GERMAN RETREAT FROM PARIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3985, 19 July 1915, Page 7

GERMAN RETREAT FROM PARIS.

BATTALIONS SACRIFICED

At Chateau Thierry and westward in the Direction of Vitry whole battalions had to be sacrificed in order to cover the orderly retreat of the main German Army (states the first German account of the great retreat of von K 1 uek's army from before Paiis). It was fortunate indeed that the French aviators, during the days that were occupied by the German retreat, liad not yet givein up their circus tricks and accustomed themselves to the serious work of war j otherwise the French General' Staff would have been better informed as to the movements of the German Army.

Enough—Kluck’s intrepid hosts, in company with the eastern army of General 1 von Hansen and that of General von Bulow, retreated just as rapidly as they had advanced. Not for a moment, however, was there the slightest disorder in the ranks’, although, it must be admitted, everything did not pass off exactly as ii on the parade ground. The thought that only the most supreme effort of marching could save the Germans from the enemy’s superior force was written large on every face, from the youngest soldier to the oldest general. AH the time the army remained master of the situation. The axles of the gun carriages were well greased and did not creak, and the soldiers unfalteringly drew the last ounce of strength from their weary limbs. And so throughout a second night did tho long, serpentine columns of grey battalions wend their way through tho woods of the upland between tho Marne and the Aisnei up to tho heights dominating the valley of the river for a considerably distance. For this point the passage over the valley was proceeded with in perfect peace, and the construction of the field works, the like of which.have never been scon in any previous war, was completed.