New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-19

. about noon on the 9Th the enemy real
lied that a powerful threat was being
made against the flank Of his columns
moving south and east, and began the
great retreat which opened the battle.
. This battle, so far a. the sixth French
army. the British army and the fifth
/ and ninth French armies were con
cerned, was concluded on the evening
of September TO- when the Germans
had been driven TO the Soissons-Rheims
line. with the loss Of thousands Of
prisoners, many guns and enormous
masses OF transport.
The change in the German plans from
q direct advance on Paris appears TO
have been made on September 3. De-
scribing the various stages Of the adj
vance against the Germans, Field Mar
shall French praises the cavalry, es-
pecially General De Lisle's brigade,
with the 9th Lancers and 18th Hussars.
On the Sth both the 1st and I'd army
corps made large captures and TOOK
some guns. On the 9th, after forcing
the passage Of the Marine, they inflicted
n heavy loss in killed and wounded on
+ the Germans. while the I'd division took
some hundreds Of prisoners and a bat
terry of eight machine guns. On the
/ 10th thirteen guns. seven machine guns.
/ 1000 prisoners and quantities OF trans
port fell into British hands, and the
enemy left many dead on the held.
In conclusion tho report says: Al
/ though / deeply regret 10 have 10 re-
port heavy losses in killed and wound
+ ed throughout these operations, 40
not think they have been excessive, III
view Of the magnitude of the great
fight and the Generalization and loss
/ in killed and wounded which are known
/ TO have been caused the enemy by the
/ vigor and severity of our pursuit.
General French's Second Report.
Field Marshal French's second re-
port. dated October 8. concerns the
operations of the British forces since
/ the evening of September 10. =,
early in the morning OF the llth,
saws the report, "thfee corps crossed
/ the Ourcq, further pursuit of the en-
envy being practically unopposed the
/ cavalry reaching the line Of the Alsne,
/ two brigades south of scissors and
/ three brigades at Couvrelles and Ger
seuil on the afternoon of Septem-
Der u.
From the opposition encountered
bv the sixth French army TO the west
+ of scissors and two of our army corps
south of Missy, and certain other IN
/ dications along the line, formed the
oninicn that the enemy had, Tor the
moment, at any rate, arrested MS re-
/ treat and was preparing to contest lhe
passage of the Aisne with some VlgoF
/ south of scissors, where the Germans
were holding Mont de Paris against
/ attack. With the assistance OF arul-
| -. tho al corps of the French drove
/ them back across the river at Solssohs'
/ where they destroyed the bridges
Heavy artillery fire showed that the
/ sixth French army was meeting win
/ heavy opposition all along the llne'
/ "On this day the cavalry under Gen
eral Allenbv reached the neighborhooo
? of Braine. and did good work IN clear
+ ing the town and the high ground pc
vond it Of strong hostile detachmenIs.
| The Queens Bays are particularly
/ mentioned by the general as having
/ assisted greatly in the success OF TINS
/ operation. They were well supported
/ bv the Sd division, which on TINS night
/ bivouacked at Brenelle, south oil inc
/ river. po.1o
"Tbe 5th Division approached Missy,
| br+ we're unable to make Roadway. Inc
/ ,,.ee4 army corps reached the neighbor-
! hood of Vauxcere without much 0pPocc
/ sition. In this manner the Dattle ol
the Aisne commenced. .,..
"Tbe Aisne Valley runs generSlIy
east and west, and consists OF nay
/ bottomed depression varying rom n@ ma
10 two miles wide, down when t me
/ river follows winding course vi
west is high ground. Both sues y!
the river are approximately 4Vo tee'
| above the valley. broken INTO spurs;
/ The most prominent Slopes any ~
nlateaus overlooking the Alsne' OF
iP,ar,inc steepness, are covered with
natcbes of wood, which extend on 10
/ he high ground. Several small VII
Ioooe and towns are dotted about, cnlel
Of which is scissors. ,7o
"The Aisne is a sluggish stream Nv
feet wide and Is feet deep IN the centre
and is unfordable. Between Solssohs
on the west and Villers on the east
tba mart of the river attacked and Sc
cured bv the British forces, are eleven
road bridges. One narrow gauge ana
a double line railway run near the
"Tbe position of the enemy was very
s.ro,,o either for delaying action or
for defensive battle. One Of the
chief military characteristics is that'
oxcept for small stretches on the toP
of the plateau, either side cannot De
soon. owing to the woods on the cages
Of the slopes. The tract OF country
above described is well adapted IOr
copcealment. The enemy so sklliuliy
turned this to account that 1t MADE II
impossible TO judge of the real nature
of his opposition to our passage OF Vhe
river, but ! have every reason 70 con,
clude that strong rear guards, at least
nOlulnR Lne
messages early in the morning OF the
18th.
Making Good the Aisne.
"On that morning | ordered the Brit,
;sb forces TO advance and make gooo
tbe Aisne. The LIST Corps and ea'alry
advanced on the river. The LIST d.
vision was directed on Chanouille, wa
tbc canal bridge at Bourg. On the
right the cavalry and lst DIVISION me'
with little opposition and tound pas,
saoe bv means of the canal aqueduc'
which crosses the river. This DIVISION
therefore was able to press on SUP.
norted by the cavalry on the outer
AT driving the enemy before 1t.
ION the left the leading troops oi
tho ID Division reached the river by
o'clock. The 9TH infantry brigade
onIv was able to cross the river IN
o oingle file, under considerable shell
FREE FREE by means of a broken girder Of d
> bridoc which was not entirely sub
, Da'rS in the river. A pontoon bridge
was Wa constructed by 5 o'clock in the
"Tbe 18th Guards brigade met will
severe opposition at Chavonne, and
were only late in the afternoon able &c
. establish a foothold on the northern