Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-19
ENGLAND THRILLED
BY GENERAL'SST0RY
OF 26-DAY BATTLE
Field Marshal French De-
scribes Allies Strategic Re-
treat Followed by Drive of
Germans Across the Aisne.
LONDON, oct. 10.

LONDON, oct. 10.
The battle Of the Marne and the open
ing of the great conflict now being waged
on the Aisne and in which British troops
! fought steadily for q days, are covered
in dispatches from Sir John French, com
mander OF the British army in France,
which were made public last night by
the press bureau. NarratinC the events
accruing between August % and Septem-
ber 2s. General French begins with
continuation Of the Allies retreat before
vigorous pursuit and describes the in
variably courteous treatment accorded by
General Joffre and the French General
staff
Il strongly represented my position to
General Joffre, VINO was most kind
cordial and sympathetic, as he always
has been | finally arranged with Cen
cral Joffre to effect a further short re-
trement toward the line from Compeigne
10 Scissors. The right flank OF the Ger
man army was now reaching point
which appeared to endanger my line of
communication with Havre.
IL had already evacuated Aniens, into
which a German reserve division was re-
ported to have moved
THE STRATEGIC RETREAT.
After giving further details, General
French says:
While closely adhcrinE to his strategic
conception TO draw the enemy on at all
points until favorable situation was Gre
ated from which to assume the offensive,
General Joffre found II necessary 10 mod
lty from day to day the methods where
b. he sought 10 attain this object.
81. ~ g.F
the French force my retirement con-
tinued practically from day TO day. AL
though we were not severely pressed by
tho enemy, rearguard actions took place
continually.
General French then gives more details
Of the retreat and continues
"On September 3, General Johre in
formed me Of his intention 10 take the
offensive forthwith, as ne considered the
conditions very favorable 10 success. On
September . n great battle opened on a
front extending from Ermenonville TO
poiut north OF Verdun. This battle, so
FAR as the 5th French army, the British
army and the 9Th French army were con-
cerned, may he said To have concluded on
the evening Of September 10, by which
time the Germans had been driven back
10 the line from Scissors 10 Rheims with
the loss Of thousa nds Of prisoners, many
guns and enormous masses OF transport
GERMANS CHANGE PLANS
About September the enemy appears
10 have changed his plans and deter
mined 10 stop the advance south direct
upon Paris. An air reconnaissance on
September 4 showed that his main coll
umns were moving In a southeasterly
direction"
After detailing the German movements
as they were then observed, General
French continues:
Il conceive that it had been about noon
on September g. that the enemy realized
that a powerful threat was being made
against the flank OF his columns moving
- the southeast and began the great re-
treat which opened with the battle above
referred to-"
General French then details the rsspec-
tive positions Of the Allies and Germans
and continues,
ION September the Fifth and Sixth
French armies were heavily engaged on
our flank. The Second and Fourth Ger
man Reserve Corps on the OuTcq vigor-
ously opposed the advance Of the French
toward the river but did not prevent the
Sixth French army from gaining some
headway. the Germans themselves suffer
ing serious losses
The French Fifth army threw the
enemy back 70 the line on the Petit Norm
River, after INJECTING severe losses on
them. especially about EtonCeauL, which
was carried by the bayonet
CAVALRY SUFFER HEAVILY.
THE enemy rstreated before our ad-
vance, covered with his Second. Ninth
ana guard cavalry divisions, which sur
fered severely. Our cavalry acted With
great vtgor
"On both sides the enemy was thrown
SAsk EAlh v~ES ksasy L8ss. The First