OPERATIONS BY THE BRITISH FORCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2259, 19 September 1914, Page 7

OPERATIONS BY THE BRITISH FORCES

OFFICIAL SUMMARY STEADY ADVANCE NORTH TO THE AISNE The following message has been received by the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner:— , . . ■ „ . , London, September 17, 11.5 p.m. Official.—The following descriptive account of the operations of the British from September 10 to j'.3 is available:—Since tho 10th the Armv made steady progress in an endeavour to drive tho enemy back into undulating country covered with patches of thick wood. Within the area which faced the British before the advance commenced to Laon, the chief feature was six ri\ers running across the direction of the advance, the rivers Marno, Ourcq, Vosle, Aisne, Ailette, and Ouse. The enemy held the Marne, which was crossed by our forces on the 10th. Our passage of the Ourcq was not contested. The Veslo was lightly held, but the resistance along the Aisne was of a determined character. On lie 11th little opposition was met along any part of the front, and the direction of the advance was turnod slightly north-east. > Tho day was spent in pushing forward and gathering hostile detachments. At nightfall our forces reached the line north of the Ourcq, extending from Oulchy-le-Chateau to Long Pont. This day there_ was a general advance on the part of the French along the whole line which ended in a substantial success, the Duke of Wurtemborg's Fourth Army being driven across the Saultu, and a whole corps of artillery and a German corps being captured. On the 12th the enemy were found occupying a formidable position opposite on the north bank of the Aisne. At Soissons they held both eides of the river, and wore entrenched along the line of hills to the north. The road bridges and the railway bridges over tho Aisno were demolished. Working from west to east our Third Army Corps gained higli ground south of the Ai&ne, overlooking the Aisne Valley and east of Soissons. A long-range artillery duel continued during the greater part of the day and did hot ceaso till midnight. The enemy had a number of heavy howitzers well concealed. A movement of an army corps was effected with the co-operation of the French Gfh Army on our left, which gained the southern half of the town during the night. The Second Army Corps did not cross the Aisne. The First Army Corps went over the River Vesle, south of the Aisne, after the crossing was secured by the First Cavalry Division. It then reached the line south of the Aisno without fierhtinu.

, At Braisne the Ist Cavalry Division met with considerable opposition from infantry and machine guns holding the town and guarding the bridge. With aid from some of our infantry it gained possession at midday, • driving the onemy north. A hundred prisoners wore captured round Praisne, where the bornians had thrown fioJd-gwi ammunition into the river. On the right the •trench reached the lino of the river Vesle. This "day began the action along tne Aisne which was not. finished, and may be the commencement of a battle of a more serious nature. It rained heavilyon Saturday afternoon, and this 6evere ly handicapped the transport. On the 13th extremely strong resistance was encountered along the whole front 15 miles in length. The'action consisted in long-rajige gun-fire by the Otermarts over a great extent from the heavy howitzers in cleverly concealed positions. At nightfall portions of three coips got across the river, the cavalry returning to the south side. By night three- pontoon bridges had been built, and troops managed to got aoro6s the river. On the left the French pressed on, but were prevented by artillery fire- from building a bridge at Soissons. During the last four days isolated Germans woro discovered hiding in woods behind our lines. Thoy seemed glad to surrender. At Senlis the Germans assembled tho Mayor of the town and five leading citizens, and forced them to kneel before their graves. A requisition was made for supplies, and the six citizens woro then shot. Twenty-four people, including women and children, were also shot. Tho town was pillaged and lirod before it was evacuated. It is believed the cathedral, was undamaged. Similar proceedings occurred at Creil and Crecy. At Villers-Cotterets, the .Mayor behaved judiciously, though supplies far in excess of tho capabilities of the place were demanded. The town was not seriously damaged. 'J'lie Germans evacuated the place on the 11th in haste. Keinis was occupied by tho enemv on the 3rd, and reoccupied by the French after considerable fighting on the 13th. The Germans had taken the Mayor of Reims and eighty inhabitants ae hostages. I