Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-28
BIC TACTICAL SUCCESS,
NO sTRATEC|CAL VICTORY
Unanimous Verdict of Military Critics
In France Regarding Cham
payne Battle.
HUGE ATTACK IN PROGRESS
While Mighty Struggle Is Proceeding
ON Land, Tremendous FIankinS
Operation Is Being Carried Out
by British Fleet.
nY e. +. BERTELLI.

! PARIS. September 27.-"A very bril-
liant tactical success, but not yet Il
strntcSical victory" This is the unani-
nous verdict of the military critics
with whom | to-day discussed tho
Champagne battle.
Its Immediate result is the massing
of strong German forces north Of Ia
hure in order to protect the lateral
railroad supplying the German forces
between Berry au Bac and the Argonne.
ana from which French batteries are
now only two miles distant.
These re- endorsements are necessarily
being drafted from other points on the
western front where no infantry action
is now in progress. The movements OF
these troops foreshadow other French
, attacks against weakened portions OF
the line, and it is confidently believed
! the offensive Will become general
AT this moment the whole front is
being drenchcd with shells and air
torpedoes. night and dcy. The swift
movement OF the Germans is being con-
quoted behind Il O0-milc curtain of fire
but Is watched by hundreds of French
hcroplancs. Never before have so many
acroplancs appeared above the huge
battle line. Every hour new SQUAD
rohs rise. and perpetual air battle
accompanies the ceaseless roar Of
thousands of guns.
FLAMING
OPERATION BY FLEET
While the mighty struggle is pro-
cecding on land, SO far favorably to the
allies, cmendous thanking operation
Is neihS carried out by the British, Of
"h'ch the communiuues have as yet
a ont ton,
VIII probably prove the decisive factor
III the huge attack now in progress II
Is surprise for the Germans and an
other triumph for the British fleet.
IN operation analogous to the Oar
uihelics 'rort is being carried out on
me shcIl-swept sands OF what WAS once
the most famous summer gambling re-
sort in belgium. This is a part of tb,
huge effort the allies are making be-
lore winter sets in To crippl. perma-
nehtly Germany and Turkey on all
fronts.
Admiral ,Tellicoe's ney.s activities
are ny no means confined to the North
sea. Sections of his 5000 ships with
frehch units are even now covering
operations on the shores of the Aegean
and OF Asia Minor. Everything points
10 the fact that the allies are delivering
inc blow for which they were nrenar
lhS throughout the sumntr
News reaching me from Champappo
teiis or fearful carnage among the re-
treating Germans. This is in fact ono
OF the bloodtest OF battles and which.
Tor the number of victims, surpasses
any previous combat in French war
rare. On front 100 miles, 10000 Cor
man infantrymen fell, which makes
the total German loss more than an
army corps.
StDDENNESS OF ATTACK
CLEARLY ILLUSTR ATE,D
Inc SuddEpneSS VIA
tack are clearly illustrated nv tho
number Of guns taken That the re-
treat was swift and bloody, especially
north OF Hcauseiour, IS shown by tho
rrIshtini slaughter on n hill above the
pormoise River. The impetuous rush
or the oncoming Frenchmen. charging
win the hayonct. drove the Germans
from the crest of hill into the river
below The shouts of the victorious
frcnch mingled with the screams of
the Fugitive Germans as they plunged
INTO the swift-runninG river. and as
the current swept tho Germans off
their feet they clutchcd one another ny
I'll" necks in desperate death grip.
u Is not eNaGacration to say that in
y Few minutes the rushing stream ac-
counted Tor several German companics
and at certain points ii could be forded
across on their hcaped-up bodies
rms hurried retreat, however was
saved from becoming n regular rout by
the German batteries which opened fire
from the other side of the river, and
stayed the on-rushinG French who con-
tented themselves with retaining tho
important positions conquered, from
which their guns could not only sweep
tho Dormoise Valley. but could get the
lateral railroad within range SO far
as infantry action was concerned. the
section OF the battle of Champagne
toward Tahurc ended hero, and the op-
posing artllcries resumed their ter
rife cannonade.