Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-16

LONDON, January 1.-THE German
War Offices claim that III. .1srr's
uroons hi.vc entirely cleared >nor,h
bank of the Aisnc in the region OF
scissors of French troops, capturing
six towns formerly occupied by the
French, and infiictine heavy losses. was
met by the Paris War Office tonight
with silence. The French statement
says:
There is nothing OF importance TO
report"
That the check suffered by the
French troops in the battle of SoIssons
is important is admitted here by Brit
ish military critics, though all agree
they cannot determine the object of
the German drive. except as that il,
furnishes a diversion. relieving the
pressure in Flanders and in Alsace.
The violent German attack. conducted
under the direction of the KAISER and
the German general stan by General
Won kluck. is easily the most striking
news from the western theatre.
FLOOD PREVENTS FRENCH
FROM RECEIVING AID
strong reinforcenents. drawn from
the right and left Hanks OF the Ger
man centre army combined with the
Intervention OF the flood stage Of the
River Aisne, which imperiled the lines
of communication of the French. pre-
venting them from bringing up added
forces to meet the increased superior
strength of the invaders. made possible
the German success. say British stu
dents of the progress OF the revival of
AiSne battle.
The German statement asserts that
by continuous fighting they were able
TO take the towns of Cufiies, Crouy,
Bucy-le-Long. Missy, Vauxrot and Val
ierie. all TO the north and northeast OF
Soissons. These captures indicate that
the French were driven in order from
one after another of all their positions
on the three roads leading to the north
from Soissons and from the river road.
which parallels the Aisne.
AS the French retreated across the
swollen Aisne they were continually
under the fire of the German guns and
the crossing, Derilous at best, owing TO
the rushing torrent which carried
bridges and trees before it, was doubIy
disastrous. Hundreds of dead fell into
the river and were carried down the
stream. Both banks were lined with
the bodies of French soldiers. 1t will
take weeks for the French to repair
y,
are able to hold the Germans TO the
north bank of the stream.
GERMAN WAR OFFICE
TELLS OF FRENCH DEFEAT
The German War Office to-day gave
out an official statement, reading as fol- |
lows:
Some torpedo boats appea red yestcr-
day off Westende. They were accom-
panied by small craft. which ap-
preached to within nine miles or the
coast.
French attacks on both sides of |
Notre Dame De Lorette, northwest Of
Arras, were repelled by us. y trench,
which we took eight days ago from the |
enemy near Ecurie, and which had since
been occupied by portion OF one Of
our companies. was lost by us The !
lighting In this locality continues to ]
rage to-day.
THE northern bank of the River |
Aisne. to the northeast of Scissors |
has been cleared of French troops BY |,
continuous fighting we were successful !
In taking Cuf'ies. Crouy, Bucy-Ie-Long,
Missy. as well as Vauxrot and VALERIE |
,(all to the north and northeast Of Sois-
sons). The French here suffered heavy |
losses Their retreat to the south of |
the AisneStook place under the fire of |
our heavy artillery. The conditions
which obtained in this battle were very
similar TO those which prevailed In
continued on Third Page.) :