Battle of Liege

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 93, 10 August 1914, Page 5

Battle of Liege

REPORTS OF HEAVY FIGHTING AND GERMAN LOSSES. [Bt Elsotwo Telegraph—Copteiohi) ' [United Press Association.] Brussels, August 8. Reports state that the 24 hours armistice requested by the Germans was refused. A division of German cavalry forded the Meuse south of Liege, and was practically annihilated Seven regiments surrendered at Tounend; An Independent Cable Association message has'been received from London, dated Friday, to the effect that Brussels reports‘fighting round Liege. Tfie Germans attacking Berchot were compelled to retire before a murderous machine-gun ahd rifle fire, leaving ; heaps of dead and wounded. Some reports allege that the Belgians captured seventeen machineguns. the German Uhlans made desperate S attempts to capture the Belgian General Staff. Entering Liege at night, they actually penetrated the staff’s quarters before they were driven off. As the net result of the fighting the Germans ' did not gain a single inch, and many German wounded entered Dutch territory, • The Germans lost their biggest Zep■}by pelin airship. A shell from a specialjlik ly-designed aircraft gun penetrated the envelope, and the dirigible foil. %i. ‘(./All twenty-six occupants were killed. : * Brussels, August 8. Liege was defended by six forts and |K*saifoftins (or little forts), forming for five miles outside the city, Bdrchon, Devegnee and Chau!df ofitaine, are,-on the western flank the;citadel'. Do la Phierruse, within ’i the;city-and: om the- north -side of the ' . » jivor, mud Fort .De. la.Cbaftreux, on fetlie- southeastern,corner, of-.the city. Snndav tliirty! thousand navvies -began digging tre.wl.es, preparing, obcuttiTig; down./woods, and. dcthose‘buildings which inter-, \V (i fered with the defenders:’ fire. • Sydenhain.- in 1890..- reporting. I MMKmfr ' Leopold, estimated -that he With adequate garri- ■' ’•/ hip might hold nut tor a month. details of; the fight at H>rt - Bfirehon show- that the Germans rusbtMVtfidvaJ strbpg column between Fort Bar((cijtdp find Devegrtee. Uudei\ the cover, a ' bf-artillery, the invaders crept up to -vßaPchpnr ; The Belgians reserved:their the enemy was at close <fiuorJ. an'd prepared '.for, 'the final onslaugfit. Then the Belgians let loose ;«/ ’ ' \ perfect' hail of lead ffforn- Hotchkiss -guixs, wliich wrought terrible havoc, and the ground’ resembled shambles. Meanwhile, forty guns at GhaudfoniWi&tsdie' fioffibarded the epemy, - some; of. \Y, refuge; in i theVcfiatea.il..Sfpnce :of (Liege/is 1 ay triumph in; (who- ■ wfis;'f oimerly /an ■ en- ,■ This officer: had: special gups: on' the rise' against German zufis'were, captured’ from .the; army corps on WedJhlah officers passed between firts und entered Liege. t-ring . the, new German grey iifiifocms. Tim townsfolk, bfikVas the English uniform/ “Vived’Anglais!” The Uhlans hfi Belgian headquarters, and 3-hancl -fight' followed/, tificatiops afforded admirable W', sHollg T,m S^^egfiW;fort 7 .^afi'-in : - action all day and I 7H F. GREAT BELGIAN GEN ERA L. (Received B.Ho a.m.) 'I m Brussels, August 9. r ; l r Fi(pioh- troops ,crossing V.tHp Jrppwfilcpinrtqd/ with exiraorclin-, j the Bolgiiap; sol-, thfi:'noncoms. Embraced gj^l^lMissed'each- other;,, while the RelRU)i (sangThe' Marseillaise.' Ueiman, who fortified Liege, is a Sifessbr. of fhiathotnatics in/the, Boldn^MiKiiarv /Academy. He is sixty-Spl-s /of . a'ge. ' aiid of • tin tin nig Tills •' is his first/ work as Jpradti’p'al /soldier, s' J BRAVEBY OF THE BELGIANS. fe-’hF “'■ \ —j — ’ | (Received'B:3s/a:m.) - r / v'Bondonf ;August-9. %|f ‘ Tho’’officers wounded at? Liege state ■* Belgian- artillery, was £ re-.

markahly effective and created au indescribable panic. They observed indecision among the German artillerists before taking up their positions. Whenever a projectile burst among them they retired. Though the Belgians displayed heroic courage, they were too fatigued to withstand ‘the impetuous onset of the overpowering German numbers. Many of the Belgian reservists have been working in tho trenches |or 2/ days. They sustained serious losses. GERMANS ENTHUSE OVER THE VICTORY. “OUR VALIANT ARMY.” Berlin, August 9. A message giving news of the fall of Liege spread with lightning rapidity and created boundless enthusiasm. The Emperor sent an aide-de-camp to the crowd before the castle with tho # news. The police bicycled .along Unter den Linten with the joyful tidings. Herr Hollweg drove to the casfle to congratulate the Emperor. The message continues: “Though it is known that it has been circulated in foreign countries about a German defeat at Liege it is expected'this story will disappear before tho facts.” The “Lokal Anzoiger” states: ‘‘All hearts are trembling under the first feat of arms of our valiant army.” GERMAN DEAD PILED FOUR FEET HIGH. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Brussels, August 8. Soldiers state that some of the trenches, at Licgb were piled four to five feet high with German bodies.