I.

*The Battle of the Aisne Begins*

[By the "Official Observer," Col. E.D. Swinton.]

General Headquarters,

Sept. 18, 1914.

Sept. 14, the Germans were making a determined resistance along the

River Aisne. Opposition, which it was at first thought might possibly be

of a rear-guard nature, not entailing material delay to our progress,

has developed and has proved to be more serious than was anticipated.

The action, now being fought by the Germans along their line, may, it is

true, have been undertaken in order to gain time for some strategic

operation or move, and may not be their main stand. But, if this is so,

the fighting is naturally on a scale which as to extent of ground

covered and duration of resistance, makes it undistinguishable in its

progress from what is known as a "pitched battle," though the enemy

certainly showed signs of considerable disorganization during the

earlier days of their retirement phase.

Whether it was originally intended by them to defend the position they

took up as strenuously as they have done, or whether the delay, gained

for them during the 12th and 13th by their artillery, has enabled them

to develop their resistance and force their line to an extent not

originally contemplated cannot yet be said.

So far as we are concerned the action still being contested is the

battle of the Aisne. The foe we are fighting is just across the river

along the whole of our front to the east and west. The struggle is not

confined to the valley of that river, though it will probably bear its

name.

The progress of our operations and the French armies nearest us for the

14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th will now be described:

On Monday, the 14th, those of our troops which had on the previous day

crossed the Aisne, after driving in the German rear guards on that

evening, found portions of the enemy's forces in prepared defensive

positions on the right bank and could do little more than secure a

footing north of the river. This, however, they maintained in spite of

two counter-attacks delivered at dusk and 10 P.M., in which the fighting

was severe.

During the 14th, strong reinforcements of our troops were passed to the

north bank, the troops crossing by ferry, by pontoon bridges, and by the

remains of permanent bridges. Close co-operation with the French forces

was maintained and the general progress made was good, although the

opposition was vigorous and the state of the roads, after the heavy

rains, made movements slow. One division alone failed to secure the

ground it expected to.

The First Army Corps, after repulsing repeated attacks, captured 600

prisoners and twelve guns. The cavalry also took a number of prisoners.

Many of the Germans taken belong to the reserve and Landwehr formations,

which fact appears to indicate that the enemy is compelled to draw on

other classes of soldiers to fill the gaps in his ranks.

There was a heavy rain throughout the night of Sept. 14-15, and during

the 15th. The situation of the British forces underwent no essential

change. But it became more and more evident that the defensive

preparations made by the enemy were more extensive than was at first

apparent.

In order to counterbalance these measures were taken by us to economize

our troops and to secure protection from the hostile artillery fire,

which was very fierce, and our men continued to improve their own

intrenchments. The Germans bombarded our lines nearly all day, using

heavy guns, brought, no doubt, from before Maubeuge, as well as those

with the corps.

All their counter attacks, however, failed, although in some places they

were repeated six times. One made on the Fourth Guards Brigade was

repulsed with heavy slaughter.

An attempt to advance slightly, made by part of our line, was

unsuccessful as regards gain of ground, but led to the withdrawal of

part of the enemy's infantry and artillery.

Further counter attacks made during the night were beaten off. Rain came

on toward evening and continued intermittently until 9 A.M. on the 16th.

Besides adding to the discomfort of the soldiers holding the line, the

wet weather to some extent hampered the motor transport service, which

was also hindered by broken bridges.

On Wednesday, the 16th, there was little change in the situation

opposite the British. The efforts made by the enemy were less active

than on the previous day, although their bombardment continued

throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the

defenders off one of the salients of their position, but they returned

in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the Third Division.

On Thursday, the 17th, the situation, still remained unchanged in its

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, as had happened before, were

repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly, on this occasion, by our field

artillery.

In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting it may be

said that along the greater part of our front the Germans have been

driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their

infantry are holding strong lines of trenches among and along the edge

of the numerous woods which crown the slopes. These trenches are

elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many places there are

wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing.

Both woods and open are 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 also, as a rule,

under crossfire from the field artillery placed on neighboring features

and under high-angle fire from pieces placed well back behind the woods

on top of the plateau.

A feature of this action, as of the previous fighting, is the use by the

enemy of their numerous heavy howitzers, with which they are able to

direct long-range fire all over the valley and right across it. Upon

these they evidently place great reliance.

Where our men are holding the forked edges of the high ground on the

north side they are now strongly intrenched. They are well fed, and in

spite of the wet weather of the last week are cheerful and confident.

The bombardment by both sides has been very heavy, and on Sunday,

Monday and Tuesday was practically continuous. Nevertheless, in spite of

the general din caused by the reports of the immense number of heavy

guns in action along our front on Wednesday, the arrival of the French

force acting against the German right flank was at once announced on the

east of our front, some miles away, by the continuous roar of their

quick-firing artillery, with which their attack was opened.

So far as the British are concerned, the greater part of this week has

been passed in bombardment, in gaining ground by degrees, and in beating

back severe counter-attacks with heavy slaughter. Our casualties have

been severe, but it is probable that those of the enemy are heavier.

The rain has caused a great drop in the temperature, and there is more

than a distinct feeling of Autumn in the air, especially in the early

mornings.

On our right and left the French have been fighting fiercely and have

also been gradually gaining ground [Transcriber: original 'gronud']. One

village has already during this battle been captured and re-captured

twice by each side, and at the time of writing remains in the hands of

the Germans.

The fighting has been at close quarters and of the most desperate

nature, and the streets of the village are filled with dead on both

sides.

As an example of the spirit which is inspiring our allies, the following

translation of an ordre du jour, published on Sept. 9 after the battle

of Montmirail by the commander of the French Fifth Army, is given:

Soldiers: Upon the memorable fields of Montmirail, of Vauchamps, of

Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed the victories of our

ancestors over Blucher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has

triumphed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks,

his centre broken, the enemy is now retreating toward the east and

north by forced marches. The most renowned army corps of old

Prussia, the contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover, of Brandenburg,

have retired in haste before you.

This first success is no more than the prelude. The enemy is

shaken, but not yet decisively beaten. You have still to undergo

severe hardships, to make long marches, to fight hard battles.

May the image of our country, soiled by barbarians, always remain

before your eyes. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for

her.

Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few

days, my thoughts turn toward you, the victors in the next battle.

Forward, soldiers, for France!

FRANCHET D'ESPEREY,

General Commanding the Fifth Army.

Montmirail, Sept. 9, 1914.

The Germans are a formidable enemy, well trained, long prepared, and

brave. Their soldiers are carrying on the contest with skill and valor.

Nevertheless they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all the

rules of fair play, and there is evidence that they do not hesitate at

anything in order to gain victory.

A large number of the tales of their misbehaviors are exaggeration and

some of the stringent precautions they have taken to guard themselves

against the inhabitants of the areas traversed are possibly justifiable

measures of war. But, at the same time, it has been definitely

established that they have committed atrocities on many occasions and

they have been guilty of brutal conduct.

So many letters and statements of our wounded soldiers have been

published in our newspapers that the following epistle from a German

soldier of the Seventy-fourth Infantry Regiment, Tenth Corps, to his

wife may also be of interest:

"My Dear Wife: I have just been living through days that defy

imagination. I should never have thought that men could stand it. Not a

second has passed but my life has been in danger, and 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, and I take heart again, although I am still terribly

unnerved. God grant that I may see you again soon, and that this horror

may soon be over.

"None of us can do any more; human strength is at an end. I will try to

tell you about it. On the 5th of September the enemy were reported to be

taking up a position near St. Prix, southeast of Paris.

"The Tenth Corps, which had made an astonishingly rapid advance, of

course, was attacked on Sunday. Steep slopes led up to the heights,

which were held in considerable force.

"With our weak detachments of the Seventy-fourth and Ninety-first

regiments we reached the crest and came under a terrible artillery fire

that mowed us down. However, we 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 around me. We got away in a lull without being hit.

"The 7th, 8th, and 9th of September we were constantly under shell and

shrapnel fire and suffered terrible losses. I was in a house which was

hit several times. The fear of death, of agony, which is in every man's

heart, and naturally so, is a terrible feeling.

"How often I have thought of you, my darling, and what I suffered in

that terrifying battle, which extended along a front of many miles near

Montmirail, you cannot possibly imagine.

"Our heavy artillery was being used for the 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 was 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, and

we should have risked a terrible defeat the next day. The First and

Third Armies had not been able to attack with us, as we had advanced too

rapidly. Our morale was absolutely broken. In spite of unheard-of

sacrifices we had achieved nothing.

"I cannot understand how our army, after fighting three great battles

and being terribly weakened, was sent against a position which the enemy

had prepared for three weeks, but naturally I know nothing of the

intentions of our Chiefs; they say nothing has been lost.

"In a word, we retired toward Cormontreuil and Rheims by forced marches

by day and night. We hear that three armies are going to get into line,

intrench and rest, and then start afresh our victorious march on Paris.

It was not a defeat, only a strategic retreat. I have confidence in our

Chiefs that everything will be successful.

"Our First Battalion, which has fought with unparalleled bravery, is

reduced from 1,200 to 194 men. These numbers speak for themselves."

Among the minor happenings of interest is the following:

During a counter-attack by the German Fifty-third Regiment on positions

of the Northampton and Queen's Regiments on Thursday, the 17th, a force

of some 400 of the enemy were allowed to approach right up to the trench

occupied by a platoon of the former regiment, owing to the fact that

they had held up their hands and made gestures that were interpreted as

signs that they wished to surrender. When they were actually on the

parapet of the trench held, by the Northamptons they opened fire on our

men at point-blank range.

Unluckily for the enemy, however, flanking them and only some 400 yards

away, there happened to be a machine gun manned by a detachment of the

Queen's. This at once opened fire, cutting a lane through their mass,

and they fell back to their own trench with great loss. Shortly

afterward they were driven further back, with additional loss, by a

battalion of Guards which came up in support.

An incident, which occurred some little time ago during our retirement,

is also worthy of record. On Aug. 28, during the battle fought by the

French along the Oise between La Fere and Guise, one of the French

commanders desired to make an air reconnoissance. It was found, however,

that no observers were available.

Wishing to help our allies as much as possible a British officer

attached to this particular French army volunteered to go up with the

pilot to observe. He had never been in an aeroplane, but he made the

ascent and produced a valuable reconnoissance report.

Incidentally he had a duel in the air at an altitude of 6,000 feet with

the observer of a German Taube monoplane which approached. He fired

several shots and drove off the hostile aeroplane. His action was much

appreciated by the French.

In view of the 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 had been out on reconnoissance 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 near Marne.

Late one evening two such were observed over the German forces. An

aeroplane was dispatched against them, but in the darkness our pilots

were uncertain of the airship's nationality and did not attack. It was

afterward made clear that they could not have been French.

A week later an officer, reconnoitring to the flank, saw an airship over

the German forces and opposite the French. It had no distinguishing mark

and was assumed to belong to the latter, though it is now known that it

also must have been a German craft.

The orders of the Royal Flying Corps are to attack Zeppelins at once,

and there is some disappointment at the absence of those targets.

The following special order has been issued today to the troops:

"Special Order of the Day,

By Field Marshal Sir John French,

G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G.,

Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field.

"September 17, 1914.

"Once more I have to express my deep appreciation of the splendid

behavior of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the

army under my command throughout the great battle of the Aisne,

which has been in progress since the evening of the 12th inst., and

the battle of the Marne, which lasted from the morning of the 6th

to the evening of the 10th and finally ended in the precipitate

flight of the enemy.

"When we were brought face to face with a position of extraordinary

strength, carefully intrenched and prepared for defense by an army

and staff which are thorough adepts in such work, throughout the

13th and 14th, that position was most gallantly attacked by the

British forces and the passage of the Aisne effected. This is the

third day the troops have been gallantly holding the position they

have gained against most desperate counter-attacks and the hail of

heavy artillery.

"I am unable to find adequately words in which to express the

admiration I feel for their magnificent conduct.

"The French armies on our right and left are making good progress,

and I feel sure that we have only to hold on with tenacity to the

ground we have won for a very short time longer when the Allies

will be again in full pursuit of a beaten enemy.

"The self-sacrificing devotion and splendid spirit of the British

army in France will carry all before it.

"J.D.P. FRENCH, Field Marshall,

"Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field."