Volume 16 , Issue 33

100 Years Ago, 30 September 1914

One hundred years ago, Wednesday, 30 September 1914, The Times Dispatch, out of Richmond, Virginia was reporting on their front pages these following headlines: German Right Reported Broken, With Allied Army In Hot Pursuit; Von Kluck said to be in flight with his troops. Invaders were surrounded in Somme department, and Peronne recaptured. The war office at London permits publication neither affirming nor denying. British and Japanese take position commanding Germans' main line of defense.

Officials Are Silent As To Reported Retreat

While the French and British official announcements indicate satisfaction with the situation along the battle front in France and confidence in the outcome, an unofficial report from Paris declares the German right has been broken, and is being pursued by the allies.

This report also declared the Germans had been surrounded in the Somme department, and that Peronne had been recaptured. The official press bureau at London, while making no objection to the publication of these reports, declined to take any responsibility for their correctness.

Announcement late at night by both French and British officials declared there had been no change in the situation which they previously had reported as favoring the allied army to some degree.

A narrative from Field Marshal Sir John French's headquarters, issued at London by the official press bureau, gave the reason for the long drawn out battle, which had lasted eighteen days. "The extent of the country covered, is so great as to render slow any efforts to maneuver and march around the flank in order to escape the costly expedient of a frontal attack against heavily fortified positions."

This referred to the fiercely contested operations of the allies' left in an endeavor to outflank the German right wing under General Von Kluch. In these operations french and British, heavily reinforced, had been engaged for several days, and the encounters at times were rerouted to have been unprecedented.

In the Far East there were signs of much activity on the part of the Japanese, who were engaged in a land and sea movement against the German concession of Klauchan, in Shan Tung Province, China. The Japanese had occupied the heights outside of Tsing Tan, the capital overlooking the Germans' main line of defense.

Chinese troops had blown up the railroad bridge at Tayu Ho, six miles west of Wel Hsien, which also had been occupied by the Japanese, and thus were apparently opposing Japanese military operations in Shan Tung Province.

Mengre reported of the Russian campaign against Austria and Germany indicated a period of comparative calm, while the great armies of these nations were getting into position for offensive and defensive.

A british cruiser squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock, who recently commanded British warships in Mexican waters, had arrived at Punta Arenas, Strait of Magellan, and was believed to be on its way to the Pacific.

The German cruiser Emden, which recently captured six British steamers and sank five of them in the Bay of Bengal, had sunk four more and captured a collier.

The Italian government had issued a warning to Italians who had taken or intended to to take service in the army of any country then at war that this was a breach of neutrality, and was punishable by imprisonment.

Late dispatches declare the Germans had begun their attack on the first line of the Antwerp defense; that they had reoccupied Malines, occupied Moll, an important railway junction, and were bombarding Lierre, a few miles from Antwerp, where many houses had been destroyed.

London, September 30, 1914 (12:15 A.M.) -- A Paris dispatch to the exchange Telegraph Company said: "It is said here tonight (Tuesday) that the German right gads been entirely broken, and is now being pursued by the allies. All the automobiles in Northern France have been requisitioned for the purpose of pursuing. Armored motor cars with mitrailleuses also are being used to pursue the retreating enemy. The official communication issued at 3 o'clock demonstrates unmistakably that the Germans have been surrounded in the Somme department, the French front extending father east. It is stated officially that Peronne has been recaptured."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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