Sept. 29.
The most interesting developments during the past few days in the great battle which the world has agreed to call the battle of the Aisne have taken place in the valley of the Meuse. When the subject was last dealt with, on September 23, the Germans were entrenching at Montfaucon, which lies in a line with Reims midway between the Meuse and the Forest of Argonne. On the following day it was announced that they had advanced southwest to Varennes, which lies on lower ground on the borders of the forest, the movement being accompanied by a fierce attack on the French lines in the northern part of the Woevres, north-east, that is to say, of Verdun. All the telegrams received since then confirm the impression that this was the beginning of two distinct but concerted attempts, which are still being made, to break through the French between Foul and the country north-east of Chalons. A communique issued on September 25 showed that what we may term the Woevre advance had been carried first to Hattonchatel, situated on a line of hills running east of Fort Troyon, and from there to St. Mihiel on the right bank of the Meuse. A telegram published this morning makes it clear that the Argonne advance has got somewhere near Ste. Ménéhould on the right bank of the Aisne. As far as we know at present both ces have been checked at these points and neither river crossed. In all probability strong reinforcements have been sent to Ste. Ménéhould from Chalons with Reims, form the base of the French position in the Champagne, and to St. Mihiel from Foul and Nancy. The ground which was lost at Ste. Ménéhould it is stated, been regained and though reports were current yesterday afternoon to the effect that the Germar had broken through at St. jel, the statement that there is no change on the heights of the Meuse deprives this story of its foundation. Nevertheless it is clear that the French have been, and are being, very hard pressed.
We have described these events as being the most interesting because they represent
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.