his men ready
when the British and French troops
reached the south bank Of the river.
Clearly it was essential to the allies
that a crossing should be made II
the great pursuit was to be continued
and the haru-won victory pressed
home. But the river was swollen, run
ming swiftly after the recent heavy
rains; bridges must be built under a
ed unchanged and must be crossed.
Undaunted by Prospect.
"An the vantage points were held by
the men rendered desperate and fight
prospect, but it did not daunt our
splendid forces.
1.-THE attack began Sunday morning
h.. - Of0GS
the great struggle of the week before.
Our guns were brought up. placed in
position and a terrible artillery duel
til1ery remained unsilenced there was
little hope Of crossing the river.
During this fire our engineers
worked laboriously. bringing up great
pontoons.. while the fire slowly de-
creased their numbers.
After some hours of this supreme
effort the enemy's guns on the north
bank are silenced and the troops be-
gin crossing, while the allies artillery
still swept the heights protecting their
passage.
by sunset, when the cold rain and
wind started, the heights were won. the
enemy thrown back and our troops had
crossed at three places.
while this battle was proceeding q
most exciting battle of aeroplanes. Ger
man and English, occurred high in the
air. 1t was a great struggle. the ma
chimes darting hither and thither till
finally the German, wounded, fell to the
ground"
Another View Of Battle.
Describing the battle Of Aisne tom
Scissors. under date of September Is
in the afternoon, the correspondent of
the Chronicle says:
THE unending, terrific struggle lasted
four days, and only now may one SAY
that victory is turning in favor of the
allies.
THE town of scissors cannot yet be
entered, for 1t is still raked by artillery
and rifle fire. while rear columns Of
are burning in the center of the fighting
Ines where the allied pontoon corps
have been trying to keep the bridges
they succeeded in constructing.
Men from the front tell me that the
combat has been a veritable slaughter
and that the unceasing fire of the past
four days puts any previous war COM
pletely in the shade.
German Batteries Captured.
Several crossings were effected Sum-
day, but the German guns got the
range and compelled them to with
draw. Last night, however. the allies
brought up heavier guns and these
changed the prospect. The British
got a battery across the river and the
Germans were unable to reach it. The
Germans, therefore. moved to another
position, from which they compelled
the British to retire and leave six
guns behind. But German batteries
hiterto locatable were not revealed and
under the protection of a heavy bonn
bardment two British batteries got
over. and, planted at the bridge head.
very soon the six guns were recov-
cred and two German batteries cap
tured.
ION the western side the French sue
ceeded in getting over three batteries
and q regiment of infantry About 500
prisoners have been taken today.
II can clearly trace the abandonment
during the last three hours of num-
Der Of German positions by the smoke
of their guns moving further over the
hills"