DESPERATE FIGHTING ALONG THE AISNE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2261, 22 September 1914, Page 5

DESPERATE FIGHTING ALONG THE AISNE

..., TERRIFIC ARTILLERY DUEL /'■■■■ ■ . . . N FLANKING MOVEMENT ON GERMAN RIGHT, ByTdegiapl—Piesa Afisoototion-Coprriglit ■[ _~•.' .-■. . ' P ar,8 i September 20, The latest communique reports the capture of numerous German prisoners. Fighting continues, but-the general position of tie Allies is favourable. GERMAN ADYANOE UNLIKELY.. ' „ ■ , London, September 20. The Bordeaux correspondent of "The Times" Bays the Allies' left is slowly' working round the difficult country where Napoleon flung back Blucher The Germans are strongly entrenched. They have received reinforcements from Belgium, but are unlikely to make another advance owing to the de-mands-of the situation in. East Prusssia. N GERMAN FORTRESSES STRENGTHENED. ■ .. ™, .' jL . Geneva, September 20. ine fortress towns from letein to Cologne are being nastily strengthened. Were is similar activity in Lorraine. ' .■•"■..■■ The Kaiser is still in Luxemburg, supervising everything. ENEMY'S HEA'VY LOSSES AT MAUBEUGE. ™ .'. „ '■■■■ -j -..,.. , Ostend, September 20. , The Germans admit losing fourteen thousand killed or wounded in the storming of the French frontier fortress of Haubeuge. „„_ .- „ , , r , London, September 20. Xhe German losses at Maubeuge are'estimated at over 50,000. (Rec. September 22, 1 a.m.) . ■ rm,i w vr, ''. , ' Parl5 > September 21. «r , lne *™ nch Government nae no confirmation of the surrendor of those •ptubeugo forts which have not been destroyed. ALLIES' LEFT MAKES FURTHER PROGRESS. (Rec. September 21, 9.20 p.m.) n Paris, September 20, afternoon. Official.—Our left has mode further slight progress on the banks of the Oise. An Algerian division captured another standard. All attempts of tho Germans to break our' front between Craonne and Reims have been repulsed. The Germans furiously bombarded the Reims Cathedral, which is in flames. We have taken the village of Souvain and a thousand prisoners. In Lorraine tho enemy has fallen back beyond our frontier, and has jevacuated Avricourt. . In the Vosges the enemy tried nns uccessfully to resume the offensive. Our progress there is slowing owing to tho bad weather and the defensive works. REIMS CATHEDRAL RAZED TO GROUND. '■ (Reo. September 21, 11.40 p.m.) ' Paris, September 20. Reims Cathedral has been razed to the ground.' The Government is proEesting to the Powers against German vandalism. The Cathedral of Notre Dame at Reims was the coronation place of the Kings of France from its foundation in 1211 until the days of Napoleon. The most famous coronation in the Cathedral was that of Charles VII in J. 429, which was brought about throuuh tho efforts of Joan of Aro after she

had driven the English from the walls. The Cathedral was ono of the most magnificent examples of the early Gothic style. The choir (finished in 1241), the transepts, part of the nave, and finally the superb west facade, all dated from the 13th century. The last, described as perhaps the most beautiful structure produced in the Middle Ages,' was adorned with three exquisite portals, containing about 580 statues, , some of which, however, have suffered from the ravages of time. The facado above the portals was pierced by three long windows, the magnificent Rose Window in the centre being 40 feet in. diameter. The two fine west towers, with their large windows and aerial turrets, were 267 feet high. The spires were nover oxecuted. The North Portal was ornamented with statues of the Bishops of Reims. Tho interior of the church was 455 feet long, 99 feet wide, and 125 feet high. In tho nave and transepts was preserved much valuable tapestry. The interior was also adorned with many fine statuea. ■~ BEATING THE WOODS FOR STRAGGLERS. (Beo. September 21, 11.40 p.m.) Paris, September 20 ; Large numbers of Germans detached from their Tegiments are sheltering in the woods on the line of the Geraian retreat. Battues are arranged daily to catch them. .Many have been without food for five days, excepting that they have had beetroot from the fields. BATTLE SWAYS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. (Req. September 21, 11.40 p.m.) Paris, September 20. "The Times'" military correspondent says: "The battle sways backwards and forwards. The Allies must not be content with a drawn battle, but must cleanse the soil of France of the invader. The time has arrived when the Allies expect General Joffre to concentrate all his available troops in a serious operation on one flank or the other, even to depleting Iris front, in order to secure victory on a wing."' GERMAN GENERAL IN DISGRACE.- . ■ (Reo. September 22, 1 a.m.) '' Paris, September 21. Official.—The Saxon Army has been broken, up, General von Hausen has been relieved of his command, and the army is now being reorganised. The Allied troops on tho Aisne are fighting waist, deep iu water in the flooded trenches. ENEMY BRINGS UP HEAVIER GUNS. "• . (Rec. September 22, 1 a.m.) Paris, September 21. . From the eound of the cannonade, it is evident the Germans have brought up heavier guns and established them in. position against the old forts at Oonde-sur-Aisne, near Soissons, which are defended by up-to-date artillery. FRENCH ADVANCE THREATENS ENEMY'S FLANK. (Rec. September 22, 1 a.m.) Paris, September 21, morning. The Sixth French Army Corps, under General Mnmoury, threatens the German right flank. The lattcrs half-hearted counter-attacks failed signally. Many prisoners have been captured, who have been living on raw turnips and potatoes. The speed with which the French, followed the fugitives was terrific. In somo places, though the Germans had thirty hours' start, they were overtaken. When the French entered Crepy-en-Valois, twelve miles east of Senlis, the Germans were surprised packing shells. The French exploded five thousand. ■ . ■ ' " . • . \ The French advance on tho left is highly important, as General von Veck's flank is now exposed. < / . BRITISH BEAR BRUNT OF BATTLE. (Rec. September" 22, 1.16 a.m.) '- ' ' ■ Paris, September 21. A British cavalry officer declares the fighting along tho Aisne to ha desperate, especially in the neighbourhood of Laon, where the Germans concentrated their main effort against tho British. The letter's infantry was magnificent. The Germans in great force made nine counter-attaoks, all of which were ropulsed. The British losses were heavy, but the German loss was tenfold, and so enormous that they can have but few fresh troops to replace them. (Reo. September 22, 1,30 a.m.) London, September 21, The ground in front of tho British trenches was strewn with dead. Each attack strengthens the lesson of the folly of attempting to rush the.entrenched British. The enemy, by night attack, made an effort to pierce the line covering Soissons, but the tremendous rain made it impossible to see more than a .yard.or,.two. The British were, asleep, but tho outposts gave timely warning. A hot fire thinned the advancing luie, and the bayonet put the issue beyond doubt. LONG.ARTILLERY BATTLE. (Reo. September 22, 1.15 a.m.) Paris, September 21. So far the German's advantage is in heavy artillery, but the British captured and destroyed three 11-inoh guns mounted on concrete emplacements. French guns of heavy calibre are being hurried to the front. The bulk of the fighting along General Sir John French's command is being done in enclosed country, and consequently consists for the most part of an artillery battle. The gun-fire on both sides is appalling. ■' The German attempt to break our front where it strotches east to west along the Aisne has failed. The enemy's loss is , enormous and is estimated at five to <ne. , GERMAN FRONT PRACTICALLY UNASSAILABLE. (Reo. September 22, 1.15 a.m.) London, September 21. The Germans declare they can hold the Aisne position- for three months as it is a natural fortress of hills, woods, and .quarries, and they have had time to strengthen it. r ' , About Soissons the enemy's position is practically unassailable from the front, but their communications are by no means secure. . I ■ ■ » __________ !