Battle of Liege

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 94, 11 August 1914, Page 5

Battle of Liege

WHERE THE FIGHTING TOOK PLACE. i [Dnited Press Association.] Brussels, August 8. The six forts attacked on Thursday, were Barchon, Evegnes, Flevon, Chandfontaine, Embourg and Boncelles, all east of the Meuse. DONOHUE'S ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK. GERMAN'S PITIFUL PLIGHT. (Received 8.0 a.m.) London, August 10. * Mr Donohue, correspondent at Brussels, states that Fort Boncelles, in the extreme south, bore, the brunt, as the ground was more favorable for the attackers. The attack en masse recalled the early days of Port Arthur, when General NogL sacrificed thousands. The attack on Liege -failed lamentably, thanks to the'undaunted courage of a mere handful of Belgian 'defenders. The Germans finally ran short of rifle ammunition!s J Thwaridsi ?tho end "ofl the general attack, the men, despite the , threats and exhortations of their offi--1 cers, refused to face the Belgian fire. The German wounded begged piteously for water, and were foodless for two days. The army rushed to the front Without waiting for supplies. FRENCH AND BELGIANS OPERATING SIMULTANEOUSLY. L f A VAST HOSPITAL. BAREHEADED CROWDS WITNESS THE WOUNDED IN BRUSSELS. (Received 8.25 a.m.) j■ . , , Brussels, August 9. The'general staff report that the position of the German troops has hardly changed since Saturday. They made an advance by cavalry, but re- ; treated under irresistible pressure by the French troops, who are in considerable force in the country south of the Meuse, which they are clearing of Germans. The French and Belgians take the offensive simultaneously. Brussels is one vast hospital. Hotels, private houses, and public institutions' have been placed at the disposal of the Red Cross. A great crowd silent and bare-headed watched the stretchers enter tho Red Grpss depots. Many of the wounded show marks of the German cavalry on their faces and bodies. PATRIOTIC ARDOR IN BELGIUM. Times and Sydney Sun Servioeb. Brussels, August 10. Socialists are volunteering, and the spirit of the people has been aroused like it never was before. The most conspicuous feature of the streets is the Boy Scouts, who have replaced tho policemen. The great trades unions are actively assisting. GERMANS' GLOOMY VIEW. "LIKE SHEEP DRIVEN RUTHLESSLY TO THE SLAUCHTER." "PORT ARTHUR WAS NOTHING TO IT." [United Press Association.] (Received B.H> a.m.) Brussels, August 10. The best estimates show that the , Germans loss was 15,000 at Liege. Accounts of the fighting state that the Germans are gloomy, bewildered, and fearful regarding tho terrible ' Cossacks who are about to enter and devour their country. This sullen army met the Belgians, who are animated I and passionate with patriotism. Incredible as it seems the Germans-were marched to their death almost shoulder to shoulder. A mighty t'usilade was opened upon the men, who were being driven forward by their officers, the terror dividing itself between dis- r l cipline and death. Fresh detachments I t were rushed into the trenches, but I C recoiled shattered. Yetx again, like s sheep, they were driven ruthlessly to t slaughter according to timetable, and without tho slightest allowance for C changed circumstances. 11 A wounded Belgian lancer states: Tt t was tragic to'seo the Germans driven tl up to the guns. They came in massed w formation, but they did so reluctantly T

and evidently under compulsion. They were only five paces apart, with fifteen paces between ranks. It was a solid mass, which even a woman could hit, and our guns cut long avenues in their ranks. Port Arthur was nothing to it. TWO LADS SHOT BY GERMANS AT LONCWY. OTHER GERMAN ATROCITIES. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Paris, August 10. The Germans shot two lads aged fifteen at Longwy because they warned the gendarmes of the German approach. The Germans also butchered and wounded a French officer. OCCUPATION OF LIECE BY THE GERMANS. THE GERMANS ON THE MARCH COMMIT SLAUCHTER. ■■ (Received 9.10' a.m.) Brussels, August 10. The Belgian staff consider the German occupation of the town of Liege unimportant while the! forts control; the approaches. The Germans are to weak to attack: the forts. The Belgian l army is rapidly advancing from Louvain. Three gardeners who fired upon 200 Germans at Soiron were shot, and the inhabitants of the place were killed. The Germans, advancing chiefly through Eschsuralzette, razed Merle. A large depot of arms of German origin was discovered at Antwerp.