Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-03
FRENCH ARMY is
FACING CAPTURE
EXPERTS BELIEF
Says Question Is How Many
Can Be Saved From Being
Taken or Destroyed.
TEST FOR RUSSIAN ARMS
Greatest Battle in Point Of Numbers
Now Taking Place In Northern
GaIieia and Poland.

washington. d. c, Sept 5.-The be
ginning OF the end of the great battle
in northwestern France seems TO be
in sight. says a Washington army ex-
merit. The whole French left wing is
being driven back so rapidly that II
partakes OF the character OF a rout, as
it IS impossible TO retire as rapidly as
the French are doing and still keep an
army intact.
II the German right has succeeded
n getting 70 Reims by today il seems
certain that from five to eight French
corps at least will have been cut OF
and Will be destroyed. The French
appear 10 be back of the Aisne river.
for the most part in the section OF
their line that extends from Reims 10
Verdum. This front is only about 80
miles long and bow-shaped, where it
follows the windings OF the Aisue
river
Germans Double in Number.
On about 80 miles of the front are
massed about i German corps (4SO.-
coo mem that appear 20 be entirely
intact and practically at full strength.
These with their auxiliaries must
amount to about 100000 men. and the
French on this short line cannot have
an more than half that troops.
What seems to have been response
BILE as much as anything else for this
rapid movement 10 the rear by the
French IS the fact that the large Ger
man and Austrian force which hit the
French line between Toul and Verdum
nearly a week ago must be making
headway. Since that time we have
heard little OF this force. except that
It had pierced the right Of the French
line
If that column has succeeded in
crossing the Moselle river in the area
between Toul and Epinal, Il must be
very close TO NeufchateI. Reims, St,
Menehould and Neufchatel are the
three big railroad centers and supply
points for the whole French army on
the north. Therefore, If the first and
last OF these fall into German hands
the extrication OF even one-half OF the
French army viii be a most difficult
Undertaking.
French In Perilous Position.
The French are now engaged in try
ing TO prevent the Germans from ac-
complishing this. and at the same time
withdraw their hard pressed center.
II they succeed in doing this in the
difficult situation in which they now
iftnd themselves they Will have achiev-
ed n great deal
The question now IS. how much of
the French main army can be saved
from capture or complete destruction.
This will be told in a few days. II TIE
French can get back to the Narne
river with 10 OF their q army corps
100000 mem they will be doing well
indeed.
The allied forces appear % be fight
ing against a German force composed
for the most part OF cavalry supposed
10 be infantry and artillery largely
mounted in armored automobiles. The
last reports place the advanced eIe-
ments OF this German force az Com
piegne, about so miles from Paris.
This information is possibly a couple
Of days old.
Unless stopped Il is not AT all i'm
probable that by the time the advance
patrols Of this cavalry have caught
sight Of the outer main defenses of
PariE
Russians and Austrlsns clash.
The greatest battle in point of num-
bers that has ever been fought is now