DOGGED ATTACK BY THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2260, 21 September 1914, Page 5

DOGGED ATTACK BY THE ALLIES

BATTLE ALONG THE LINE STUBBORN RETREAT OF THE GERMANS London, September 17 The "Daily Chronicle's" Bordeaux correspondent learns from a Paris official message that the battle continues. On the whole of the Oise and Mouse the Germans occupy a prepared position, armed with heavy/artillery, consequently the Allies' progress is slow, but the'vigour and enthusiasm of the troops are usabated. The Allies .successfully repulsed a German counter-attack. The situation generally is unchanged. The. enemy continues to fortify positions. Amsterdam, September 18. The German Headquarters Staff has issued a statement at Berlin that no decision was reached in the battle fought between the Oise and the Meuse. (Rec.'September 19, 3 p.m.) -London, Sept-ember 19, morning. Advices dated Thursday, received from Paris, state that the Germans are making a determined 6tand in the wooded hills east of Reims, and are bombarding the town, which is on fire in eight places. H • (Rec. September 19, 5.25 p.m.) ,London, September 19. . "The Times" military correspondent says there is no cause for anxiety because the Allies are not immediately overwhelming the Germans. The necessity for fighting methodically and in unison ivas brought home by the earlier experiences of the campaign. It is now needful to repair the bridges and assemble troops and euppjies preparatory to a long, struggle.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) BOLD AND DANGEROUS ADVANCE. . ' ' . Rails, September 18. General Von Kluck, on the .'German right, is receiving reinforcements, partly fiom Amiens, partly from Belgium and Maubeuge, and partly reservists . from Aix la Chapelles, via Liege. General Joft're's reinforcements are ample. They are arriving by the Tailways and bending round the Germans' right. The Allies-are acting deliberately. The French. forces on. the northern edjie of Argonne are slowly pushing a bold and somewhat dangerous advance intended to isolate the Crown army. The Germans are entrenched in the heights at Montfaucon, between Argonne and the Meuse. Heavy rains continued on Thursday, making the carriage of heavy guns on the hilly roads very difficult. ,An official communique states that'the battle continues from the Oise to Woeuvro without important change. Slight progress has been made on the. heights north of the -Aisne. Three counter-attacks against the British were unsuccessful, while the French repulsed three night counter-attacks fromOraonne to'Reiins. The enemy^vainly attempted to take the offensive against Reims. The Germans are acting purely on the defensive from Reims to Argonne, and also similarly in'.Lorraine and the Vosges. ; Official.—On Friday the Allies made a continual advance on the left wing. There is a slight lull in the battle. ' SUDDEN CONCENTRATION TOWARDS LUXEMBURG. Berne, September 18. Dispatches from German railway centres announce a sudden general movement of concentration towards the Luxemburg frontier, where there are countloss empty transport trains. It ..is believed'that, on the instant the retreating Germans reach the border it is intended to transport all the first line of troops to face the Russian armies without giving the Allies final battle. Only a sufficient number of the second line of defence will be left to defend Germany against the invasion of Franco-British troops. ■ Montfaucon, where the Germans are entrenched, is some 12 miles N.W. of Verdun and about the same distance N.E. of the Aisne. The river rises in the Forest of Argonne at a point about 22' miles S.S.W. of Verdun and due east of Chalons. Thence it flows N.W. into the Ardennes country, turning duo W. some 15 miles S. of Sedan. From this place it flows westward with a southern tendency, passing Reims about twelve miles to the N., through-Soissonß and Compiegne. At the latter point it sharply deflects to the S.W., flowing into the Seine about 16 miles N.W. of.Paris. Oraonira is _ about 25 miles N.W. of Reims,.and about.4.miles N. of the Aisne. Reims is some 12 miles S. of the river. '