LAND AND WATER 
September 12, 1914 
Upon the whole the commimiqucs of the Allied 
Go\'cruments arc less reserved in this way than those 
of the Germanic Governments. For instance, one 
could learn from the French communiques of the 
]-etii'ement of the 1 5tli Anny Corps in Lorraine before 
the Crown Prince of Bavaria's army three weeks ago, 
but even when reverse is admitted it is put in such 
terms that it is minimised. 
The object of any Government in acting thus 
is clear. It is twofold. It desires to maintain the 
spirits of its public and of its army, and it desires to 
keep from the enemy too full a knowledge of what 
his success may have been. For even a successful 
enemy, unless he has managed to suiTOund, remains 
largely ignorant of the damage he has inflicted. 
Thei'e is a thii'd character attaching to these 
communiques which I have not seen noticed in the 
j)ublic press and which is yet of supreme importance ; 
it is the fact that a great numljer of them are 
necessarily translations and that translation is the 
mcst difficult of all literaiy arts. I cannot judge of 
how far the translations from the Gennan have been 
accurate : for instance I do not know whether the 
jihrase about the Englisli being encircled ten days ago 
was a true rendering of the German or not. But I 
can judge the translations from French into English 
and from English into French which have been appear- 
ing in the press of the two countries duiing the 
campaign, and I discover from these exercises at once 
the importance and the great difficulty of rendering 
any message, especially a terse one, into a foreign 
tongue. 
Thus, about a week ago, I came upon this phrase 
in the English press, translating a French communique : 
" Om' line has nowhere been really jiierced," In com- 
mon with eveiyone who read that sentence I four.d it 
exceedingly alarming, but when I got my French 
l^aper I found that the original phrase was not " really 
pierced " but " E6eUement entamee." Now this 
word " entamee " does not mean pierced at all. 
It means damaged, bitten into, pitted. For 
instance, when you talk of a weapon being 
" entam6 " it does not mean that there is a hole 
through it, it means that the rust has pitted the 
steel. Generally, the word signifies a hurt done 
to the surface of anytliing and so grave as not to be 
immediately reparable. "VV^hat the French Govern- 
ment's despatch conveyed in the original was the idea 
that the line had been severely tested at more than 
one point but had everpvhere recovered itself. There 
Avas no thought of piercinff in the writer's mind when 
he wrote that sentence. 
That is only one instance, for every day I come 
across somethmg more or less of the same kind ; and 
I think it worth mentioning in days like these 
when such meagi-e and huriied news so powerfully 
moves public opinion. I cannot but believe that 
there will be misunderstanding not onl}- in the public 
mind, but on the field, unless the difficulties of that 
most subtle and at the same time stubborn task, the 
transvaluation of language, are appreciated at their 
true value. For educated Europe has gone back, not 
forward, in tliis during the last fifty years. 
(Copyright 1914. All rights, including American rights, resorred). 
A DIARY OF THE WAR. 
SYNOPSIS. 
August 18th.— General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien appointed to com- 
mand of an Army Corps of the British Expeditionary Force, in 
succession to the late General Grierson. 
August 20th. — The Servians gained a decisive victory over the 
Austrians near fchabatz. 
August 21st. — The German forces entered Brussels. 
August 22.\d. — Servia announces tliat their army h.nd won a great 
victory on the Drina. The Austrian losses were very heavy. "^ 
August 23nD. — Japan declared war on Germany. The Russian 
army gained an important victory near Gumbenuen against a force of 
160,000 tiermans. 
August 24th. — It was announced that Namur had fallen. 
The British forces were engaged all day on Sunday and after dark 
in the neighbourhood of Mons, and held their ground. Luneville was 
occupied by the Germans. 
August 27th.— Mr. Churchill announced in the House that the 
German armed merchantman Kaiser W'ilhelm der Grosse had been 
sunk by H.M.S. HighflyeT on the West Africa Coast. 
A strong force of British marines has been sent to Ostend and 
has occupied the town without opposition. 
August 28th. — ^A concerted operation was attempted against the 
Germans in the Heligoland Bight. 
The First Light Cruiser Squadron sank the Mainz. The First 
Battle Cruiser Squadron sank one cruiser, Koln class, and another 
cruiser disappeared in the mist, heavily on fire, and in a sinking 
condition. 
Two German destroyers were sunk and many damaged. The total 
British casualties amounted to sixty-nine killed and wounded. 
Lord Kitchener announced that " The Government have decided 
that our Array in France shall be increased by two divisions and a 
cavalry division, besides other troops from India." 
August 31st. — At one point in the centre of the Allied line tha 
French troops succeeded in beating the enemy back as far as Guise. 
September 1st. — The Russians met with a check in East Prussia, 
but were successful in minor engagements in Galicia. 
September 2n-d. — Continuous fighting was in progress along almost 
the whole line of battle. The British Cavalry engaged, with distinc- 
tion, the Cavalry of the enemy, pushed them back, and captured ten 
guns. The French Army gained ground in the Lorraine region. The 
Russian Army completely routed four Austrian Army Corps near 
Lemberg, capturing 150 guns. 
September 3rd. — The French Government moved to Bordeaux. 
September 4th. — The Russian Army under General Ruzsky, .cap- 
tured Lemberg, and the Army of General Brussiloff took Halicz. 
September 5™. — The form.il alli.ance of England. Fiance, and 
Russia was signed in London by the representatives of the three 
Governments concerned, binding each nation to conclude peace, or 
discuss terms of peace, only in conjunction with its Allies. 
DAY BY DAY. 
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th. 
The British .\rmy was reported south of the Mame, and in 
line with the French forces on the right and left. The Iate.st 
information about the enemy stated that they were neglecting 
Paris and marcliing in a south-easterly direction towards tha 
Marne and towards the left and centre of the French line. 
The 1st German Army was located to be between La Ferte- 
sous-Jouarre and Essises VofEort. The 2nd German Army, after 
taking Eheims, advanced to Chateau-Tliieny and to the east 
of that place. The 4th German Army was reported on tlie west 
of the Argonne, between Suippes and Vilie-sur-Tourbe. All 
these points were reached by the Germans on September 3rd. 
The 7th German Army has been repulsed by a French 
Corps near D'Einville. It would, therefore, appear tliat the 
enveloping movement upon the Anglo-French left flank has beea 
abandoned by the Germans, either becau.se it is no longer 
practicable to continue such a great extension or because tha 
alternative of a direct attack upon the allied line is preferred. 
It was announced that the scout-crui.ser Pathfinder foimdereJ 
on Saturday afternoon after running upon a mine. 
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th. 
General Joffres' plans were being steadily carried out. Tha 
Allied forces acted on the ofFensive and were successful in checking 
and forcing back in a north-easterly direction the German forcea 
opposed to them. 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th. 
The general position continued satisfactory. The Allies 
gained ground on the left wing along the line of the Ourcq and 
the Petit Morin river. Here the British troops drove the enemy 
back ten miles. Further to the right, from Vitry-le-Francois 
to Sermaise-les-Bains the enemy was pressed back in the direction 
of Rheims. In the ■s'icinity of Luneville an attempt by the 
Germans to advance was repulsed. As to the Russian 
operations in Gahcia, the offensive continued. Forty guns wera 
captured at Mikolaioff and the Austrians retired hurriedly. 
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th. 
On the \$it iviag all the German attempts to break through 
■our troops, who were on the right bank of the Ourcq failed. 
The EngHsh Army crossed the Marne, and the enemy retired 
about twenty-five miles. 
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