Battle of Liege

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 68, 10 August 1914, Page 5

Battle of Liege

GERMANS MOWN SOWN IN THOUSANDS Terrific Fighting SUPERB BELGIAN BRAVERY GERMANS GAIN NOT AN INCH GERMANS RETIRE THE UHLANS SWALLOW DEFEAT. ' Received 9, 9 a.m.

Brussels. August 8 (Morning). Reports state that the 24 hours' arjnistice 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. Received 8, 4.50 p.m. Sydney, August 8.. An Independent Cable Association message has been received fTom London, dated Friday, to the effect that Brussels reports fighting round Liege. The Germans attacking Berchot were compelled to retire before a murderous machinegun and rifle lire, leaving heaps of dead and wounded.

Some reports allege that the Belgians captured seventeen machine-guns. The German Uhlans made desperate attempts to capture the Belgian General Staff. Entering Liege at night, they actually penetrated the staffs 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 Zeppelin airship. A shell from a speciallydesigned aircraft gun penetrated the envelope, and the dirigible fell. All twenty-six occupants were killed. London, August 7.

An official message from Brussels states that the Germans ask for 24 hours' armistice. They acknowledge that there have been 25,000 casualties.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 0, 0 p.m. Brussels, August S.

Liege was defended by six forts and six fortius (or little forts), forming a ring for five miles outside the city, whereof Barchon, Devegnee and Chaudfontaine are on the western flank of the citadel, De la Phicrrusc, within the city and on the north side, of the river, and Fort De la Chartreux, on the southeastern corner of tJhe city. On Sunday thirty thousand navvies began digging trencbes, preparing oustaeles, cutting down woods, and destroying those buildings which interfered with the defenders' fire.

Lord Sydenham, in 1800, reporting to King Leopold, estimated that he needed 74,0(M). With adequate garrisons he .might 'hold out for a month. Possibly the French are sending help to the Belgians at Nomur. Further details of the fight at Fort Barchon show that the Germans rushed a strong column between Fort Barchon and Devonee. Under the cover of artillery, the invaders crept up to Barchon. The, Belgians reserved their fire until the enemy was at close quarters, and prepared for the final onslaught. Then the Belgians let loose a perfect hail of lead from Hotchkiss guns, which wrought terrible havoc, and the ground rcseinbled shambles. Meanwhile, forty guns at Chaudfontaine bombarded the enemy, some of whom took refuge in the chateau. *

The defence of Liege is a triumph for Leiman, who was formerly an engineer. This officer had special guns mounted on the rise against German aircraft. Seven guns were captured from the seventh German army crops on Wednesday.

Eight Uhlan officers passed between the two forts and entered Liege. They M ere wearing the new German grey campaign uniforms. The townsfolk, thinking this was the English uniform, shouted, "Vive l'Anglais!" The Uhlans entered the Belgian headquarters, and a hand-to-hand light followed.

The fortifications afforded admirable resistance to the Germans' shells. The Kvegnce fort was in action all day and was absolutely unharmed. Yoiieniiiifli. commanding the German army on the Mcuse, appealed to the Belgians to avoid conflict, and recalled Waterloo. He added that, the destruction of bridges, tunnels and railways' were considered hostile actions. An eye witness of the combat at Vise affirms that a squadron of Prussian cavalry moved towards the Vise bridge in which the Belgians had made a breach sixty metres wide. The Belgians hidden behind the broken piers, opened a cross-fire which almost annihilated the enemy . Simultaneously shots were fired from bouses right at the back of Vise, which the Germans had already occupied. The German soldiery then commenced an indiscriminate massacre of the inhabitants, and fired on the Red Cross.

Belgians blew up villages, churches and other buildings in the line of tire of the Liege forts. Belgians destroyed two regiments of Uhlans at Spa. Belgium is beset with German spies, who continue to work with marvellous deliberateness and courage, even usinsr wireless. The public is demanding the expulsion of twenty-five thousand Germans from Antwerp. The seventh and tenth German army corps have entered Aix la Chapelle. King Albert commands the French and Belgian troops, with the combined Frendi and Belgian slaflk Before leaving for the front, the King placed tiis Brussels Palace at the disposal of the TJ.'.l Cross. Five German spies, disguised as priests, were arrested at the Care du Nord, amidst the indignation of the crowd. Prince Decrov, a former offlcer of the guides, was arrested on a charge of espionage.

The German attack- concentrated or. Barchon on Wednesday morning. Cier;HHH» cavalry carried out evolutions north L of Liege while the infantry sought to

The tenth army corps, reinforced by cavalry, attacked Liege on Wednesday night, and crossed the ined zones, which exploded, and whole battalions were killed. Twelve thousand German wounded were picked up. Not a fort was captured. Six German officers, disguised as Englishmen, made their way at four o'clock in Miu morning to the Governor's office. All were killed, and the Governor escaped. The gallant defence of Liege is greatly assisting the French mobilisation.

It is understood that General Joll're, French Commander-in-Chief, belongs to tlm forward school of French military men, which is likely to favor a vigorous counter-attack, possibly driving a wedge between and outflanking the attack on Belgium and the main German armies in Lorraine and Alsace.

Tllie Belgian artillery reduced the chateau to ruins. The Belgians' shell fell in the middle of a German retreating column, and caused heavy losses. The enemy abandoned seventeen machine guns. One squadron of Belgian Lancers was completed wiped out, after killing 150 Uhlans..

The Germans at Liege on Thursday continued reckless tactics, sacrificing hundreds of men in column frontal attacks. The, survivors climbed the glacis and reached the trenches.

The Belgian commander had foreseen this contingency and placed guns to sweep the glacis. The Germans reaching the trenches were wiped out. The attack on Liege via the river Visore was impracticable. The winding route was unsuitable to a large army, aud the tunnels and bridges were mined. The alternative route was via Herve., Where there were plenty of roads, or via Cemminih. Probably a feinting attack is being arranged via Herve. Several German howitzers are already in position, while the bulk of the attackers' heavy artillery can advance through the plains to the north-east of Liege. Consequently General Huy, with special bodies of the Liege garde civique, is now guarding the bridge. King Albert's proclamation to the army says. "A neighbor, haughty in its strength, has torn up the treaty bearing its signature, and violated our territory. Seeing its independence threatened, our children sprang to the frontier." The Belgian defences at Liege and on the 'Meuse consist of great works of concrete with numbers of cupolas, or turrets. The northern gap leads to the rugged Argonnc country, and the southern gap leads to the basins of the Meuse and the Marne and the Seine, which are quite suitable for military operations with large masses of men, but the forts at Toul and Luneville make the route hazardous, thus forcing the Germans to choose the Luxemburg and Belgian _ routes. The eastern corner of Belgium a.nd Luxemburg consists of broken country, largely covered by forests, and is unfavorable for movements of a large army. On the contrary, the west of the Mouse" and Sambre is open country, intersected by railways, ideal territory to start operations' on the largest scale for the protection of the Belgian frontiers. There arc old-fash-ioned fortresses at Longuy and Montmedy, but modern forts at Mezieres and Givot, and an entrenched camp at Maubeugc. London, August 7. . Heavy fighting and bombardment continue nt Liege. The Belgians are holding their own. A number of the German reservists who reached Avimmouth from Montreal were detained. Eighty-fiVe German reservists are prisoners at Slieeruess. Amsterdam, August G. Reports from Maestricht savs the sound of big guns was heard distinctly, and smoke seen from the church steeples. A number of stampeded German horses galloped into Maestricht. Five thousand German subjects, fleeing from Belgium, were sent -bv train to Aix la Cliapelle. The ambulance corps at Eysden is verv bus J.