The Raymer enterprise., 1914-09-10
BY PHILIP GIBBS.

BY PHILIP GIBBS.
Paris-When escaped from
Amiens, before the tunnel vas broken
up. and the Germans entered into pos.
session OF the town on August IS, the
front OF the allied armies was in a
crescent from Abbeyille, south OF
Amiens on wooded heights. and
thence In irregular line TO south OF
Mezieres.
The British forces. under Sir John
French. were at the left OF the center,
supporting the heavy thrust-forward
Of the main German advance, while
the right was commanded BY General
Pau.
A Million on the Move.
On Sunday afternoon fighting vas
resumed along the whole line. The
German vanguard by this time had
been supported By fresh army corps.
which had been brought from Bel
GUM.
At least 100000 men we're on the
move, pressing upon the allied forces
with feroclty OF attack which has
never before been equaled Their
cavalry swept across great tract OF
country. squadron by squadron, Ike
the mounted hordes OF Attila, but
armed with the dreadful weapons OF
modern warfare.
Their artillery was In enormous
numbers and their columns advanced
under cover OF il. not like an army
but rather like moving nation--I do
not think. however. with equal pres
sure at all parts Of the line. II formed
itself into battering ram with
pointed end and this was thrust at
the heart of the English wing.
impossible to Resist.
1t was impossible 10 resist this on.
slaught. II the British forces had
stood against 1t they would have been
crushed and broken. Our gunners
we're magnificent and shelled the ad-
yaucing German columns SO that the
dead lay heaped up along the way
which was leading down TO Paris; but,
as one OF them told me;
IT made no manner OF difference.
As soon as we had smashed one lot,
another followed, column after column.
and By sheer weight OF numbers. We
could do nothing 10 check them"
After this the British forces fell
back. fighting all the time The line
of the allies was in the shape Of a
'N"; the Germans thrust their main
attack deep into the angle. This po-
sition remained the same until Mon.
day, or rather had completed itself By
that date, the retirement oi the troops
being maintaiged With mastery skill
and without undue haste.
River chosed With Dead.
Meanwhile General Pau was sustain.
ing a terrific attack on the French cen
ter by the German left center, which
eliminated on Cdate omitted The
River Oise, which runs between beau
tifnl meadows. was hoked with
eorpses and red with blood.
From an eye witness OF this great
battle, an officer OF an infantry regi-
ment who escaped with slight wouud>
] learned that the German onslaught
had been repeled by series Of bril-
liant bayonet and cavalry charges.
The Germans. he said. had the
elite OF their army engaged against
US. including the Tenth army corps
and the Imperial guard, but the hero,
ism OF our troops was sublime Every
man knew that the safety Of France
depended upon him and was ready TO
sacrifice his life. Il need be, With JOY
ful enthusiasm
Gave Great Punishment
They not only resisted the enemy's
attack, but took the offensive, and. in
spite Of their oyerpowering numbers,
gave them tremendous punishment.
They had to recon before our guns.
Hundreds Of them were bal nueted
and hundreds were hurled into the
river. The whole field OF battle WAS
outlined By dead and dying men whom
they had 10 abandon. Certainly their
losses were enormous, and I felt that
the German retreat was In full swing
and that We could claim a real victory
for the time being
Pau Compelled to Yield.
Nevertheless the inevitable hap
pened. owing to the vast reserves Of
the enemy, who brought up four diyi.
sions and General Pau was compelled
to give ground
On Tuesday German sklrmishers
with light artillery were coming south
ward. and the soInd OF their field
guns greeted my ears. Presently |
saw the figure Of a French dragoon,
with his carbine slung behind his back.
He was standing by the side of a
number Of gunpowder hags A little
farther away were little groups OF sol
diers at work by two bridges, one over
q stream and one over a road They
we're working very calmly and ! could
see what they we're doing. They were