The Irish standard., 1914-09-12
MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST
eTUeeoRNlY FOUGHT CON.
TEST STAGED EAST OF
FRENCH CAPITAL,
ALLIES SEEM TO HAVE
BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
Although Reports Are Received From
Only One Side, There 10 Little
Doubt but That German invad-
ers Are Meeting With Reverses
and Are hard.Pressed.

10IAop SUN. AV.-xu 0 V6Ill0 WHICH u
proceeding to the east of Paris ap-
pears to be the most important and
most stubbornly fought combat Of the
campaign. The military authorities
decline to give any indication Of the
number Of men engaged, but hundreds
Of thousands are participating on both
sides.
Armistlce 10 Refused.
According to those In position to OBJ
tain authentic information, the casual
ties have been SO great that the Ger
mans requested an armistice of "a
hours.
The armistice was refused with the
response:
I'VE grant you that time to get out
Of France"
German Resistance Fierce.
| An official communication issued by
the war Office shows that the German
wing, while retreating before the
allies, has offered the sternest resist
ance, delivering several fierce but I'M
successful counter attacks.
The fighting extends along both the
Ourcq and Marine rivers. In the lat
ter region the British forces have en-
gagged in strong offensive movement
In an undulating country.
More Favorable to Allies.
The progress of the allies has been
exceedingly difficult. In the center
Of the allied line several further en-
counters have occurred, the two op-
posing forces meeting with varying
fortunes, which, however, are regard.
ed as more favorable to the allies than
to their adversaries.
Paris Claims Successes.
| London.-The British and French
forces north and east of Paris have
had further successes against the Ger
man invaders, according to the official
bulletin issued. while in Galicia the
Russians continue with considerable
success their attempt to envelop and
defeat the Austrian army of 100000
men under General Auffenburg.
For the moment, at least, interest
centers in the campaign in France, for
It is felt that the battle proceeding
there is the first real crisis Of the war
and will have vital effect on the out.
come.
Germans Can't Penetrate.
The allies, according to bulletin
Issued ty the French war office, have
successfully repulsed another effort of
the Germans to penetrate their left
center between Fer Champncis and
Vitry lie Francois, where the roads and
railways are more suited to the
French movements than they would
have been further north.
In fact, it is believed General Joffre
purposely fell back from Chalons so
that he could choose ground more fay-
orable for his army for either defens.
I've or offensive operations. In this
he seems to have been justified, for
not only was the German attack re-
pulsed, but at Vitry lie Francois the
Germans actually lost ground.
Scene Of Most Fighting.
This has been the scene of the
heaviest fighting of the present battle.
for on the German right, which the
allies seem to have got around, Gen.
eral Kluck is falling back before the
forward movement of the French and
British forces toward the Marne, be-
tween Meaux and Sezanne.
There must have been some fighting
here, however, as the French report
that some prisoners were taken from
the enemy.
There have been many rumors Of
reinforcements having been sent this
army by the allies. Some of the
rumors are to the effect that Russian
troops actually have Joined it and
others that the Indian troops took part
In the fighting. These rumors, how
ever, remain without confirmation, and
the more thoughtful observers of the
war consider that the increased
strength of the allies left wing is due
to the arrival Of fresh troops from
Great Britain and France and to the
fact that the advanced defensive army
Of Paris is taking part in the opera,
ton.
In Lorraine and Aisace.
The French are still sticking below
the Lorraine frontier and here, accord.
ing to the war Office, have repulsed an
attack made by the Germans on the
line between Nancy and Chateau sa-
Inns.
In Alsace, where the French ad.
vanced so quickly at the beginning Of
the war, there has been a long respite
from serious fighting. This is due, In
the opinion Of military experts, to the
withdrawal of the Germans who are