The Sentinel=record., 1914-09-19
Western Armies in France Engage in
Ding Dong Battle Lasting Two Days
Finally Resulting in Gain for Allies.
Germans Delivered Ten Massive AS
saults and Fighting is Hand to Hand
Counter Assaults by Allies Cause
Retirement.

On the Battle Front, Sept. 1S-CBy
way of Paris, $50 p. m)-The ggan.
tic t/ltle, or more properly, battles,
continue day and night along the en-
tire front from Noyon to the frontier.
The fighting does not consist Of one
sustained and combined movement,
but in reality of several combats pro-
ceeding necessarily at the strongest
points of the Germans defensive. line
along the River Aisne.
Each encounter, however. influen-
ces the execution of the general fdea
of the commander-in-chief of the n
lied armies. Attacks and counter at
tacks follow one another in raSctl
succession every hour of ts4 twenty.
four.
During the night of September
1916 the Germans attempted a for.
midable movement in the western
sphere, but were met by the French
and British with courage that was
marvellous against overwhelming
odds. The Germans returned to the
attack no fewer than ten times wich
remarkable tenacity and intrepidity,
but were unable to break through the
firm line presented by the allies III
fantry.
The fight just before daYbreak was
the most violent of all. The Germans
appeared to throw into this charge Ill
that remained of their energy, but
were rolled back with enormous
losses. Before retiring behind. their
big guns they sacrificed many of
their number, displaying resorTJgn
which approached desperation.
vigorous counter attack from The
allies ensued, during which a small
extent of ground was gained.
Last night was relatively calm
along the front, but today the fight
ing became moRe furious than ever.
During the darkness operations are
rendered difficult owing to the re-
luctance of the opposing commanders
to use searchlights, which might ex-
pose their positions.
After this stage of the fight was
concluded the Germans appeared TO
retire about seven miles. During the |
combat the adversaries in many IN
stances came to hand-to-hand clashes |
and the bayonet was extensively |
used. The carnage was terrifying !
but the troops of both armies appear |
to have been hardened to such scenes
and fought with great GOODNESS.
The allies aviators apparently dis
covered today the placements of big |
German guns, in spite Vi the clever
ness with which they are hidden be- |
meath an earthen covering strew1 |
with the branches of trees. The al
lies artillery opened a concentrated +
fire on a central portion OF the line |
and the heavy German artillery
shortly afterward lapsed into silence
at the spot, although it ig not known
whether they were rendered impotent |
or merely were effecting change of |
position.
1t is impossible to learn from aay |
one portion of the line what is oc- |
curing at other places, but an incli- |
nation to recede slightly seemed evil
dent on the German side, although |
they offered the most obstinate resist |
ance and fought as though made Of
iron.
At a point where the bulk of the |
German troops formed part of the al
lies line the fighting was furious
yesterday and today and some of the
most famous English, Scottish and
Irish regiments, including the guards
and the Highlanders, suffered severe
ly. They performed the task set for
them unflinchingly, advancing and