The Arvada enterprise., 1914-10-29
GEN. FRENCH REPORTS ON DESPERATE
FIGHTING IN BATTLE Of THE A|SNE

made good progress. but at $50 p. IN,
the enemys artillery and machine
gun hre from the direction OF Vregny
became so severe that no further prog
ress could be made. The positions
reached were held until dark.
The Third corps made an attempt
to throw heavy pontoon across the
river late i'll the afternoon, but gave
up because of the heavy howitzer
fire of the enemy
In the evening the enemy retired
at all points and intrenched himself
on high ground about two miles north
OF the river, along which runs the
Chemin des Danes.
Build Pontoons Under Fire.
During the night Of the 18th and
on the l4th. and following days field
companies necessarily worked night
and day, throwing eight pontoons and
one root bridge across the river under
generally heavy artillery fire, which
was necessarily kept up on most OF
the crossings after their completion
The action OF the First corps on
this day under the direction and com.
mand of Sir Douglas Haig was of so
skillful. bold and decisive charac
ter that he gained positions which
alone would have enabled me to main.
tain my position for more than three
weeks of very severe fighting on the
north bank of the river.
About l p. M. the enemy obtained
footing between the First and Sec.
ond corps and threatened to cut the
communications of the latter Gen.
eral Haig was hard pressed and had
no reserve in hand. placed cav.
airy division at his disposal. part OF
which he skillfully used to prolong
and secure the left flank Of the
Guards brigade. Some heavy fight.
ing ensued, which resulted in the en-.
emy being driven back with heavy
loss.
General Advance Ordered.
About four o'clock n weakening OF
the counter-attacks by the enemy and
other indications tended to show that
his resistance was decreasing, and q
general advance was ordered by the
army corps commander.
Although meeting with consider
able opposition and coming under
very heavy artillery and rife fire,
the position of the corps at the end
OF the days operations extended from
the Chemin des Danes on the right
through Chivy to lie Cour De Scupir,
with the First cavalry brigade ex.
tending to the Chavonne Sossons
road. On the right the corps was In
close touch with the French Moroc-
can troops OF the Eighteenth corps,
its right rear. During the night they
entrenched this position.
Throughout the battle OF the Aisne
this advanced and commanding posi-
tion was maintained. and | cannot
speak too highly OF the valuable scrv-
ices rendered by Sir Douglas Haig
and the army corps under his com
mand.
On the morning OF the 18th | be-
came convinced that the enemy was
making a determined stand Reports
reached us from the French armies
on my right and left clearly Indicating
that the enemy was occupying u
strongly intrenched line along the
whole Valley of the Aisne.
General Hamilton. with the Third
division, attacked vigorously and re-
gained the ground lost on the lith.
Il was compelled to change my
plans when | learned that further ad.
vance of the First corps would have
. dangerously exposed my right flank.
and further also learned from the
French commander,inc chief that he
was strongly reinforcing the Sixth
French army corps on my left. with
the intention of bringing up the allied
left to attack the cnemy's flank and
thus compel his retirement.
"On the 18th. 18th and 18th the
whole OF our line was heavily bonn
barded. The First corps was con.
stantly engaged. The enemy was ul.
timately driven back with heavy loss.
"On the 18th information reached
me that General Jofire had deter.
mined to attack and enyelop the Ger.
man right flank.
Night Attack RepuIsed.
'On the evening OF the 18th tho
enemy became active. After dark he
continued his attack on the Second
diyiI!on, only 10 be driven back. Our
losses In these two days were consid.
cradle. but the enemy's. as obtained.
vastly exceeded them.
"On the night OF the 2lst another
violen. attack was rcpulsod by the
Third division, the enemy losing hcay.
lily. on tho 23d fourlnch howitzer
batteries from home arrived They
were brought Into action ON the 2ith
with very good results.
"On the 23d the action Of General
dc DS5tclnau's army on the allied left
developed considerably aud withdrew
considerable forces OF the enemy from
the center and the east Until the
pg,h 10 uptgursJ a. th,uyh IA. on.