Gunnison news-champion., 1915-08-06
FIRST YEAR OF TINE
WAR m the WEST

WAN w INK WeS0
The first month and a half OF the
western campaign vas made up Of
startling. sw'fi moves On September
~ after the defeat on the darne the
Germans took up defensive positions
along the Aisne river The ten and a
half months since then have seen a
iong deadlock
he battle line OF the Aisne and the
Disc q, ickly extended northeast to the
sea Fighting has been continuous.
with tremendous losses. The general
situation has remained unchanged.
gains of a few miles for one side at
one point Offset by minor gains for
the enemy in other sectors
At the beginning of August the
kaiser took possession of the little
state of Luxemburg and demanded
passage through Belgium to the Fran
co-Belgian frontier
Permission to pass denied. Won
Einem attacked Liege August ~.
while other German armies passed
around the city and swept over the
level Belgian roads at a terrific rate
The little Belgian army yielded Brus-
1sels and fell back to Antwerp and
Ghent
Tlrst Die Engagement.
Not until the Germans had almost
reached the French border did the
hrst important engagement take place
This is generally known as the battle
OF Mons-Charleroi tabout August 90
2sl. but at the same time there was
severe fighting along the whole line
through ThionvilA in Lorraine and
along the Nosges in upper Alsace,
which the French had invaded with
temporary success
This battle resulted in defeat for the
french and English
While obtaining some successes in
.counter-attacks on the advancing Ger
mans at Peronne and at Guise. the
French were Obliged to fall back rap
idly to the line of the River Marne
On the left the French had with
drawn to below Paris and the western
most German army. under Won Kluck.
followed
The garrison of Paris was put in
thousands of motor cars and hurled on
Won kluck's flank. The latter was not
taken entirely unawares and met the
attack strongly but at the same time
the army Of General Foch attacked the
German army on Won Kluck's left and
drove 1t back
Driven Back From Paris.
The Germans had begun the battle
with fve armies In line. The with
drawal OF the two farthest west nov
caused the retreat OF the third, fourth
and firth in that order. each in turn
finding its flank exposed by the with
drawal of the troops on Its right. AT
the same time the movement on the
east end of the German line was ac-
CELEBRATED by a strong attack from the
French fortified zone of Verdun
The German retreat was as orderly
as that Of the French and English had
been The invaders took up an ad-
mirable defensive position Ii ran
Just north of the Aisue river. on
series OF bluffs. then just north of
thalons and through the wooded.
rough regions Of the Argonne and the
&oeyre. joining hands here with the
troops besieging Nerdun The allies
have tried this line in vain ever since
Both combatauts now tried TO turn
the west flank. Enormous bodies of
cavalry On the part OF the French
Flanders On the part Of the French
there was largely the desire to link up
with the Belgians. now being attacked
In Antwerp The mighty siege guns
OF the Germans made short work OF
the Belgian seaport, however. and il
fen on October g The remnants Of
the Belgian army retrealed along the
sea coast ana the Germans in a final
rush reached Ostend October l5)
Lire Erteroe5 70 the Sea.
The battle line OF the Aisne was now
extended TO the sea the Germans hold
ing the important French city of Lille,
while the allies kept Ypres in Belgium
and partly BY flooding the lovlands.
held the position Of the User river and
canal
FrUm October Is to November 10
was fuuzht -he desperate first battle