The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-09-24
After Series Of ENGAGEMENTS, Each Greater
Than Waterloo, Neither Allies Nor Ger.
mans Have Made Decisive Progress in
Seven Days Fighting Participated ln By
Nearly Three Million Men.
TORN and TRAMPLED GROUND
STREWN With MASS OF DEAD
Both Armies Rushing Reinforcements to Front-Beod-
soaked Battle6elds Drenched With Rain, Increasing
Terrible Hardships of Campaign

London, Sept. 22.-The battle of the
Aisne across the channel in Northern
France. in which nearly 100000 men
are fighting, has resolved itself into q
struggel of endurance. After a series
Of battles each greater than Waterloo,
neither allies nor Germans have brok.
On ground.
The chances of victory for the
French-British forces now depend up
on their ability to over match the
Germans with fresh men and batteries.
Each side is striving desperately to
re-enforce exhausted columns, the
Germans from Belgium and the Rhine
forts; the French and British from
training depots.
So anxious are the Germans to break
the power of resistance of Britain's
war machine that night assaults are
added to the terrors Of the day.
But at no time have they gained
their object. The British always have
been ready for them, and have taken
q terrible toll for their losses.
Steadily. yard by yard, as though 1t
was gigantic football game, the
British line has gained. Its front Is a
mass Of dead and wounded soldiers.
The mouldy, torn and trampled ground
is strewn with the invaders, who have
felt the accuracy of the British rifle
fire and the angry weight Of the Brit
ish bayonets. r~-- >--
Conditions for the struggle could
not be worse. The bloody field is
drenched with torrential rain, which
has filled the trenches behind which
the fighters seek protection, adding to
their tourment. All the week the bat
tie has been carried on in the rain
The cold, formal language Of the off,
cial statement emphasized the weather
conditions.
1.-THE weather is bad and it is rain
ing continuously" it said.
But officers who know exactly what
is going on declare this merely hints
both sides are simply filed with water
The troops must lie in them. The
German guns command every foot of
the territory extending along the bat
tie front Of nearly 100 miles. The
trees that afforded cover has been
shot away in many instances. There,
below the surface Of the ground, In
water to their knees, with their
drenched uniforms clinging to their
bodies, the British forces are doggedly
continuing their work.
This is the seventh day Of the COM
bat extending from Noyon to Mount
faucon, in the main battle line which
will determine If the Germans are to
take root in France for second ad-
vance toward Paris, or If they are to
be hurled back over their frontiers.
The situation is as citical as mind can
conceive.
Beginning az a rear guard action
last Monday along the lines Of defense
hurriedly constructed by the German
sappers, when it became certain VIC
tory was not to perch on the kaiser's
banner in what is now known as the
battle Of the Marne, the fighting by
Tuesday had become general. Daily
It has increased until today it seems
that the high tide must be approach
ing.
The stern set faces Of the chief Of
ncials fthe war office, from Kitchen
er Of Khartum himself down, reflect
the realization that the flower Of the
great German army is in life and
death struggle.
According to dispatch from Paris
the French government reports today
indicate that the allies have gained
successes, comparatively minor. over
General Won Kluck and over General
Won Buelow at the west Of the battle