THE CLASH OF MILLIONS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2229, 15 August 1914, Page 7

THE CLASH OF MILLIONS

GREAT BATTLE PENDING

LIEGE UNSHAKEN

GUNS OUT OF ACTION

DISASTER TO AUSTRIAN • ' ' CAVALRY'

Never jn the history of warfare) runs a comment 'in our war telegrams to-day, have the movements of the armies boon shrouded in . ' s suoh impenetrable mystery. The Australian High Commissioner's ; ' oablegram to the Commonwealth Government contains, we aro .in- / formed, tho first direct and credible referonce to tho presence of the ■ British troops at the seat of war, but it is a'bare reference, nothing more., The boleaguored fortress of Liege still defies tho onslaught /of the Germans, whoso siege-gun batteries have been demoralised by tho devastating firo'of the defenders'; tho German losses steadily acciitoulating. In their first open engagement with tho Germans the v Belgian field troops have shown commendable. morale and dash) and , ' their behaviour in open country has enhanc/d their value for offensive operations in conjunction with the allied British and French armies'. From Galicia, near the Russo-Austrian frontior, comes tho news of-4 serious 'disaster to a- largo force of oavalry, which was am- ' bushed in swamp country and annihilate'd by the Russians. Britain is now definitely at war with Austria. This announcement attaches a now, interest to the movements of tho Austrian fleet in the Mediterranean, ' and tho "Times" navai correspondent discussos, in optimistic vein, __ the probability of an early disaster to tho Austrian warships at the hands of tho Frenoh. Tho successes and failures of the land operations during the past "twelve days, as summed up by tho military correspondent, 1 make-a very poor showing for Germany nor great-attack on Liege has so far failed. The period during whioh tho great 'and irresistiblo streko by tho German armies mighc havo been delivered—as tho prophets had declared it would—is gone; franco - is clear of Germans. ThoVallied armies have completed their concentrations, and'iro at their appointed stations, watching their AustroGerman enemy manoeuvring for position, and apparently waiting for a'sign from Eussia, and a tremendous battle is .pending. In tne North Sea. it is stated, formidable events are in progress, while in the ' Atlantic and Pacific, off the American coast, >. '. the cruising warships aro rep orted to be very active. Yesterday >w' in Wellington the citizens witnessed an improssivo farewell to the advance part of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force at tho Basin Reserve, wheio His Excellency the Governor delivered an inspiring address. . GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED YESTERDAY H , MAIN ARMIES. APPROACHING 'OUTLOOK FOE ALLIES CONSIDERED GOOD ~ ,/ ~ _____ ,■ Dy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright , 1 (Rec. August 14, 11.5 p.m.) , j ' ■ , i i -i London, August 13. The' "Daily Telegraph's'! war*, correspondent predicts that the military opera- ; tions in Belgium,may culminate on Friday in a terrific collision of tho forces and the disruption of civilisation. He adds that nover have the movements of /armies been shrouded with suoh impenetrate my-tery. ..,.', ... ... ' The 'Times" military correspondent says: "We can well be satisfied with the events'of the 1 past twelve days. This period was needed for the mobilisation of the French armies, and its close finds scarcely a German soldier in France. The' only attaque drusqueo which the Germans delivered totally failed, and there is nothing to show that the moralo and fighting aptitude ot tho Allies are not equal to. if not better than, thoso of tho enemy. Wo have passed through a very critical phase, during which the. forces of the aggiessdve Power which .prepares ' its stroke in advance are offered many chances of easy success, bus neither the political, the military, nor the naval oponing of tho campaign has been creditable 'to Germany." I \ , ' FIRST OFFICIAL WORD OF BRITISH TROOPS. *• ' Sydney, August U. A bulletin from the Australian High Commissioner (Sir George Eeid) _in_ London contains the first official intimation that the British troops are acting • jn. conjunction with the French and Belgian troops against Germany,/ BRITISH FORCE MAY TURN THE SCALE, , (Reo. August 15, 0.40 Va.m.) ' ' . < \ > London, August 14. Much importance is placed on the assistance of the British Expeditionary Force, for'the rival armies are so nearly balanced. that-two or three army corps idded to,one side or the other may produce a vital-effect, \ ' ' < POSITION OF THE GERMAN MILITARY-FORCES. (Received August 14, 5.15 p.m.) London, August 13. The London Press Bureau states thatlhe bulk of tho twenty-six German Army Corps have been definitely located. It is evident that the majority of the Germans aro concentrated between Liegd and Luxemburg, leaving the Eastern (Rusx eian) frontier lightly guarded.-"Times" and Sydney ''gun" servicer GERMAN LOSSES AT MULHAUSEN. I ' , Rome, August 12. Swiss reportore x state that during the battle of Mulhansen two German lino regiments were annihilated.—("Times" and Sydney "Bun" Servicos.) GERMAN SIEGF GUNS SILENT LIEGE HOLDING OUT FURTHER ENGAGEMENTS IN BELGIUM (Received August 14. 8.35 p.m.) Brussels, August 13, midnight. The'deadly accuracy of tho fire from tho Liege forts destroyed all heavy German siege.artillery. Tho fortß are still intact, •(Received August 14, 5.15 p!m.) London, August 18. .The heavy German siege guns operating at Liege are chiefly six inch Howitzers and four inch mortars. The firing of this nrtillery is shaking the houses at Maastricht, twenty miles distant.—"Times" and Sydney "Sun" sei vices. The Germans round Liege are piling the deal in heaps, and, after a short fuperal service, cremating thorn. ' FIGHTING BETWEEN LIEGE AND MUSSELS. / ' " Brussels, August 13. Detail? of yesterday's battle show that five thousand Germans engaged the Belgian lancers, carabineers, and artillery. Thpio was fighting throughout the day, the" battle centre being at Haelen, a small town near Piest, and lying about equidistant from Liego and Brussels, ,In tlio evening Belgian sappers blew up two bridges across, the River Denier, which flows through Diest. Tho ground between Diest and Haelon, a distance of four miles, is, now cloaT. ' . The Germans covered their dead and wounded. Two hundred dead Germans .were found in a space of fifty yards. ,■ v Haigiari cavalry pursued German mitrailleuses, and inflicted considerable lrf'ses, retiring in perfect steadiness when the Germans r ,were reinforced. Ton thousand men were engaged in this skirmish, which: wo 3 'the first action between the Belgians and Germans in open country.. The comlvtct of the Belgian troops is a good augury for tho future. Indications are that fthe German advance on the Belgian centre has been abandoned .'."•''• • .It is officially announced that the Germans woro repulsed with heavy losses at Egbezee, which lies nine miles north of Namur and 39 miles west of Liege. A jtumbro pf machine-guns mounted on motor-cars, were captured. MWIVU REFUSES GERMAN PEMANDS. . ; London, August 13. : ".The Ifai l " (fetes that Germany on Monday' approached Belgium, •■ . tftreugli'Holland! and asked Belgium to reconsider her attitude towards the' Ger? map. demand 'for to traverse Belgian territory on copdiHon that Belgian independence was respected <sra the conclusion of peace. '. ■-.•■-. '■Behrium aeain refused the demand.