The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-07
BRITISH ARMY HAS HAD ND NEW MAIN TRIAL OF STRENGTH SAYS WAR BUREAU
Says Army Has Conformed With Movements of the French TrOops-English
 Now South of Morne

London, September 6.-3 p. m.) The operations of the British army in France last week are reviewed ir a statement issued by the official wal information bureau today. The state ment reads:
 ''It is possible to make another gen. eral survey, in continuation of that is- sued on August 30, of the operations of the British army during the past week.
 No new main trial of strength has taken place. There have, indeed, been battles in various parts of the inn mense front, which in other wars would have been considered of the first magnitude. But in this they merely are incidents of strategic with drawal and contraction of the allied forces caused by the initial shock on the frontier and in Belgium and by the enormous strength which the Ger mans have thrown into the west while suffering heavily through weakness in the east.
 Conforms to French Movement
 The British expeditionary army has conformed with the general movement of the French forces and acted in harmony with the strategic conceptions of the French general staff Since the battle at Cambri, August 2e where the British troops successfully guarded the left flank of the whole line Of French armies from deadly turning attack, supported by an enormous force, the Seventh French army has come into operation on the British left. This, in conjunction with the Fifth army on our right has greatly taken the strain and pressure off our left. The Fifth French army, in particular on August 29, advanced from the line of the Disc river to meet and counter the Ger man forward movement, and consider able battle developed at the town of Gulse. In this the Fifth French army gained a marked and solid success, driv- ing lack with heavy loss and in disorder three German army corps-the Tenth, the guard and reserve corps. It is stated that the commander of the Tenth German corps was among those killed.
 Retirement Continues
 'Tn spite of this success, however, and all the benefits which followed it. the general retirement to the south continued and the German armies seeking persist af ba Rrif in in praitcally continuous contact with oul rear guard.
 During the whole of this period march ing and fighting have been continuous and in the whole period the British cas- ualties, according to the latest estimates have amounted to about 15,00O officers and men. The fighting having been in open order upon a wide front, with re- peated retirements, has led to a large number of officers and men, and even small parties, losing their way and get ting separated. It is known that a very consider able number of those now in cluded in the otal will rcJoin the colors safely.
 Troops in Good Spirit
 "These losses if heavy ins so small a force. have in no wise affected the spirit of the troops. They do not amount to one-third of the losses inflicted by the British force on the enemy and the sac rifice required of the army has not been out of proportion to it's military achieve ments.
 Drafts of 1900 have reached our army or are approaching the men on the line of communication ana advantage has been taken of the five quiet days that have passed since the action on Septem- Der 1, to fill up the gaps and refit and consolidate the units.
 The British army now is south of the Marne and is in line with the French forces on the right and left
 Germans Neglect Paris
 ''The latest information about the enemy is that they are neglecting Paris and are marching in southeastern di- rection toward the Marne and toward the left and center of the French lines The first Germany army is reported to be between La F'erte Sous- Jourarre and Effizs Boffort.
 'The second German army, after talk ing Rheims, is advancing on Chateau Thierry and to the east of that place.
 The fourth German army is report ed to be marching south and on the west of the Argonne between Fuippes and Vile Jourbe. All these points were reached by the Germans September g..
 'The seventh German army has been repulsed by French corps near Diem vile. It, therefore would appear that the developing movement on the Anglo ESench Jeff flank has been abandoned sy ths Germans because it was no long CT practicable to continue such a great extension, or tecausc-the alternative to . direct attfcK upon the allied lines is preferred.
 Whether this change of plaa by the Germans Is voluntary or whether it has been forced on them by the stra- tegic situation and the great strength of the allied armies in their front will be revealed by the course of events
 There is no doubt whatever that I