Little Falls herald., 1914-09-18
RICH
HAS BORNE
LONG nlk
llansRetireSev
enty Miles.
turn AND DELIVER
COUNTER ATTACKS
Losses in Battle Of marne Are
Withheld and Declared to
Be Staggering.

Be Staggering.
London, Sept. 1.-THE right wing
of the German army, which has NOV
ed back in less than a fortnight from
the ''gates of Paris,' until it is drawn
up on almost straight line extend
ing from the neighborhood of Noyon.
in the west, to Bois Forges on the
Meuse, north of Verdun, with its left
resting on the German fortress of
Metz, has gone back more than seven
ty miles in two weeks. The rest OF
the army also has had to retire before
the whole could find ground on which
to make another stand against the
advance of the allies.
That the Germans intend to give
battle on this line, with the River
Aisne in front of their right, the hills
of Rheims facing their center and
the mountains and forest of Argonne
on their left, there seems little doubt.
They went back steadily before the
French and English armies, fighting
only rear guard actions until their
right, in command of General Won
Kluck, got across the Aisne. Then
they turned and delivered several
counter attacks. which, however, &C.
cording to the British official report,
were repulsed, the Germans leaving
200 prisoners in the hands of the
British.
Prepare to Resist Attacks.
These counter attacks doubtless
were delivered in the hope Of giving
the troops of the right wing, exhaust:
ed by the long advance followed by a
retreat almost as long, the opportu.
nifty of resting and preparing posi-
tions from which they could resist at
tacks from the allies and in which
they could await reinforcements be-
fore taking up the offensive again.
! The Germans are in the hilly coun-
try around Noy0n, on the plateux
north of Vic-sur-Aisne scissors, and
north OF Rheims, where they are dig
ging strong entertainments and re-
ceiving reinforcements. But even
here this right wing, which up to the
present has borne the brunt of the
fighting in the advance and the re-
treat, is not altogether safe, for the
French army operating from Amiens
clings to its flank, while the British
and French forces continue to press
in front.
It is essential, however, that they
should hold their positions, for they
cover the lines of retreat to the north:
which would be the only way out if
defeat should be their lot. That they
realize this is shown by the fact
they have been contesting every foot
of the ground with the allied armies
the past two days and that both sides
have suffered heavily.
Severe Fighting Occurs.
The British army, as has been it's
lot since it landed in France, is tax.
ing its full share in this fighting.
whteeha on the front has been partic-
ular1y severe since the Germans cross
ed the Aisne and made their first
determined stand in the retreat from
Paris. The German center, which, in
the last few days has come more into
line with the two wings, now stretches
from the heights north of Rheims to
the western foothills Of the Argonne
ridge, dipping little south to touch
ville-sur-T Turbe, just northeast of Camp
de Chalons. This is all rough ground,
in many places covered by heavy for
est, which may by this time have
been destroyed.
The German left has been driven
back little further than the center
and holds the ground from west Of
the Argonne hills north Of Varennes,
which the French have reoccupied, to
the Meuse, which It crosses at Con.
senvoye. and thence southeastward to-
Metz.
The crossing Of the Meuse which
the Germans have selected at Consen.
voye is just out Of range Of the fort
ress guns Of Verdun, so that as far as
1he battle now pending is concerned
they have not to reckon with this.
stronghold, except as it offers support
TO the French. in case the allies are
compelled to retire.
Cover Lines OF Retreat. d.
The Germans on this long line COW
Or % many retreat lines as possible
including those. to Namur, uiyet Ne
Heres Sedan and stenay. and soon.
llhould - .if 9, l1aye not con-
ilslss - - & IS 4.