FATEFUL ENCOUNTER BEGINS

“On our right the French reached the line of the River Vesle.  On this day began an action along the Aisne which is not yet finished, and which may be merely of a rearguard nature on a large scale, or may be the commencement of a battle of a more serious nature.

“It rained heavily on Saturday afternoon and all through the night, which severely handicapped transport.

“On Sunday, the 13th, extremely strong resistance was encountered by the whole of our front, which was some fifteen miles in length.  The action still consisted for the most part of a long-range gunfire, that of the Germans being to a great extent from their heavy howitzers, which were firing from cleverly concealed positions.  Some of the actual crossings of the Aisne were guarded by strong detachments of infantry with machine-guns.

“By nightfall portions of all our three army corps were across the river, the cavalry returning to the south side.  By early next morning, three pontoon bridges had been built, and our troops also managed to get across the river by means of the bridge carrying the canal over the river.

“On our left the French pressed on, but were prevented by artillery fire from building a pontoon bridge at Soissons.  A large number of infantry, however, crossed in single file the top girder of the railway bridge left standing.

“During the last three or four days many isolated parties of Germans have been discovered hiding in the numerous woods a long way behind our line.  As a rule they seemed glad to surrender, and the condition of some of them may be gathered from the following incident: 

“An officer proceeding along the road in charge of a number of led horses received information that there were some of the enemy in the neighborhood.  He gave the order to charge, whereupon three German officers and 106 men surrendered.

RHEIMS OCCUPIED BY GERMANS

“Rheims was occupied by the enemy on September 3.  It was reoccupied by the French after considerable fighting on September 13.

“On the 12th, a proclamation, a copy of which is in the possession of the British army, was posted all over the town.  A literal translation of this poster follows: 

“’PROCLAMATION—­In the event of an action being fought early today or in the immediate future in the neighborhood of Rheims, the inhabitants are warned that they must remain absolutely calm and must in no way try to take part in the fighting.  They must not attempt to attack either isolated soldiers or detachments of the German army.  The erection of barricades, the taking up of paving stones in the streets in a way to hinder the movement of troops, or, in a word, any action that may embarrass the German army, is formally forbidden.

“’With an idea to securing adequately the safety of the troops and to instill calm into the population of Rheims, the persons named below have been seized as hostages by the commander-in-chief of the German army.  These hostages will be hanged at the slightest attempt at disorder.  Also, the town will be totally or partially burned and the inhabitants will be hanged for any infraction of the above.