Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1914 — HUNDREDS DIE IN CHARGE AT PERONNE [ARTICLE]

HUNDREDS DIE IN CHARGE AT PERONNE

Paris Officially Reports Gains on . West —Center Being Held Firmly. DENIAL SENT FROM BERLIN Terrific Fighting Occurs Before Town Is Captured by Allies—British, French and German Dead Are Buried In the Same Trench. On thin Battle Front, Kept. 25, via Paris, Sept. 26. —The German offensive was extremely vigorous during the day at the western end of the long line stretching along the rivers Oise, Alsne and Woevre. The allied troops, whose gaps had been lllled with freshly arrived re-en-forcements, not only repeatedly thrust back the masses of Germans thrown against them but eventually carried out a successful counter-attack which resulted In the gaining of considerable ground In the capture of Peronne, about which towu the fiercest engagement occurred. Machine Guns Kill Hundreds. At one place the victims of the deadly German machine gunß were counted In hundreds, especially where the advance was across an open wheat field that recently bad been harvested. Borne men ot the French regiment which was making a dash toward the German poeltion when It was struck by the sweeping fire were found dead In the kneeling posture, they had taken behind sheaves of wheat aud from where they had emptied their magazines, intending to start a final rush and bayonet charge. After the fight 900 dead were burled In a single trench ste feet deep, the Germans being placed at one end and the French at the other. Many Germans Near Reims.

Further toward the earn, near Berry-au-Bac on the Alsne north of Reims, there appears to be concentrated a large German force which has solidly occupied strong lntrenchments from which It Is most difficult to dislodge them. Hereabout*! the fighting has been of a desultory character, with, however, slight advantage In favof of the allies. The men of both armies In thlß vlcln* lty Beetn to be enjoying their rest. On the eastern wing the Germans are throwing enormous masses of men against the French troops protecting the line of defensive forts above Verdun; but up to the preseftt their efforts, although costing immense sacrificos, have been vain and the French line remains intact. Allies Claim Big Gain. London, Hept. 25.—The official announcement regarding the [rrogress of the battle of the Alsne made public In Paris said that the flanking movement of the allies’ left wing continues to develop and that the town of Peronne has been occupied after desperate fighting with the Germans. T hlB report tends to confirm the earlier unofficial reports that the Germans had been driven back further on their right wing than had been previously reported and that the main stand of the Germans to the north and west will be made along the line from Carnbrai to Kt. Amend. The official dispatch addß that there has been a lujl In the fighting along the center of the great line and that the German attacks on the right wing of the allies have been checked. Claims Made by Germans. Messages which come from German sources carry reports which are diametrically the opposite of the foregoing. These say that the flanking movement of the allies on the German right wing have failed and that the battle there has come to a standstill. These messages say there has been no fighting on the center, but that the German left has taken Varennes, attacked the forts to the south of Verdun, and repulsed sorties from Verdun and Toul. The 'Germans are said to be bombarding the towns of Troyon-les-Paroches, Camp des Romalne and Llonviile, (Llronvllle). It also Is claimed that French troops In French Lorraine and on the border of Alsace have been repulsed. Artillery Plays Big Part. Heavy artillery continues a leading part In the battle. Wist the greatest stubbornness, the opposing forces continue to hammer awat at each other from their well intrenched and strongly fortified positions. Almost without a lull great shellls are being hurled across the rivers, valleys and plains stretching from the River Ois<3 in the west to the tyeuse

in the east, and thence' southwaM along the whole France-German border, while the lighter guns play on the infantry lying .in the trenches awaiting an opportunity to deliver attacks and counter-attacka. British Claim Gains. London, Sept. 25.—The offlcial press bureau issued a statement from Sir John Freneh’s headquarters giving details of the present battle of the Alsne and the Oise. The battle the message states, may last for several days yet, as the operations have assumed the character of a <aiege and these tactics necessarily will ‘preclude the possibility of any tmmedi»ate definite result “The enemy is still maintaining him•self along the whole front. Is order to (do so be is throwing into the fight de'tachments composed-of units from the different formations es the active army, the reserve and the landwehr. "Our progress, although slow en account of the strength of the enemy's defensive position, has been continuous. No End of Bsttle in Blghh “The present battle may well last tor some days more before a decision i 3 reached, since it now approximates somewhat siege warfare.’’ "The Germans are making use of eearchlights. This, coupled with their •great strength of heavy artillery, gives rise to the supposition that they are employing the material which may have been collected for the siege of Paris. "A considerable amount of Information about the enemy has been gleaned ?from the prisoners who have been taken. "It appears that the losses among the enemy’s officers have been especially severe. After the battle of Montmirail it was found that one regiment had lost 55 of its 60 officers Home by Christmas. "Prisoners recently captured appreciate the fact that the march on Paris has failed and that their 1 forces are retreating, but they 6tate that the object of the movement was explained by the officers as being to withdraw in order to get tn closer touch with the supports which had stayed too far in the rear. “The officers are also endeavoring to encourage the troops by telling them they will be home on Christmas. A large number of the prisoners be'lieve, however, that they have been beaten.”