The red river

Terrific struggle on the Aisne

Attack and counter attack

Several of the battles fought during this war have been described as the greatest in history and the use of superlatives has more than once been justified but the gigantic struggle now believed to be approaching its end, must now take first place.

Desperate fighting we have had, such stories punctuate our military annals, but sustained ferocity of this kind upon which we are now looking, has never before been recorded, and let us hope never will be again.

Apparently for eight days the battle has been raging, the loss of life in officers and in men has been appalling and the conviction is being borne upon us that all this terrible expenditure in blood has produced no decisive result.

An official communique issued in Paris at eleven o clock last night says : 'there is no change in the general situation, we have made continual advance of the left wing, and there is a slight lull in the battle"

A Bordeaux message also contains the significant statement that while throughout Thursday the whole front was engaged , the fight again was hottest on the left wing, adding that the turning movement was becoming more defined.

The message states that the enemy made a series of vigorous counter attacks and General French's army has again been singled out for the enemy's particular attention, but their three attempts to get home upon it, have been in vain.

While fighting hard on the eastern half of their front the Germans are digging hard in the centre from Rheims to the Argonne and this will probably form the pivot of the battle.

This is the most informing message as yet to hand but there is enough news to show that fighting on the River Aisne has unquestionably developed into the greatest battle yet fought in the ether theatre.

The conflict, it is also clear, fiercest upon the German's left wing, is a terrible struggle throughout the whole line of contact. More than two million men are moving left and right, advancing and retiring, seizing every place of vantage which will better enable them to destroy their enemies .. How is it possible over such a wide front, for the mere onlooker to gauge what is taking place or even to guess the result Perhaps seeking in vain for guidance it is best to ask, What is the obvious?

There are factors and calculations of which we know nothing , movements which are only hinted at and official phrases used which mean very little, or a great deal.

We think that the desperate German efforts to push us back, has failed and that our offence has made some headway. The enemy has been reinforced and he may be contemplating a general offensive and another march towards Paris.