The New York Times Current History of the European War | Page 8

passage was not effected until after nightfall.
During the day's pursuit the enemy suffered heavy loss in killed and
wounded, some hundreds of prisoners fell into our hands and a battery
of eight machine guns was captured by the Second Division.
On this day the Sixth French Army was heavily engaged west of the
River Ourcq. The enemy had largely increased his force opposing them;
and very heavy fighting ensued, in which the French were successful
throughout.
The left of the Fifth French Army reached the neighborhood of Château
Thierry after the most severe fighting, having driven the enemy
completely north of the river with great loss.
The fighting of this army in the neighborhood of Montmirail was very
severe.
The advance was resumed at daybreak on the 10th up to the line of the

Ourcq, opposed by strong rearguards of all arms. The First and Second
Corps, assisted by the cavalry divisions on the right, the Third and Fifth
Cavalry Brigades on the left, drove the enemy northward. Thirteen
guns, seven machine guns, about 2,000 prisoners, and quantities of
transport fell into our hands. The enemy left many dead on the field.
On this day the French Fifth and Sixth Armies had little opposition.
As the First and Second German Armies were now in full retreat, this
evening marks the end of the battle which practically commenced on
the morning of the 6th inst.; and it is at this point in the operations that
I am concluding the present dispatch.
Although I deeply regret [Transcriber: original 'regreat'] to have had to
report heavy losses in killed and wounded throughout these operations,
I do not think they have been excessive in view of the magnitude of the
great fight, the outlines of which I have only been able very briefly to
describe, and the demoralization and loss in killed and wounded which
are known to have been caused to the enemy by the vigor and severity
of the pursuit.
In concluding this dispatch I must call your Lordship's special attention
to the fact that from Sunday, Aug. 23, up to the present date, (Sept. 17,)
from Mons back almost to the Seine, and from the Seine to the Aisne,
the army under my command has been ceaselessly engaged without one
single day's halt or rest of any kind.
Since the date to which in this dispatch I have limited my report of the
operations, a great battle on the Aisne has been proceeding. A full
report of this battle will be made in an early further dispatch.
[Illustration: Map 7--Sept. 10 (evening). End of the battle of the Marne.
The Germans were driven over the Ourcq and retreated to the Aisne.]
[Illustration: LIEUT. GEN. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG Commanding one
of Gen. French's Corps (_From Painting by John St. Helier Lander._)]
[Illustration: CROWN PRINCE WILHELM (_Copyright,
Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin

Photographic Co., N.Y._)]
It will, however, be of interest to say here that, in spite of a very
determined resistance on the part of the enemy, who is holding in
strength and great tenacity a position peculiarly favorable to defense,
the battle which commenced on the evening of the 12th inst. has, so far,
forced the enemy back from his first position, secured the passage of
the river, and inflicted great loss upon him, including the capture of
over 2,000 prisoners and several guns. I have the honor to be your
Lordship's most obedient servant,
(Signed.) J.D.P. FRENCH, Field Marshal, Commanding in Chief, the
British forces in the field.

III.
*The Battle of the Aisne.*
8th October, 1914.
My Lord: I have the honor to report the operations in which the British
forces in France have been engaged since the evening of Sept. 10:
1. In the early morning of the 11th the further pursuit of the enemy was
commenced, and the three corps crossed the Ourcq practically
unopposed, the cavalry reaching the line of the Aisne River, the Third
and Fifth Brigades south of Soissons, the First, Second and the Fourth
on the high ground at Couvrelles and Cerseuil.
On the afternoon of the 12th, from the opposition encountered by the
Sixth French Army to the west of Soissons, by the Third Corps
southeast of that place, by the Second Corps south of Missy and Vailly,
and certain indications all along the line, I formed the opinion that the
enemy had, for the moment at any rate, arrested his retreat and was
preparing to dispute the passage of the Aisne with some vigor.
South of Soissons the Germans were holding Mont de Paris against the

attack of the right of the French Sixth Army when the Third Corps
reached the neighborhood of Buzancy, southeast of that place. With the
assistance of the artillery of the Third Corps the French