The New Year of 1915 opened gently along the battle front in France
below Arras. The first large movement in 1915 began on January 8,
at Soissons. This city lies on both banks of the river Aisne and
was in the possession of the French. The French forces attacked
during a drenching rain, pushing up the rising ground to the north
with their heavy guns, regardless of the soft ground which rapidly
turned to deep mud and slush. They succeeded in carrying the first
line of German trenches on a front a mile wide, thus gaining the
top of the hill, which gave them an excellent position for their
artillery. The next day the Germans counterattacked, but failed
to dislodge the French.
Nothing occurred on Sunday, January 10, 1915, but on Monday, about
noon, January 11, the Germans came on with great force. The delay
on the part of the Germans was due to their awaiting reenforcements
then on the road to Soissons. For four days there had been a steady
downpour of rain which had not even stopped at this time. The River
Aisne was much swollen and some of the bridges had been carried
away, cutting off all supplies for the French, who were slowly
giving way but fighting desperately.
On January 12, 1915, and on the 13th the French were driven down
the slopes in a great rush. This predicament was a terrible one--the
onrushing Germans 500 feet in front of them and the swollen river
making successful retreat impossible, with the ground between almost
impassable with mud and slush.
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