Evening star., 1914-10-12
FRENCH CROSS RIVER
AT UNDEFENDED POINT
Neglect to Fortify Swamp Allowed
Pursuers to Strike Teutons
on Flank.
Fierce Fighting in France Told by
Paris Correspondent, Who Wires
Accounts in Provincial Papers.

LONDON October 12-Provincia1
newspapers, says the Paris correspond
ent Of the Reuter- Telegram Company,
publish interesting details Of the fierce
fighting which has taken place in Pi-
cardy and Artois. particularly around
Roye and Lassigny. since the last week
of September.
After the occupation of Roye, he says,
it Is related the German right was prac-
tically enveloped, and they made des-
perate efforts to escape. From Septem-
ber "a the German right wing stretched
farther and farther northward, resting
successfully on Peronne, Albert and
Bapaume. September 26 Cen. Won
Kluck's army extended its front as far
as Arras, which town marked the limit
beyond which the Germans could not
extend. because beyond the hills of
Artois stretched the plain of Lower
Flanders, where no natural defenses ex-
iSt.
From September % to the beginning of
October the Germans have made numer-
Gus attacks in the hope of piercing
the line of the allies. The heaviest
fighting took place between Amiens and
Jerome. Seventeen miles northeast of
Amiens is Bray. large manufacturing
and market town commanding the road
to Bapaume and the road to Arras The
Germans chose this point to arrest the
pursuit OF the allies. Parallel with their
progress northward on the morning of
october l wore French troops coming
from Roye and forming about three di.
visions. with large amount Of artillery
to cover their crossing Of the Somme.
Germans Make Mistake.
While the bulk of the German forces
waited for the allies before Bray, the
general staffs of the allies determined
to attempt the crossing of the river on
a front three and a half miles wide
between Ware and Mericourt.
At this point the ground is low,
swampy and wooded. and easy to de-
fend If warning were given of a hostile
move, but the Germans never thought
that the allies would cross the river at
the position and brought all their artil-
lery fire to bear on the Bray road.
AT 10 o'clock in the morning the
French three-inch guns were placed
opened fire. The German guns replied
vigorously, but while the artillery duel
was progressing, allied infantry swerv-
ed toward the west and descended to
the Comme toward Corbfe, to attempt
crossing. At midday the troops,
wading through the swamps and bogs,
began the crossing, some of them using
rafts. light canoes and frail canvas
boats. One regiment crossed by means
of a rope stretched from bank to bank.
The cavalry passed over ford at
Sally.
Across in Forty Minutes.
The whole operation occupied only
forty minutes. At l o'clock in the att
ernoon the three divisions were on the
right bank of the Somme. When the
enemy realized the meaning OF the
movement the allies were In battle
formation and marching to assault
Bray. While the infantry made an at
tack on the rest of the village the cav
airy was capturing the enemy's posi-
tion on the other side and the French
artillery was maintaining an incessant
cannonade from the direction Of Meri-
court.
The moment for a general assault
having arrived, trumpets sounded al!
along the line. The infantry dashed
forward with colors flying and great
shout arose as the tri-color was seen
waving from the crest Of hill Ihe
infantry occupied the German trenches
and forced them to abandon Bray and
retire in northerly direction.
Near Albert the Germans were push
ed back on the French cavalry. which
treating invaders, forcing them to
abandon their guns The retreat was
not checked until Bapaume was
reached