Official communiques issuing from various sources yesterday convey the following intelligence as to the progress of the war:
In announcing the results of two days' operations, which have been very satisfactory, the Press Bureau states that the pressure against the enemy continues all along their right front and the British forces have been engaged all, day. After a stubborn resistance, the enemy retired and is now crossing the Marne.
The German Army has suffered severely all along the line, the advance having been resolutely pressed home."
The casualties of the British troops are small in relation to the nature of the fighting.
The Fifth French Army has advanced with equal success and reports many captures, and the Sixth French Army, on the Ourcq, which has been heavily engaged, has also driven back the enemy.
It is stated that the general position continues satisfactory. The Allies are gaining ground on the left wing along the line of the Ourcq and the Petit Moran river. Here the British troops have driven the enemy back ten miles.
Further to the right, from Vitry-le-François Sermaise-les-Bains, the enemy has been pressed back in the direction of Rheims.
In the vicinity of Lunéville an attempt by the Germans to advance has been repulsed.
A long bulletin issued from Paris yesterday afternoon announces that on the left wing the Allied Armies, including part of the Paris defence force, are making continuous progress towards Montmirail, and that the enemy is falling back in the direction of the Marne, between Meaux and Sézanne.
The Franco-British troops have made numerous prisoners, including a battalion of infantry and a mitrailleuse company.
On the Allied centre, between La Fère Champenoise, Vitry le François, and the southern points of the Argonne, violent combats have taken place. Nowhere have the Allies lost ground, and at Vitry le François a retiring movement on the part of the enemy has been clearly observed.
On the Allies' right, towards Nancy, the attack of a German division has been driven back to the north. Further to the east the French troops have retaken positions, but in Alsace there has been no change in the situation.
On the Allies' right, towards Nancy, the attack of a German division has been driven back to the north. Further to the east the French troops have retaken positions, but in Alsace there has been no change in the situation.
The French Minister of War has sent to Lord Kitchener a message from General Joffre, which is transmitted at General Joffre's request.
The message expresses the warm thanks of the French Comander-in-Chief for the constant support given to the French armies by the British forces during the whole course of operations. It declares that at the present moment that support is most valuable and is manifested in a very energetic manner in the battle actually in progress against the German right wing.
The French Commander-in-Chief expresses his deep gratitude to Sir John French, who as constantly given to the French Armies the most effective co-operation.
Lord Kitchener has sent a reply warmly thanking General Joffre for his message, saying with what satisfaction the British Army finds itself co-operating with the French, and how proud they are of rendering assistance, "upon which you can always rely with full confidence." In connection with the casualties to officers of the Expeditionary Force a number of corrections to previous announcements are made, and a number of admissions to Home Hospitals are recorded.
As to the Russian operations in Galicia, the offensive continues. Forty guns were captured Mikolajoff, and the Austrians are retiring hurriedly.
The Austrian Army operating about Lublin, in Russian Poland, has been "heavily tried," and a regiment of infantry has surrendered bodily.
President Wilson has signed a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to pray for the peace of Europe, and setting aside Sunday, October 4, as a day of prayer.
The Prince of Wales's National Relief Fund yesterday amounted to £2,330,000.