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Show 6ERMAHS CHARGED by ajno ZOUAVES Cross Aisne River and Surprise Sur-prise Enemy; British View of the Battle. LONDON. Sept. 20, 9:40 a. m. A diSj-patch diSj-patch to the Times from Paris says: "The public was reassured by the announcement an-nouncement that the fury of the battle had been somewhat diminished along the whole line, as this denoted fatigue on the part of the Germans. The enemy made extraordinary preparations well In advance for their retirement on their chosen lines, their engineers having worked at the trenches for ten days before be-fore the opening of the battle. "But the French intrenchment is also remarkable. At one point near foissons the French concealed 120 gunB of seventv-Tlve milimeters, which opened fire simultaneously with tremendous effect ef-fect The feat which attracted most attention at-tention was tho construction by the French of pontoon bridges across Uie 4isne which were several times destroyed de-stroyed by the German artillery fire. Despite De-spite this the French got over 20,000 zouaves who charged the German lines almost before the enemy was aware of their presence. "Whatever be the result of the battle It cannot be final in the sense of a defeat de-feat of the Anglo-French resistance, for the allies would retire under the forts, where a third battle would be fought. "If the Germans lose the French territory ter-ritory will be freed from invasion. If the allies do riot score a definite success suc-cess they will bring up fresh troops and strike again. The impression exists that the allies are maneuvering and that the principal offense is taking place along their left wing. Recent official communications communi-cations indicate progress in this direction. direc-tion. If this succeeds the enemy will be driven from the natural positions formed by depressions In the plateau above Sois-sons. Sois-sons. n . "In abandoning -Soissons the enemy have only two roarls to the north. One has too many convolutions, which would expose them to a flank attack, and the other, leading to Laon, would be the natural line of retreat. Craonne, which the French hold. Is a fine strategic positions, posi-tions, the town being on a plateau above the plains where Caeser resisted ihe Belgians and Xapoleoli gained a great victory. "The salient feature of the struggle is the Immense strength of the German position po-sition between Rheims and the forest of Argonne. where their fortifications form a sort of Chinese wall. Strategists declare de-clare that the temper of the Germans evidently has changed for they now protect pro-tect themselves elaborately from the vigor vig-or of the French attacks." |