Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-14
Germans Alter Plans.

Germans Alter ElanS.
'On Friday, September 4, it became
apparent that there was an alteration
in the advance of almost the whole OF
the first German army. That army since
the battle near Mons on the I'D of Au-
gust had been playing its part In colos-
sal strategic endeavor to create Sedan
for the allies by outf1anking and envelof->
ing the left of their whole line so as to
encircle and drive both the British ana
French to the south.
There was now 4 change in its OBJ
jective and it was observed that the
German forces opposite the British were
beginning to move In southeasteriy ol.
rection instead of continuing southwest
on to the capital; lea-5 strong rear
(Which flows south of and joins the
Marine at Lizy-sur-O urcD to keep on the
French sixth army, which by then mad
been formed and was to the northwest
of Paris. They were evidently executing
what amounted to flank march diagon-
ally across our front
German Movements.
Prepared to ignore the British as
being driven out of the fight. they were
Initiating an effort to attack the left
flank of the main French army, which
stretched in a long curved line from
our right toward the east, and so to
carry out against it alone an envelop-
ment which SO far had failed against
the combined forces of the allies.
Saturday, the 5th, this movement on
the part of the Germans was continued,
and large advance parties crossed the
Marine southwark at Trilport, Sammer-
on, La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre and Chateau
There. There was considerable fight
ing with the French fifth army on the
French left, which fell back from It's
position south of the Marine toward
the Seine.
Sunday large hostile forces crossed
the Marine and pushed on through
Coulommiers and past the British right
farther to the east. They were at
tackled at. night by the French fifth
army, which captured three villages at
the point of bayonets.
Allies Begin Advance.
Monday, September Z, there was a
general advance on the part of the
allies. In this quarter of the field our
forces. which had now been reinforced,
pushed on in a northeasterly direction
in cooperation with the advance of
the French fifth army to the north
and of the French sixth army to the
eastward against the German rear
guard along the river Ourcq.
Possibly weakened by the detach-
ment of troops to the eastern theater
of operations and realizing that the
against the line of ourcq and the ad-
vance of the British placed their own
banking movement in considerable
danger of being taken in the rear and
on its right flank, the Germans on
this dc.y commenced to retire toward
the northeast.
This was the first sign that these
troops had turned back since their at
tack at Mons, a fortnight before, and
from reports received the order to re-
bitter disappointment. From letters
found on de. ID soldiers there is no
doubt there was general impression
among the enemys troops that they
were about to enter Paris.
Hand-to-Hand Fight.
Tuesday, September 8. the German
movement northeas ward was contln-
ued. Their rear guards on the sou. h
Of the Marine were being Press back
to that river by our troops and by e
French on our right, the latter cap
turing three villages after a hand-to-
hand fight and the infection of severe
loss on the enemy
The fighting along the ourcq con-
tinued on this day and of the most
sanguinary character, ft he Germans
had massed great force of artillery
along the line. Very lew OF their IN
fantry were seen by the French.
Tine French NTH ARMY also made
fierce attack on the Germans in Mont
mirail. regaining that place.
"Wednesday, September 9, the battle
between the French sixth army and
what was now the German flank guard
along the Ourcq continued.
The British corps. overcoming some
resistance on the River Petit NORM,
crossed the Marine in pursuit of the
Germans, who now were hastily re-
treating northward. One of our corps
was delayed by an obstinate defense
made by a strong rear guard. with
machine guns, at La Ferte-Sous-Jou-
ARE. where the bridge had been destroy
ed.
Thursday, September 10, the French
sixth army continued its pressure on
the west, while the fifth army by forced
marches reached the line of Chateau
Thierry and Dormans on the Marine