The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915Various
History
The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
The guns were at work at midnight on Tuesday when I passed the English
Headquarters. This battle had only one purpose so far as the Germans
were concerned. It was to keep our British soldiers busy, as well as to
hold the front of the French allies on our right, while their debordant
movements took place behind this fighting screen.
Once again, as throughout the war, they showed their immense superiority
in mitrailleuses, which gives them marvelous mobility and a very deadly
advantage. They masked these quick-firers with great skill until they
had drawn on the English and French infantry and then spilled lead into
their ranks. Once again, also the French were too impetuous, as they
have always been, and as they still are, in spite of Gen. Joffre's
severe rebuke.
Careless of quick-firers, which experience should have taught them were
masked behind the enemy's advance posts, they charged with the bayonet,
and suffered needlessly heavy losses. One can only admire the gallantry
of men who dare to charge on foot against the enemy's mounted men and
who actually put a squadron of them to flight, but one must say again:
"C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre."
There have been many incidents of heroism in these last days of
fighting. It is, for instance, immensely characteristic of the French
spirit that an infantry battalion, having put to flight a detachment of
German outposts in the forest of Compiegne, calmly sat down to have a
picnic in the woods until, as they sat over their hot soup, laughing at
their exploit, they were attacked by a new force and cut to pieces.
But let me describe the new significance of the main German advance.
Their right army has struck down to the southeast of Paris, through
Chateau Thiery to La Ferte-sur-Jouarre and beyond. Their centre army is
coming hard down from Troyes, in the Department of the Aube, and the
army of the left has forced the French to evacuate Rheims and fall back
in a southwesterly direction.
It would not be right of me to indicate the present position of the
British troops or describe the great scenes at their base, which is now
removed to a position which enables our forces to hold the eastern
approach to Paris. It is a wonderful sight to pass the commissariat
camp, where, among other munitions of war, is a park of British
aeroplanes, which are of vital importance to our work of reconnoissance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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