GREAT BATTLE AT AISNE

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16665, 25 September 1914, Page 7

GREAT BATTLE AT AISNE

FOUR DAYS OF FIGHTING SURVEYED. THE PART OF THE BRITISH. PROGRESS IN FACE OF STRENUOUS RESISTANCE. ALL ENEMY'S FIERCE COUNTER ATTACKS FAIL. ' TERBIHC ARTILLERY FIRE. The Prime Minister has received the following telegram from the High Commissioner:— LONDON, September 22. The following descriptive account from general headquarters, dated September 18, supplements and continues the account published on September 18 of the movements of the British force and Fronch armies in immediate touch with it, and covers the period from September 14 to September 18 inclusive:— On September 14 the Germans were making a determined resistance along the river Aisne. The opposition was at first thought to be possibly of a rearguard nature not entailing material delay to our progress, but as it developed it proved more serious than at first was anticipated. The action now being fought by the Germans along their line may have been undertaken in order to gain time for some strategic operation, and may not be their main stand. The fighting is naturally on a scale which, as to extent of ground covered and, duration of resistance, makes it undistirigtiishable in its progress from what is known as a "pitched" battle, though tho enemy certainly showed signs of considerable disorganisation during the early days of their retirement. Whether it originally was intended by thorn to defend the position they took ap as strenuously as they have done, or whether the delay gained for them during September 12 and 13 by their artillery has enabled them to devolop thoir resistauco and reinforco their lino to an extent not originally contemplated, cannot yet be said. Wo aro fighting just across the Aisne Hirer, along tho whole of our front to tho east and west. The struggle is not confined to the valley of that river, though it will probably bear ltS On a September 14 those of our troops which had on the P™™.™ feVl™™ th« AifiD* after driving m the German

rearguards on that evening found portions of the enemy's forces in prepared defensive positions on a plateau on the right bank, and could do little more than secure a footing north of the river. This, however, they maintained

in spito of two counter-attacks delivered at dusk and 10 p.m., in which the fighting was severe.

. During September 'l4 strong reinforcements to our troops were passed to the north bank, the troops crossing by ferry, by pontoon bridges, and by the remains of the permanent -bridges. Close co-operation with the- French forces was maintained, and the general progress made was good, although the opposition was strenuous and the' state of the roads, after heavy rain, made movements slow. One division alone failed to secure the ground expected. The First Army Corps, after repulsing repeated attacks, captured GOO prisoners and 12 guns. The cavalry also took a number of prisoners. jfVlany of the Germans belong to the reserve and Landwehr formations, which fact appears to indicate that the enemy has been compelled to draw on the older classes of soldiers to fill gaps in the ranks.

Thero was heavy rain throughout the' night of September 14 and September 15. During September 15 the situation of the British forces underwent no essential change, but it hecame more evident that the defensive preparations made by the enemy were more extensive than was at first apparent. In order to counteract these measures were made by us to economise troops and to secure protection from the hostile artillery lire, which was very fierce. Our men continued to improve their entrenchments. The Germans bombarded our lines nearly all day, using heavy guns brought from before Maubeuge. All their counter attaclcs failed, although in somo cases they were repeated six times. Ono made on the 4th Guards' Brigade was repulsed with heavy slaughter. An attempt to advance slightly, made by part «f our line, was unsuccessful as regards gain in ground, but led to the withdrawal of part of the enemy's infantry and artillery. A further counter attack made during the night was beaten off. Rain came towards evening and continued intermittently until the evening of September 16. Besides adding to the discomfort of the soldiers holding open trenches in the firing line, the wet weather hampered the motor transport service, which was also hindered by broken bridges. On September 16 thero was little change in the situation. The efforts made by the enemy were less active than those on the previous day, though their bombardment continued throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the defenders _ Oil one of the salients of their position, but they returned in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the third division. . On September 17 tho position still remained unchanged in essentials. The German heavy artillery fire was more active than on the previous day. The only infantry . attacks made by the enemy were on the extreme right of our position, and were repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly by our field artillery.

THE GERMAN DEFENCE.

CLEVERLY PLACED AND CONCEALED TRENCHES. ENEMY'S HEAVY ARTILLERY. BRITISH CHEERFUL AND CONFIDENT. A HEAVY BOMBARDMENT In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting along the greater part of the front, the Germans have been driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their infantry aro holding strong lines ot trenches amongst and along.tho edges of numerous woods which crown those slopes. These trenches are elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many cases there aro wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing, both in the woods and tho open, carefully aligned so that they can be swept by rifle fire and machine guns, which are invisible from our side of the valley. The ground in front of the infantry trenches is, as a rule, under cross fire from artillery placed on neighbouring features and under high angle fire from pieces placed well back behind tho woods on the top of the plateau. A feature of this action is the use made by the enemy of numerous heavy howitzers, which are able to direct long range fire all over tho valley and right across it. Upon these they place great reliance. Where our men are holding tho forward ridges of the high ground on the north side they are now strongly entrenched. They aro well fed, and in spite of tho wet weather of the past week are cheerful and confident. The bombardment on both sides has been very heavy, and on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday was practically continuous. In spite of tho general din caused by the reports of an immense number of heavy guns in action along our front on Wednesday the arrival of French forces acting against tho German right flank was at once announced on the east of our front, some miles away, by tho continuous roar of their quickfiring artillery, with which their attack opened. So far as the British are concerned, the greater part of this weelc has been passed in bombardment, then gaining ground. Ono village already during this battle has been captured and recaptured twice by each side, and at; the time of writing remains in the hands of tho Germans. The fighting has been close in most quarters and of a desperate nature. The street of the village was filled with tho dead of both sides. As an example of the spirit which is inspiring our Allies, tho following translation of an "Ordre du Jour" (order of the day), published on S<sp-. tember 9 after the battle of Montmirail by the Commander of the Fronch Fifth Army, is given:— ''Soldiers! Upon the memorable fields on Montmirail and Vauchamps, on Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed tho victories of our ancestors over Bhicher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has triumphed ' 07 f?J ij rosis tance of the Germans. Held on his flanks, his centre broken, the enemy now is retreating towards the east and north by forced m / ro A\ e ?- T, n °- most renowned army •tp rl vV& the contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover, of Brandenburg, have retired in haste before you. " T i lli j firs lsuccess is no more than a prelude. Tho enemy is shaken, but not yet decisively beaten. You Have still to undergo severe hardships, to fatfcfeH, marchefi > t 0 fi g ,lfc ba •V ¥ l i y th ° , ima ße of our country, soiled by barbarians, always'remain ™°Jv U + r eyes -. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for her. f.llJWn? fi th ?>°es who have fallen in the fighting 0 f the last few days, my .thoughts- turn towards you, the victors in the next battle. 1 forward,

GERMANS AS FIGHTERS.

SKILL AND VALOUR ACKNOWLEDGED. THEIR DISREGARD OF HONOUR. PRIVATE SOLDIER'S LETTER. The Germans arc formidable, continues the despatch. Well trained, long prepared and brave, their soldiers are carrying on tho contest with skill and valour. Nevertheless, they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all rutes of fair plav. There is evidence that they do not hesitate at anything in order to gain a victory. A large number of tho tales of their misbehaviour aro exaggerated. Somo of tho stringent precautions they have taken to guard themselves against the inhabitants of areas traversed are possibly justifiable measures in war, but it has been definitely established that they have committed atrocities on many occasions and been guily of brutal conduct. So many letters and statements of our own wounded soldiers have been published in our newspapers that the following epistle' from a German soldier of the 74th Infantry to his wife will be interesting: "I have just been living through days that defy imagination. I should never have thought men could stand it. Not a second has passed but my life has been in danger, yet not a hair of my, head has been hurt. It was horrible, it was ghastly, but I have been saved for you and for our happiness; take heart again, although I am still terribly unnerved. "On September 5 the rfii'oray . were reported to be taking lip a position near St Prix, near Paris. . The corps, which had made an astonishingly rapid advance, of course attacked tho steep slopes that led up to the heights, which were held . in considerable force. With our weak detachments of the 74th and 91st Regiments we reached the crest and came under a terriblo artillery firo that mowed us dewn. However wo entered St Prix. Hardly had we done so than we -were met with shell fire and a violent fusillade from the enemy's infantry. Our colonel was badly wounded, he is the third we have had. Fourteen men were killed round me. We got away on a hill without being hit. "On tho 7th, Bth and 9th September we were constantly under shell and shrapnel fire, suffering terrible losses. I was in a house which was hit- several times. Our heavy artillery is being used for tho siege of Maubeuge. We wanted it badly, as the enemy had theirs in force and kept up a furious bombardment. For four days_ I was under artillery fire. It is like hell, but a thousand times worse. . "On the night of the 9th the order was given to retreat, as it would have been madness to attempt to hold our position with our few men. Tho first' and third armies had not been able to attack with us, as we advanced too rapidly. Our morale was absolutely broken. In spite of- unheard-of sacrifices, \ye. had achieved nothing. I cannot understand how our army, after fighting three great battles and being torribly weakened, was sent against a position which they had prepared for three weeks, but naturally Iknow nothing of the intentions of our chiefs. They say that nothing has been lost. We retired towards Cormontreuil and Rheims by forced marches by day and night. "We hear that the three armies are going to get into line, entrench and rest, and then start afresh our victorious march on Paris. It was not a. defeat, but only a strategic retreat. Our first battalion, which fought with unparalleled bravery, is reduced from 1200 to 109 men." During a counter-attack by the German 53rd Regiment on portions of the Northampton and Queen's Regi-: ments on September 17, a force of 400 of the enemy were allowed to approach right up to tho trenches occupied by a platoon of the former regiment, owing to the fact that they had held up their hands and made gestures interpreted as signs that they wished to stop. When they were actually on the parapet they opened fire on our men at point blank range. Unluckily for the enemy,'flanking them, and only 400yds away, there happened to bo a machine gun manned by a detachment of the Queen's. This at once opened fire, cutting a line through their mass, which fell back to their own trenches with great loss. Shortly afterwards they wore driven further back with additional loss by a battalion of guards which came up in support.

WORK OF THE AIRCRAFT.

BRITISH AMATEUR'S ACHIEVEMENT.! ABSENCE OF ZEPPELINS. On August 28, during the battle fought along the Oise, between La Fere and Guise, the French Commander desired to make an air reconnaissance. It was found, however, that no observers wero available. Wishing to help our Allies as much as possible, a British officer attached to this particular French- army volunteered to go up with a pilot to observe. He never had been in an aeroplane, but ho made the ascent and produced a valuable reconnaissance report. Incidentally ho had a duel in tho air at an altitude of 6000 ft with the observer of a German Taube monoplane, which had approached. Ho fired several shots ,and drove off the hostile aeroplane. His action was much appreciated by the French. In view of many statements made in the Press as to the use of Zeppelins against us, it is interesting to note that the Royal Flying Corps, who have boon out on reconnaissance every day since their arrival in France, have never seen a Zeppelin, though airships of a non-rigid type have been seen on two occasions to stop near Marne late in tho evening. Two such being observed over the German forces, aeroplanes were despatched against thom, but in the darkness our pilots were uncertain of the airships' nationality, and did not attack them. Afterwards it was clear that they could not have been French.

A week later an officer, reconnoitring to the flank, saw an airship over the German forces opposito the French. It had no distinguishing mark, and it was assumed that it belonged to the French, though it now is known that it must have been a Gorman craft. The orders of the Royal Flying Corps are to attack, Zeppelins at once, and there is some disappointment at the absence of these targets. ,

SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR.

SIR JOHN FRENCH'S APPRECIATION. The following special order has been issued to the troops:— " Once more I have to express my deep appreciation of the splendid behaviour of the officers and • men of tho army under my command throughout the great battle of

the Aisne, which has been in progress since the evening of September 12. . " The battle of the Marne, which lasted from tho morning of September G to the evening of September 10, had hardly ended in the precipitate flight of the enemy when we were brought face to face with a position of extraordinary strength, carefully entrenched and prepared for defence by an army and staff which are thorough adepts in such work. "Throughout September 13 and 14 that position was most gallantly attacked by tho British, and tho passage of the Aisne effected. " This is the third day the troops havo been gallantly holding the position they have gained against most desperate counter-attacks and a hail from heavy artillery. "I am unable to find adeauate words to express the admiration I feel for their magnificent conduct. The French armies on our right are making good progress. I feel sure we have only to hold on with tenacity to tho ground wo havo won for a very short 5 time longor, when the Allies will be again in full pursuit of the beaten enemy. Tho self-sacrificing devotion and splendid spirit of. theBritish army in France will carry all before it. , " French, Field-Marshal."