Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-10-21
GEN. FRENCH TELLS HOW BR|TONS
HAVE FACED GIANT GERMAN GUNS

/ 1OuuOH-I ne OIHCldl press bureau
issued report from Field Marshal Sir
John French's headquarters on the
British operations p France The
text follows:
The enemy is still maintaining him
self along the whole front and in order
to do so is throwing into the fight de-
tachments composed of units from the
different formations. the active army.
reserve. and landwehr, as is shown by
the uniforms of the prisoners recently
captured.
Our progress. although slow on ac-
count OF the strength of the defensive
position against which we are pressing,
has in certain directions been continu-
Gus, but the present battle may well
last for some days more before a de-
cision is reached. since il now ap-
proXimates nearly to siege warfare
The Germans are making use OF
searchlights. This fact coupled with
heir great strength in heavy artillery,
leads to the suppositlon that they are
employing material which may have
been collected for the siege OF Paris.
Confident of the Result.
The nature OF the general situation
after the operations of the eighteenth
nineteenth and twentieth, cannot be
better summarized than as expressed
recently in neighboring French com
mander TO his corps: Having repulsed
repeated and violent counter attacks
made by the enemy, we have a feeling
that we have been Victorious
So far g tho Rriticb ara
the course of events during these three
days can be described In a few words.
During Friday, eighteenth. artillery
fire was kept up internationally by both
sides during daylight. At night the
Germans counter-attacked certain por-
tons OF our line, supporting the ad-
vance OF their infantry as always by
heavy bombardment. But the strokes
were not delivered with great vigor
and ceased about . a. m. During the
days fighting an aircraft gun of the
Third army corps succeeded in bring
Ing down a German aeroplane.
News was received also that a body
of French cavalry had demolished part
of the railway to the north. cutting, at
least temporarily. one line of communi
cation which is of particular import
Rnce to the enemy
German Attack Stopped.
>On Saturday. the nineteenth, the
bombardment was resumed by the Ger
mans at an early hour and continued
internationally under reply from our
guns. Some of their infantry advanced
from cover, apparently with the inten
90 i
fire they retired. Otherwise the day
was uneventful, except for the activity
OF the artillery, which is a matter OF
normal routine rather than an event
Another hostile aeroplane was
brought down by us, and one of ouI
aviators succeeded in dropping severa
bombs over the German line, one in
cendiary bomb falling with consider
able effect on a transport park neal
La Fere
"A buried store OF the enemy's
ammunitions Of war also was found not
far from the Aisne ten wagon loads
Of live shells and two wagons OF cable
being dug up. Traces were discovered
Of largo quantities Of stores having
been burned-all tending to show thai
as far back as the Aisne the German
retirement was hurried.
There was a strong wind durinl
the day accompanied by a driving
rain This initiated against the aeria
reconnaissance.
Several German Attacks Fail.
"On Sunday. the twentieth, nothinl
Of importance occurred until the after
noon. when there was a break in the
clouds and an interval Of feeble sun
shine, which was hardly powerful
enough TO warm the soaking troops
The Germans took advantage of thi,
brief spell of fine weather to max,
several attacks against different points
These were all repulsed with loss t
the enemy. but the casualties incurred
by us were by no means light
In one section Of cur firing line tn,
occupants Of the trenches were unde
the impression that they heard n mill
tary band In the enemy's line just be
fore the attack developed II is nov
known that the German lnfantr!
started their advance with bands play
ing
The offensive against one or tw,
points was renewed az dusk with M
greater success The brunt Of the re
sistance naturally has fallen on the in
fantry In spite Of the fact that the,
have been drcnchod TO the skin 70
some days and their trenches havl
been deep In mud water. and in spit
OF the lncessauf night alarms and tn
almost continuous bombardment L