New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-17
Explains Violence of RR
cent Attacks Around
scissors.
TOWNS LAID IN
RUINS BY BATTLE
Thunder Of Guns Never Ceases
at Compiegne-Germans Drop
35 Bombs on City.
nv G INNAN BARNARD.


PA, c,,-.,ro,d.pt o. Tn. New York Tribune
Compierne. Jan. l6.-When ! arrived
az Compiegne found large crowds az
sembled around the Hotel dc ia GIocno
eager to catch glimpse OF the frlhoe
Of Wales, who had arrived IN an Su1o.
mobile. with three other othcers' lIon
the headquarters OF General JoHie, arc
after passing the night IN the town
went Of in the direction or SolsSohS'
The prince, despite ms ooElsn AZ
seems an excellent officer, ana ms
bronzed complexion shows that ne ~
taking his full share IN the campa u.
Although the Germans are only. lew
miles distant. Compiegne has ALREADY
returned 10 something Ike IT'S lorihei
peaceful life Of French proVih'la:
town. IL "a true that the thunder OF
the French and German guns on INC
battlefront never ceases, but the people
soon CROW accustomed 10 the sound and
end bv paving no attention 10 II. FROM
time 10 time German aeropIahes pass
over the town amid great momenlatE
excitement. In the last few weeks they
have dropped thirty-tive bombs on me
town. The last visit was on SUNDAY
when three arrived just as the people
were leaving the churches but the
bombs thrown only did material dam
age They were directed at me
churches. hospitals and an historic cha
tesu which is used as hospital
Peasants Go On Working.
Only for the constant passing OF mill.
tsrv automobiles and the number o.
uniforms seen everywhere, no one
would imagine that less than twenty
miles away couple OF hundred thou
sand men were in death grips Inc
Germans defend their positions with
the greatest tenacity. | have just seen
a man who had occasion 20 travel along
the fighting lire for a distance OF NIFTY
kilometres. All the towns and villages
along the front suffered terribly from
The IRE of the French and German ar
tillery. in many instances beng merely
heaps OF ruins.
But what is most extraordinary IS
that. despite the war raging around
them, the French peasants continue 20
carry out their labOrs in the field. AS
soon as there is lull IN the cannon
aiding they start ploughlng, working Tor
the greater part with oxen. as all horses
have been requisitioned by the military
authorities scissors Is IN terrlple
condition, as for weeks 1t mas been the
centre of a ceaseless battle. one OF
the chief causes of the anxiety OF the
military chiefs is the continuance OF
the rainy weather.
When ! left Paris and journeyed tow
ard the lighting line ] soon began 10
notice the effects of the recent rams.
The Seine. Marine, Disc and Alsne are
i'm FOOD, and at some points the Two
last named have Overfiowed their DahkS.
This has enormously complicated the
task OF the generals at the moment.
A. the advance Of the Germans on Paris
in August the retreating French and
English armies blew up scores OF
bridges. These were replaced by tenn
porary wooden structures, and IN some
instances by bridge boats. On the
Aisne the dangerous condition OF the
temporary bridges forced the French TO
abandon the left bank. This movement
had 10 be carried out with such rapid
ity that many guns had to be a0an-
doned. The breeches were, however, re-
moved, making them useless 10 the
enemy.
French Hold Their Own.
At the same time the enemy re-
doubled the attack on scissors, which
is the centre position defending Com
piegne. The thunder of the guns,
which never ceased all night, developed
by day into ceaseless roar of artll-
lery. proving that the attack and de-
fence had increased in intensity, but as
the French lighting line had two days
ago been reinforced it had no difficulty
in holding its own.
This was proved by the fact that
af
which had been almost continuously
in action for some days were able to
return 10 Compiegne last night IN or
der 10 give the men and horses well
deserved rest. Rumors are current
that the Kaiser has returned 70 the
French front and has established head
quarters in the vicinity of Craonne
and that this explains the recrudes-
cence Of German activity on this part
Of the line. Each time he has appeared
on the French front violent assaults
bv enormous masses of men have i'm
mediately followed. This was the case
at Nancy, then al Ypres and Dixmude
and now on the Scissors and Craonne
line. ,
Each OF these attacks was repulsed
with terrible losses, and 1t looks as II
the present hecatombs also will have
been sent 10 butchery in vain.
OF course, the knowledge that a bat
tie is raging a few short miles from
the town keeps the inhabitants of
Compiegne in somewhat nervous
state. When the population of city
never ceases for one single hour for
DAYS and weeks 10 hear the sound OF
cannon II naturally makes them ner-
vovs and somewhat susceptible 70
panic. They know Of what strategic i'm
portance the possession of Compiegne
would be 10 the Germans. situated on
the confluence of the Disc and Aisne
and the Disc Canal, while possession
OF the railway would give them enor-
nous advantages they do not now have.
For this reason they understand the
intense desire Of the Germans to re-
capture the town of which they so bit
terlv regret the loss. This explains
the violence Of the German effort, but
as the French have the same reasons
for holding the line Of defence at any
price they can be depended upon TO
resist the worst efforts Of the haiser's
forces.
The presence Of the Kaiser near Sois-
sons is confirmed by a German official
wireless dispatch. saying the sighting
took place under the eyes of the All
Highest Ward Lord himself"