WAR OFFICE SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2249, 8 September 1914, Page 5

WAR OFFICE SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN.

• GEMS IIEOTNG-PARIS

ENEMY'S: FORCES ON STRONG. LINE EAST OF •V. -PARIS

. 'A. oonsecutivo summary.,of the .fighting in France during last week' was freceived last night by the, Prime Minister from the High Commissioner It fcvas dated at London, September 6, 8.40 p.m.: '•■-,.' The Wax Office' issues the following statement of the operations of "the 'British durmg-la6t week:— ... ■'.-:'... . No new main trial, of strength has taken place. l There have been battles In many parts along an immense front; which in other wars' would-have been considered operations of first magnitude,, but in this war they are merely incidents of,-strategic withdrawal, and contractions of the allied forces necessitated by the initial Shook oh the frontier, and by the enormous strength which the Germans have thrown into the . western theatre, while suffering heavily through weakness in the eastern. , The British Army has conformed to the general movement of the French forces, and has acted in harmony with the strategic concoptioh of the French General Staff, since the battle of Cambfai on, August 26, where the British successfully guarded the left flank of the whole line df the French Army from a deadly turning- attack supported by an enornioits force. .The Seventh French Army has coine into operation on oiir left. This in conjunction with the Fifth Army on our right, has greatly taken the' strain and •pressure off our men. The Fifth French Army in particular'on August 20 advanced from tlie line of the Oise River to meet and counter a German forward movement, and a considerable battle dovelbpod to the south of Oise. In this the Fifth hrench Aimy gained araarkcd success, driving back with heavy loss and disorder three German Army Corps, tho Tenth, tho Guards, and the Reserve Corps.. It is believed that the Commander' 1 of the Tenth Gorman Corps was killed. In spite of this success, the general retirement to- the south was continued, and the German Armies; seeking persistently after the British troops, remained in practically continuous contact with our rearguards. ■ .' v ..'". HARD FIGHTING. . On'lAugust 30 and 31 the British were engaged in covering and delaying the German troops, and_ were frequently engaged. Oh September 1 a vigorous effort was made by the Germans,, and tin's brought about a sharp action hi the vicinity of Compiegne. This action was fought principally by the First British Cavalry Brigade and the Jourth Guards Brigade, and was entirely satisfactory \ to the British. The German attack, which was strongly pressed; was not brought to a standstill until much slaughter had been inflicted and ten German guns captured. The brunt of this' affair fell upon our Guards Brigade, who lost in killed and wounded, three hundred men. After this engagement oiir troops vexe no longer molested. • .-'".' BRITISH CASUALTIES TOTAL 15,000. Wednesday, September 2, was the first quiet day since the bottle of Mons . on August 23. During the whole of the intervening period the marching and .fighting had been continuous. In the whole period tho British casualties amounted! at latest estimates to about 15,000. A very considerable number .. of those included in the total will rejoin the colours safely. Those losses though heavy, have in nowise affected the spirit of the troops, and do not amount to a third of the losses inflicted by the British upon the enemy. (Advantage has been taken of tho fivo quiet days since September 1 to fill gaps and refit units. Tho British are now south of the Marne, in lino with' She French forces on tho right and left. GERMANS CHANGE TACTICS. . The enemy are neglecting Paris and" marching in a south-easterly direction,- towards Marno and towards tho left and tho centre of the French line The First German Army aro rejibrted between La Fcrtc-soiis-Joiiarre; Essom- ■ hies, and Viffort (? Trilport). The. Second Gorman Army, after taking Reims advanced to Chateau Thierry, and cast of that place. Tho Fourth Gorman 'Army Js reported to be marching south, on the forest of Argonno, between Suippes and Ville-sur-Tourbe. Tho Seventh German Army was repulsed by a French corps near Dionville. It appears that the enveloping movement upon the Anglo-Freiioh loft flank has been abandoned by the Germans, cither because it is hot practicable to continue such a great extension, or because the alternative of a direct / attack on the Allied line is preferred, Whether this change by the Germans |s voluntary or enforced by the strategic situation, and the great strength bf (Jio Allies in their front; will be revealed by the course of events.

BRITISH SUPERIOR IN EVERY ARM. ... ,P"t i , ? ell have established ascendancy over the Germans. The shooting or the German infantry is poor, while the British rifle fire devastated every SS-nVi; attacked. The, British superior training and'intelligence enabled •* fl lr r • S l °£ e ' 1 formations with effect and to cope with vast numbers or the enemy. The British cavalry have definitely established their superiority. . General French's report dwells dh this marked superiority of the British in every arm of the.service over the Germans. Our cavalry, lie says', do. as they like with the enemy until confronted by thrice their numbers. The Ger-man.-patrols fly ouf horsemen, and the- Germans • will not face our infantry fire. Oiir artillery has never been opposed by less than three or four times their numbers. ... j.? 06 Pl?«» which the First; Second, aid-Fourth German Armies are stated to have .reached are all'on a line running practically due east of Paris, the most distdnt point being yille-br-Tdurbe, 110 miles from .Paris. ■ • --. ■ i,. Ile | m s '?. the .chief town of the Frehph Department of if,arrie., and i 5.7.5 miles north-east' of Paris. It is part of the chief defences of the northern approaches to the,capital.. In 1874 the construction of a chain of forts was ■■t^-Vi 1 . evl ?ffi lt y> . ab o'ut 6 miles from the centre of the city. The system of,fortifications.embraces two-important works on the western side of the city, three to, the. north; .guarding tho .Labn railway and the Aisrie Oaha-lj 6 to the east, and two to the south-east. The southern approaches are unguarded.