Middletown transcript., 1915-08-07
FIRST YEAR OF THE
WAR IN THE WEST

The first month and q half Of the
western campaign was made up OF
startling, swift moves. On September
n, after the defeat on the Marne, the
Germans took up defensive positions
along the Aisne river. The ten and a
half months since then have seen a
Ong deadlock.
The battle line Of the Aisne and the
Oise quickly extended northeast to the
OeA. Fighting has been continuous,
With tremendous losses. The general
situation has remained unchanged,
gains Of n few miles for one side at
Sne point offset by minor gains for
ne enemy in other sectors.
At the beginning of August the
Kaiser took possession Of the little
state of Luxembourg and demanded
passage through Belgium to the Fran
eO-Belgian frontier.
Permission to pass denied, Won
Einem attacked Liege august A.,
while other German armies passed
around the city and swept over the
bVel Belgian roads at a terrific rate.
The little Belgian army yielded Brus-
sells and fell back to Antwerp and
Ghent.
First Big Engagement.
Not until the Germans had almost
reached the French border did the
Arst important engagement take place
This is generally known as the battle
Of Mons-Charleroi (about August 20
~, but at the same time there was
severe hghting along the whole line
through Thionvills in Lorraine and
along the Vosges in upper Alsace,
which the French had invaded with
0smporary success.
This battle resulted in defeat for the
French and English.
While obtaining some successes in
eOunter-attacks on the advancing Ger.
mans at Peronne and at Guise, the
French were obliged to fall back rap
Mly to the line of the River Marne.
On the left the French had with.
SrRwn to below Paris and the western.
most German army, under Won Kluck
ALLOWED.
The garrison of Paris was put in
thousands Of motor cars and hurled on
Won Kluck's flank. The latter was not
&ken entirely unawares and met the
attack strongly, but at the same time
ne 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 five armies in line. The with
Arawal Of the two farthest west now
caused the retreat of the third, fourth
and fifth in that order, each in turr
Anding its flank exposed by the with
arawal Of the troops on its right. A
The same time the movement on thC
east end of the German line was &C
tolerated by q strong attack from thu
French fortified zone of Verdun.
The German retreat was as orderly
a. that Of the French and English haC
been. The invaders took up an ad
mirable defensive position. 1t raj
Just north Of the Aisne river, on
series Of bluffs, then Just north o
Chalons and through the wooded
1Ough regions of the Argonne and tn,
WoeVre, joining hands here with tn,
troops besieging Verdun. The allie
have tried this line in vain ever since
Both combatants now tried to turl
ne west flank. Enormous bodies o
cavalry. On the part of the Frencl
Flanders. On the part of the Frencl
there was largely the desire to link Vi
With the Belgians, now being attacke,
m Antwerp. The mighty siege gun
OF the Germans made short work O
ahe Belgian seaport, however, and /
aell on October 8. The remnants O
Ahe Belgian army retreated along tn
sea coast and the Germans in a fina
sush reached ostend October 15).
Line Extended to the Sea.
The battle line of the Aisne was nov
attended to the sea. the Germans holt
@g the important French city of Lille
while the allies kept Ypres in Belgiu1
and, partly by flooding the lowlandi
held the position Of the User river an
canal
From October 16 to November l
vas fought the desperate first battl
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