THE RIVER AISNE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 32, 24 September 1914, Page 6

THE RIVER AISNE.

H • r *.TU RALLY STRONG LINE

Tbe River Aisne, which rises at the southern end of the Argonne -ange, some forty miles on a direct lino between Verdun and. Paris, east and west, flows at first northward parallel with the lowest western slopes of the Argonne and then at the north of that range turns due west and runs almost parallel with the Marne to Compiegne, where it joins the Oise. The lino of the Aisne is naturally very strong. The river itself is paralleled by a canal a few miles to the south, and along its northern banks are low but comma ailing hills, often well-wooded. The whole country is highly cultivated, and, while aP kinds of cereals are grown, beetroot is an important crop. The large forests of Coucy and St. Gohain lie between the river and Laon and Le Fere, snd add to the difficulties of the assailants. There are many quarries of freestone gypsum and clay, and a large amount of manufacturing is carried on. It was in this country, retreating home after the sanguinary battle of Leipzig, 1813, that Napoleon turned on his pursuers and dealt them some stinging blows. In three successive days he defeated Sacken at Montmirail, York at Champaubert, and Blucher and his main body at Etoges. This was near the Marne. The Emperor then attacked Blucher’s rallied forces and drove the Prussians hack on Soissons. At Laon Blucher secured further reinforcements, bringing his army up to 100,000, as against Napoleon’s 30,000. The french were defeated at Laon on the Oth March, 1814. Dauntlessly, Napoleon struck again, hut he was outnumbered, and by the end of the month he had .only a wreck of an army in Paris'. With ,his abdication came the downfall qf the’First Empire. - • •'=