BATTLE THAT MAY DECIDE GERMAN FATE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2252, 11 September 1914, Page 5

BATTLE THAT MAY DECIDE GERMAN FATE

NOW RAGING INJFRANCE ALLIES' ADVANCE SLOW BUT GENERAL ' ■■"." '■ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Heo. September 10, 6 p.m.) -, London, September 9. The "Times," in a leader, says: "A battle which may decide fate, and which must decide for a time tile fate of the North of France, is now ragiug. The Allies can faco defeats, but a single German defeat in a battle on a grand scale must mean the final failure oF Germany, for she fights with every civilised nation praying for her downfall, and the obliteration of, the perverse ambitions which led her to plunge "the world in strife."—"Times and Sydney "Sun" service. , '■ . / ' ,STEADY ADVANCE ALONG WHOLE FRONT. 1 . London, September 9. The Press Bureau states that the pressure against the enemy continues by the whole of the Allies' front. . The British were engaged all day. The enemy opposing them retired after a stubborn resistance, and are now crossing to tne north of the Marne. The Fifth French Army-advanced equally successfully, and reports many prisoners captured. The Sixth French Army suffered severely. Along the whole line, the advance everywhere was resolutely pushed home. The British.sustained somo casualties, but the number was email in relation to the nature of the fighting. The .two days' operations were very satisfactory. ■ General Joffre, the French Commander-in-Chief. has thanked Lord Kitohener for the constant support given-by the British during the whole of the operations. That support at tho present moment was most valuable, and was manifested by the troops' very energetic manner, by the brisk recruiting, and the iievr naval ....... Nearly two million men are engaged ui the battle which is still Tho latest news indicates that the Allies are pursuing the offensive. ,* ■ ____ . VIOLENT BATTLE'ON ALLIES'RIGHT. Bordeaux, September 9. Official.—The Germans in their retreating movement have crossed the Petit Morin, with a view to protecting their communications, made violent but unavailing attacks against our troops occupying the right bank of the Ourcq. ' The British are continuing • the offensivo in the direction of the Marne, on the plateau northward of Sotignne (PSezanne). Our troops are progressing, though with ■ difficulty, on our centre A violent battle is in progress on our right wing. The situation is good before Nancy and on the vosgos. . "THE TIME HAS NOW COME," ' Antwerp, September 9. A communique quotes General. Joffre's order informing the troops: "The time has now,come to attack and drive back the enemy." The troops at Verdun made a sortie and captured a nuniber of supply convoys destined for tli&' Fifth German Army. : '• ' ' .ENEMY RETIRES AT LUNEVILLE. '*■''. Paris, September '9. •.' The Germans nave ovacuated the hills around Luneville, near Nancy. London, September 9. It is reported from Basle (a town on the frontier of Switzerland, south of Alsace) that tho Germans are evacuating Upper Alsace. The statement is unconfirmed. ' . . GERMAN AMMUNITION RUNNING SHORT. ' . : ' ■ Paris, September 9 V Three hundred Germans were captured in the last engagements in' tho vicinity of tho Ourcq and Grand Morin rivere. A French sergeant who was, wounded at Moaux says: "Wβ pursued in force for nineteen miles two German regiments which were supported by cavalry and artillery. During the hurried retreat tho Germane did not fire a shot, whereas the French maintained a violent, decimating fire. Wo succeeded in isolating part of this German column, and captured peven guns, two 'machine guns, and many prisoners. One of theso, nn infantry sergeant,' admitted that his men had nearly exhausted their ammunition, and that they had been ordered to-spare it." , . . SEVEN HUNDRED DEAD IN ONE TRENOH. ' 'A French infantry. officer who was wounded at Meaux declared that the Gernian troops repulsed in that district after the two days' heavy fighting"comprisod two army corps. They sustained terrible losses. He counted 700 bodies in one.trench. He corroborated the lack of Gorman ammunition. Tho Germans seemed'very tired. > , ADVANCE IN CENTRE SLOW BUT GENERAL. . (Rec. September 10, 5.38 p.m;)' ~ . . j Paris, September 9, evening. This- afternoon's Communique says the Allies' advance in the oentro is slow, but general. There has been no action by the enemy «gainst Grand Cour'enne and Nancy. There is no change in the Vos-res and Alsace. ■• '■ The situation on'the Allies' left-wings remains satisfactory, despite Ger-> man reinforcements, and the enemy is falling back before tho British. GERMANS CAUGHT IN A VICE. (Rec. September 10, 11.55 p.m.) *> London, September 10, morning. '~The result of the last four days' fighting shows that the.southern division of the German army of invasion, is being ciuight between two fires. _. The French army on the west and north is delivering heavy blows Ourcq, and is forcing the Germans south; . On the other hand the British, supported to the right and left, are receiving the enemy thus pushed southward at Montmirail. The British are taking' many prisoners. ' . , From Montmirail the enemy, in an attempt to escape cut of the vice, is pouring into .the level plains of La Fere Chnmpenoise, whers ho is being met by a superior Frence force. The latter on' Sunday stood their ground like a wall of steel. • ■. . ■■. • . ' While the German right is being ceaselessly harried, General Joffre is seeking to prevent concentration in the east of Fraace, where it was intended to effect a junction of all the enemy's armies. ' ■ . Mareuil-sur-Ourcq is 25 miles north-east of .Meaiix. Mo'ntmrrail is about 48 miles east by south of Meaux, or 45 miles south-east of Mareuil-sur-Ourcq. La Fere Champenoise is about 38 miles east by south, of Montmirail. \ •-, BRITISH DRIVE ENEMY 25 MILES BACK. .'.',' (Reci September 10j 11.45 p.m.) Paris, September 10, morning. It' is officially stated that on the Allies' left wing all the , Germans' attempts to break through the Allies on the right bank of the Ourcq failed. The" British have crossed the Marne, and the enemy has fallen back forty kilometres (about 25 miles)., _ ~,•-,...■ The situation is unchanged in the centre of the fighting. A'TERRIFIC FOUR DAYS'FIGHTING. ',' • (Rec. September 10, 11.45 p.m.) / Paris, September 9, evening. British officers from the front describe the four days' , battle as terrific. The Germans have been surrendering in groups of fifty and siity. ' The British have also captured many guns and ammunition wagons. General, Sir John French &emod to be very satisfied as he walked through the-ranks smoking cigarettes. . ALLIES' STRATEGICAL'POSITION IMPROVES. (Bee. September 11, 0.55 a.m.) ■ » ... Bordeaux, September 10. A communique states that there are indications that the Germans aro retiring along the whole front. The strategical situation of the French troops appears to have improved, but it would be well not to'anticipate the final result of a battle extending over a front of several hundred kilometers. The Germans seem to bo experiencing some difficulty in supplying their troops with necessaries. ' .