The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-09-21
ALLIES SAY GERMANS
ARE GIVING GROUND
Armies Of Millions Of Men
Rapidly Approaching
Exhaustion.

London, Sept 21-If reliance can
be placed on the British and French
assertions that the right wing of the
German armies which stretch across
Northeastern Frr-cn is SLOWLY yielding
then the battle of the Aisne seems
likely to follow the course of the bat
tie on the Marne, for there it was the
German right which first fell back
across the river.
Along the 150-mile front, the rear
of which Is SCARED with graves of
thousands already sacrificed, two ar
mics comprising millions of men rapid
ly approaching exhaustion and stand
ing In trenches deep with water await
an opportunity to drive a wedge
through the opposing line and thus
end the terrible strain which must
last as long as Emperor Williams
troops hold their now strongly en-
trenched positions and as long as the
s.iieG forces C.l.I s..so Iie murderous
hail of projectiles from the hidden
batteries of their opponents.
The Germans are strongly entrench-
ing on the River Aisne, with rein
forcements from Lorraine, according
to official announcement made in
Paris.
Both the British and the French adj
NIT that 1t will take almost super
human effort to win, the strength OF
the German position being emphasiz-
ed in every dispatch from the front.
Fighting Hand-to-Hand.
Witnesses and the surgeons testify
to a paradox on the modern battle
field-the recurring frequency e
hand-to-hand fighting, wnicn so many
military men said was a thing of the
past Bayonet wounds and other
cumulative evidence, however, show
that the soldiers have been engaged
In death grip, during which they
resorted to their side arms and In
some cases to their hands.
Another fact which stands out
among the varied accounts of the hos
tilities is the utter prodigality with
which the Germans threw forward
man after man in close formation in
an attempt to carry a position. The
tremendous losses they have suffered
have not changed these tactics.
Some observers estimated that the
total casualties of the Germans and
allies to date are in the neighborhood
OF 10000.
The German official statement says
attacks along the entire battle front
are being easily repulsed. Beaumont
has been stormed and $500 French
prisoners captured, says the official
report, which adds that decisive at
tack is being made by the Thirteenth
and Fourth army corps and parts OF
other German divisions south of No
yon, with loss. The report says the
invasion of the Alpine rifemen over
the Vcsges into the Brussels valley
has been repulsed.
English Bear Brunt of Attack.
Fragments of news from the front
confirm the serious character of the
combat on the Aisne. Advices re
ceived In Paris indicate the English
as on the Marne, are bearing the
brunt of the counter attacks and are
conducting themselves brilliantly. Re
ports received in Paris intimate the
rains have aided the allies by filling
the defensive trenches dug by ths
Germans and adding to the sufferingi
OF the wounded.
A French officer, who has just re
turned from the front, is authority
for the statement that the strain OF
both sides of the line In France prom
ises soon to get beyond human endur
ance. He likens the antagonists t.
two exhausted pugilists and says tina
soon they will be unable ta infiic
further punishment on each other.
II this situation develops the onl.
possible way for the allies to proven
9 weary and dishsartsning winte
AananlGna 4 ~ angped ex London