The Detroit times., 1914-09-02
FRENCH CENTER
HOLDING PARIS
OPTIMISTIC
toe.si..ed from P.ss o..o

assume the offensive when the Ger
man losses. and the necessity OF re-
plenishing their eastern armies TO
meet tho Russians. forces them 70
weaken their front In French soil.
This announcement overshadowed
the admission that the line between
the strong German right wing ana
Paris Is gradually lessening. There
IL general disposition everywhere
In oficial circles to accept the pos
sibility OF q siege OF Paris with
equanimfty. II In declared that II
cannot be effective. The very limits
OF the fortified zone would Of itself
require far more soldiers than II 10
believed Germany can spare effective
ly to besiege the city. And, now that
the supreme efforts OF the Germans
to crumple mp and demolish the allied
army has failed. any siege OF Paris
will always be subject to hank at
tacks that In the end must prove dis
astrous.
The feeling In Paris today 10 far
more optimistic than at any time dur
ing the last 10 days. The anniver-
sary Of Sedan has passed and no
great disaster has overwhelmed the
French armies.
The battle line on the north today.
roughly speaking. was believed TO
follow q line. running east and west
about through the center OF the de-
partments of Disc, Aisne, and Arden
mes. The most desperate fghting IL
reported from Rethel, In the depart
ment Of Ardennes. where the Ger
mans have thrown enormous fresh
forces against the French lines. The
lines are holding fast, however.
That the allied lines have been
driven back nearly to Campiegne, In
the department OF Oise, which Is less
than 30 miles from Paris, was admit.
ted today. II was stated that the
lighting all along the line In this VI
cinity was Of the hercest character.
The Germans, II was stated, were
still trying to break through between
the British and the French forces.
At daylight the Germans made . con-
certed assault upon the French line
between Amiens and vervins and the
lighting there IL said to be desper-
ate. The Germans are utilising to
the utmost their rapid Are artillery
which Ia mounted on automobiles.
The French artillery II declared Ike
wise to be doing enormous execu-
ton In the lines OF the enemy.
The Germans continue their massed
tactics and are declared. 70 be sac
riflcing thousands Of men IN their at
tempts to break through the lines.
The German aviators are very active,
flying over the allied lines disregard
ing their danger In order 70 locate II
possible any gaps In the French lines.
Several aeroplanes have been brought
down inside Of the allied lines and
their pilots have bssn either killed
or captured.
: The French aviatUrg have been Or
dered to take action against the Ger
man aviators who continue to fly
over the city. Another dropped sew
eral bombs early today, but like those
that have preceded him, caused lit
tie damage. II II plain that the Ger
man plan II not 30 much to do real
damage as to terrorise the city.
The American committee organised
by Myron 4. Herrick, the American
ambassador, has cabled the state de-
partment at Warrington. asking that
the United States call the attention Of
the German government 20 the drop
ping Of bombs on Paris which II not
yet besieged. It ID contended by mem
bers Of the committee that this &C.
tion n In violation Of The Hague
agreement Other Americans here,
however, take an opposite view. They
point to the fact that Paris 10 Z
fortified city and that a. such Ii sub
ject to attack In any way. ~
The rush Of the non-combatants tc
leave Paris continued today. More
than 100 special trains were added
to the regular schedule and all were
filled The chief trouble. however, Il
that many outsiders are coming into
Paris all the time and although ths
exodus continues II has had little
appreciable effect 80 far IN reducing
the pc pulation.
The cabinet was again IN council
today and matters Of general defense
were considered. However. no ar
rangemente have yet been completed
tor any transfer Of the. archives ol
the government, as General Joffre he
told the president that ample warn
ing will be given II the city 10 TO b
beriesed. The general opinion con
tinues In military circles that rea
Siege of Paris will be impossible, and
that the chief danger will be encoun
tered along the lines Of the northern
fortifications.