The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-16
DISASTROUS TO GERMANS.
FRENCH ARE WINNING VICTOR
les AT LAST.
Official Bureau Gives Out Vivid Story
OF Advance of Allied Troops as
Kaiscr's Men FALL Back Before
Them.

vaders to continue the retirement of
their right flank and centre from the
east OF Paris. The Germans aban-
doncd much equipment, left many
prisoners and left their wounded on
tho field.
The British are again prominent in
the pursuit. Besides taking many
prisoners they captured II cannon,
while the French took another Ger
man regimental flag. German troops
fal ,ner east maintain their position,
but are being vigorously assailed by
the allies.
The French military authorities,
who heretofore have confined the
information made public concerning
the military operations east of Paris
to lacOnic statements very general in
character. today gave lengthy de-
scription Of the most important bat
tie since the beginning OF hostilities.
Evidently the left wing of the
allied armies facing the northeast has
borne the brunt of the preliminary en-
gagements, in which the British took
such prominent part so we'll that
they are the object of the highest COM
pliments on the part of the French
military men.
The combat, according to the OFF,
ciol announcement Seomc to ha do
vcloping into an abandonment OF at
least the advance positions held by
the Germans, who, it is announced,
are retiring along a greater part of
the line. This retirement is said to
have been for &c miles at some points.
Furious Onslaughts, sometimes by
the French and again by the Germans
occurred about the centre OF an eX-
tcnsive line in the vicinity Of vitry-
le-Francois.
a rainstOrm caused great difficult
ties in the e~fnarshy districts. t.1t sli6
not stop the ,rations. The fusiladcs
Of the troops and the artillery duel
proceeded all day. 1t is believed the
retiring Germans suffered more than
the allies from the storm, as their
Withdrawing columns were encum-
bercd with baggage and ammunition
wagons.
The announcement follows:
"As we write this q great battle ha5
been taking place since September 6
over Il front extending in II general
way from Paris to Ncrdun.
From the very outset Of this ac-
tion the German right wing, the army
commanded by Gen. Won Kluck, which
on September G. had reached the dis
trict 10 tho north OF Provina, was
obliged to fall back because OF the
danger of being cnvclopcd. Fy it's
clever ana rapid movements this army
allies grips and was throwing itself
with the greater force again3; our en-
\"lu?in& wing TO the north of tho
Marine and the west Of the Ourcq
river. But the French troops, which
were operating, i'll this rcGiun, power
fully aided by the bravery of our
losses on the enemy and gained the
hnc necessary to allow our offensive
to press forward and at present on
'hat "idc tho enemy l.; in retreat to-
ward Aisnc and the Disc.
lie has thus fallen back 81 to i6
miles in four days. In the mcantimc
the AnGl"-Frcnch forces, which h.d
hc"n operating to the South Of the
Marnc, have rot ceased to pursuc
their offensive
1T was in the region between the
plateau to the north OF N'itry that the
most desperate fighting occurred. In
this region there have been operating,
besides the left Wing Of Gen. Won
''u"loW'3 army, the army OF SaXony
ana a part Of thc army Of the Prince
OF WurtcmhCr%.
"bur success on the plateau north
Of Iannc enabled us to take the Of
lcnsiN" and during last niaht the
enemy stopped fighting on the front
between the marsh of s.. Gond ana
tn" CONNIE district and fen back il
the region west Of Nitry-!c-Franc,is.
ION 'hc brnain river. as between
IN" Ar;'onn" forest and the river
M"u%", whore the armies or the Prince
"' Wurt"mhcr" and tn" crown prime.
or GcrmanE were operating. G~htin&
Was still "'inG on Wi;h ait,rnatc adj
NhnccS ana retreats. Lut without an"
"r'at Chang" in tie situation.
'''hua tn" first phase or ,n. BATE.
at th" Marine is tJrninr on; i'm favCv
of the allied armies sine" the German
ri"ht win" and centre at rrCacnt arc i'm
retreat.
s-1-.