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Show if TREMENDOUS IS FIGHTAT AISNE Allies May Be On Defensive Crown Prince's Army Is in Danger. Paris, Sept. 17, 7 a. m The rear guard action, supposed at first to be Intended as a check to pursuit and to facilitate the retreat of the mass of the armies of Generals Von Kluck and Von Buelow, has developed Into what will probably ho called In history his-tory the battle of Alsno. Whether the Germans found It necessary or advisable to turn and engage In a general action, this great battle wages fiercely and rivals in import ance the battle of the Marne. The war office says that the French have not flinched at any point This sounds as If they were on tho defensive defen-sive and this might be so in vlow or the strength of the position the Germans Ger-mans occupy. The official communication communi-cation Sunday 6ald that the French and English had crossed the Alsne. If so they have the river at their back, while the Germans are strong-ly entrenohed on the heights of Laon and Rhclms with their right protected by the Oleo and the Alsne at Noyon. The undetermined element in this fight is the allies' right which is in pursuit of the crown prince's army All reports indicate that the latter iR quite as demoralized as was Von Kluek's army and Is suffering equally equal-ly from laok of provisions and ammunition ammu-nition While Von Kluck has no doubt received what he needs In this respect, it is doubtful if the crown prince has The issue of the battle may depend on what condition the crown prince reaches the frontier and whether he can make a stand and prevent the allies al-lies from turning the German left. Some of the military experts still think that the Germans hope by this action only to check the onrush of the allies and that later thoy will take up the defensive on the Namur line There was credit even for a rumor current jesterday that Emperor William Wil-liam had ordered General Von Kluck not to resist In France and that he was readv to listen to offers of peace through Pope Benedict XV or President Presi-dent Wilson, but the steady stream of wounded coming from the front seems to disprove this and indicates that the battle will be to a finish |