New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-17

mans held it under Cesar it has been
besieged many times. Until to-day
the Germans had held it for two weeks.
In 1870 they bombsrded II for four
DAYS, and there is, or was, in Solssons'
in the Place de Ia Republique, mon
ument to those citizens OF SCISSORS
whom after that siege the Germans
shot. The town lies in the valley OF
the River Aisne, which is formed by
two long ridges running south ana
north.
Last night the Germans occupied the
hills to the south, but when attacked
offered only slight resistance and WIN
drew to the hills opposite. In SolsSons
they left a rearguard to protect theiT
supplies, who were destroying an
bridges leading into the town. Al ths
time l arrived q force OF Turcos mao
been ordered forward to clean SCISSORS
of the Germans and the French artll-
ierv was endeavoring to disclose their
nositions on the hills. The loss OF the
bridges did not embarrass the black
men. In rowboats they crossed 70
Soissons and were warmly greeted.
This morning scissors was drawing
NO color line. The Turcos were tol-
lowed by engineers, who endeavored TO
renair one bridge and in consequence
were heavily shelled with shrapneL
while. with the intent to destroy the
road and retard the French advance,
the hills where the French had halted
were being pounded by German siege
This was at point four kilometres
from Chrudun between the villages OF
Breuil and Courtelles. From TINS
HEIGHT YOU could see almost to Com
niaSne and thirty miles IN front IN the
direction of Saint-Quentin. 1t was a
nanorama of wooded hills gray villages
in yellow fields of grain, miles OF POI
lars marking the roads, anc below US
The flashing waters of the Alsne ana
The canal. with 1T orr feet the steepiH5
Of the Cathedral of scissors and inc
gate TO the old Abbey OF Inomas d
Rocket. Across these steepieS In'
Shells sang, and on bo.h SIDES OF Ut,
Aisne Valley the artillery was eagageI
The wind was blowing IorIy hHol5'
which prevented the use OF the rreu'h
aeroplanes. but it cleared the ar anu,
helped by brilliant sunshine II wa
possible to follow the SMOKE VI w.
hattie for fifteen miles: Inc Wlhu Wa
blowing toward our right "hete VIZ o
oIisb were, aud though We could see
Nhn
else lie as their shrapnel burst, the
~ U,rort Of the guns did not reach Us.
Il cave the curious impression OF
borsha rdment conduc ed IN utter
silence ,;.,a oorr;ad the
ND. clearly. The jar and roar OF
The cannon were insistent, and on Doth
siSes of the valley the Lllltops were
wropned with white clouds. BACK OF
Ne n the wheat fields shells were set,
tive fire TO the giant haystacks ana
niles of grain, which in the clear Sue-
Shine burned a blatant red. AT times
shells would trike in 'he villages OF
Rronil and Vauxbain. and houses
would hurst into flames, the gale IAN
ninp the fire to great height and MD
inc the village in smoke. Some three
Iundred yards ahead Of US the shells
of German siege guns we're trying TO
destroy the road, which the popIars
cIehr'y betrayed. But their pracuce
was at fault and the shells fell pA!y
on either side. when they struck they
burst with a roar, casting up black
fumes and digging grave twenty
Yards in circumference.
But the French soldiers disregardcd
hem entirely. In the trenches watch
the Germans had made and abandoned
they hid from thu wind and slept
peacefully. Others slep' in the lee OF
the naystacks, their red breaches and
blue coats making wonderful splash ;
Of color against the yellow grain. For
seven days they have been fight nS
without pause, and battles bore them.
ate in the afternoon all along ne
fifteen miles of battle firing ceased,
for the Germans were .alling back
upon Laon. and once more SoIsso ls,
freed of them as i.teen hundred years
age she had freed herself OF the 2o-
mans, he'd oft her ar.Is to Il Allies.
rgopyr.gft, 1914. l., the Wheeler 49, ate.
Iu.b