GERMANS DEFEND THE PASSAGES OF THE AISNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 5

GERMANS DEFEND THE PASSAGES OF THE AISNE.

VIOLENT ARTILLERY DUELS END IN ALLIES' FAVOUR.

BRITISH CROSS UNDER A HEAVY FIRE.

Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received September IS, 12.25 a.m.)

London-. September 17. The battle around Soissous lasted four days. The allies found the rirer swollen with rains, and it was necessary to build pontoons under a withering fire.

The French and British on Sunday morning brought up guns, and a violent artillery duel opened. Then pontoons were brought into position and launched, and the allies began to cross.

They -won the heights at sunset, the Germans having gained a 12 hours' respite.

Similar desperate fighting took place at half-a-dozen other spots, where the French and British threw pontoons across the Aisne to replace bridges which the French destroyed during the retreat a fortnight earlier.

The British gained the northern bank in several places on Sunday, but the German guns got the range, and forced the British to withdraw on Monday.

During Monday evening the allies brought up heavier cannon, which changed the aspect of the battle, and forced several German batteries to retire. The rest of the siege guns were hidden in woods, covering the hills overlooking the river. Hitherto it had been impossible to locate them. When the British succeeded in getting a battery across the river the Germans in the wood'were unable to hit it. Hence they were forced to seek a new position.