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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 194, 21 September 1914, Page 4

I Days of terrific arid desperate fightjing on the Aisne River have seen the Allies force the passage of that [stream, their forces being reported as lon the right bank. This advantage was not gained, according to recent messages, without heavy loss, though it is satisfactory to know that the enemy, too, suffered severely. ' The battle of the Marne was a sanguinary struggle, and regarded at the by |even the London "Times" as a conI elusive engagement, but it bids fair to be overshadowed by the obstinate battle that is being fought on the Aisne. It is quite apparent that, while the German right wing came near hopelessly involving the whole invasion, the position with r,egard to the main forces of the enemy was not so precarious as we have been led to believe. ' The German, right lias indisputably been receiving heavy punishment, and is still seriously threatened by the Allied left, but otherwise the enemy has made good the temporary disorganisation, and is once again in an excellent disposition of battle. The fact that the Germans have found time to construct comprehensive and extensive entrenchments towards and along the FrancoBelgian frontier indicates that that "retreat liable at any moment to develop into a rout" was an exaggeration of the real facts of the case. Such a description may have been accurately applied to von Kluck's army, but the .latest news discloses the true position from tho Marne backwards to have been as suggested above. The Germans have made excellent preparations for ther attack of the Allies. They are in a position to know just where that attack is likely to be concentrated, and have posted their batteries accordingly.' Their system of trenches—lines at riglit angles to frontal entrenchment's, with machine guns shrewdly placed—will give the Allies a lot of trouble. These can be carried only with tremendous loss. Summed up, the enemy, if he has been thrown back from Paris, has settled down again doggedly, and the task before the Allies will tax their capacity to the utmost.