BELGIUM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 17 August 1914, Page 5

BELGIUM

IMr'-ViKN iIKUIIAX AND CIiKMAN | THUOI'S. UAP.UK.'ADKS. CKI.Vr AiiiTLLKUY AM) CAVALKV D'CKL Til.iK'ir'i 1.1) ATTACK C.N BELGIAN POSITIONS. IdiVKNDKRS CLAIM A VICTORY'. r.!iis:-<-Is, August U. An (H'.iial statement says that twelve hundred IJeljrians v.cro engaged in u pitched battle, thi! commencement of a. Jrrrut tight, and strongly withstood inc. attack. Though the [lositiou romuiTis unchanged. Sicilian coi-csses have bfu ni' advantage to tin' aii!;.- in giving th'jni time for concerted plan of advance,. In the attack on Madia and Dicst the lMgi-aii-, allowed the iiu-air to advance i slowly. The (lurniacs hurled themselves ngain-'„ tin 1 barricades and endeavored to carry tinm by, force, but the i'cteians shot them down. The attack on the. ridges was as savage as thai at the harrhados, out when the Orcuaus fell .rayidly and svero almost shattered they wtreated in great uisorib r towards Tungreo. The Germans at ITuy are bombarding the fort,-'., particularly that on a jutting penin-nia or. the north bank, which lia.ni|:ered tin' crossing. A cavalry column mi Thursday crossed ncuvcen 11 uy anil Namur and reached cghezee and dodoignc. respectively south ami north, of Kuinillb-s. The c-;i tiire of some of their ■inns has already been cabled. The artillery arid tavairy duel w« j continue..! on Th:..'s ; v.-. when the I'd- | giaiK brought ttp fres:i ti'cops to relieve f-ho-c light'.iv.< o-t W-dn-eav. it, is estimated that the Germans iost a tlioisi.ai«f killed and wo'i'.ii.si in two days. The IVlgiams b.n! fe.iv dead, but a eour.idi'ialile number v.'i re voiindcd. Knali.-i! correspi.':dc':C report that the count-) y •.■oiiiid Tiricmoir' and St. Troud iit the heginmKL' of '..'." veek was rich cnniiields ;>.r.d v.e!i-' ::d'-.i gardens. Now the farm- a"- :-:'.',•/-.,;:'._' rains and the lieh!-. .i..wnC'..dd,i,. The ..cnuau s'''l ;.' ihcc.c has occupied C-,. C ; ,i-.vi..Ml of r.uiv Locii;- and ban haded it-;eif aaCad. attack. Tie- Oerm.m-, centiiue i> pour throush tile gaj) :\i 'i'!'e\.-s Frame. :'lld Icive r.a.'hed Spiirourl and Arlon. but won- I'.-pehv'!. :,t Dir-togiic ou WcdllesT'oward-, i;e!u''.i|.;i tree pour through the Viillev of the Oiirlh..' towards Namur and Hay. Tin- C'Ltrt.m i, U-in-jr heavily li'i'iiele-d to Cramer the i/Ui'suit in ca-e of po-- : b;- ,:•■!■ ;■'. ;ViC. Ceneral von Kmnii-h's tr<.f.;..s at I.h ge it ',, estimated that Co re ;.r. s"'..'ii aruiv corps, ir,\),m'o m the Meu-.e valley. A I'Yench !>...<.!.,■;•.- at Kn'mcourt 0:1 Thuivmy .-u.-i>r:-d b...- <-! German d'.'a•;oon-. and the guns jraeticaiiv di'siroycd the reu'l:nnt,. Oernuir ea-aii'" :e,: .::i iiifantrv battalion Hit':, t'.-r-:-.-.. -5....... ~,,-,,] the riv.-r (iette u-.-l i!;ir.- il..v b! 1.11 ibielin and Die-t. The iitra-'!, eas ; .,, Midden that the V-b/an .::2'-e-'-s had barel-.- time , to blow ■;;, l'y 1,y..;0, ;. viu'e the urav- , c';\ in' C.e- civ i- jar, m-i cufi'd the coi- ; lllilll of Mh'l'.'i'-li'.ur..' dra/"ons and six . ;;nn- ■i'iV'" l -•.■.!■' !) : i-'. The '■";<■ mean-. |;allo|..-,l in-, litf.e '.id-.-.- one and a half 11.il".- fneu !);,...t ..iivi -lebh-ul a encountered a ii:irricaii.- of farm v. with tin- road in f'.'c.-.t ...n-, :i>. A mix-d force o: liebia.-s e.iti-. .'aa-hine ir.uis de. fewlm! it wT.'i ".ekb-s eollrfise. Tie draj-iKin-i jralhecd into a virtual cul-de-sac. Tim dragr.ims witii revolvers ilrawi ■ faced a mu.rd°* , ous flrf and the only living things to aarraount tlic barricadi

were seven riderless liwaea maddened with fear. The surviving (lermans sheltered behind their dead horses and the Belgians, believing their resistance had ended, rushed out from behind the barricade and forced the German survivors to Hue. and many were shot. There was a general attack on Hae.V.n and Diest. and the encounter lasted all day. The extreme (icrnntn right uiiij.; failed to turn the lielgian .position. Many of the prisoners captured were in a fainting condition and the horses wen. dving of ■hunger. It is estimated the Germans lost HtVA) killed, wounded, ct:. J.e l'atriote announces that artillery brought down three German aeroplane-; living over the district. Two of the aviators were killed and the third terribly, injured. Though civilians at Brussels were naturally anxious on account of a battle being fought only twenty-eight miles away, they ginned confidence owing to the presence of French soldiers in the streets. Details of the light at Diest show that tjhe, Germans advanced in close formation. Their artillery lire was comparatively ineffective, hut th-' Uelgian guns tore great gaps in the advancing columns. Owing to the nature of tbo ground the (lennan infantry were unable to deploy. Lieutenant Vandooren was the hero of a thrilling episode at GlandzclcK, near llaelin (a few miles from Diesi). The liclginn commander was unable to spare troops, but sent Vandooren with a motor at the lieail of a party cf firemen, w.io J defended Graiidzolek. Vandooren hid in a dyke "and crawled a few yards to the German battery, where lie shot the commander and caught an officer's horse and regained the lielgian lines amid a hail of bullets. Anuciors cavauv raid. j London, August 1!. I The chief event on Wednesday am! J Thursday was the audacious cavalry ! raid on General von Kmmich's right ; wing, threatening J.ouvuin and livussids. i Tin- Germans fought tiitickilv. hurling ; men on strong natural positions The i attack was threefold. A column ii'i'.r, jlhiy attacked ICghezco, and another I reached Tirleniont as a feint to keep the j lielgians busM while the ]ivincipal ali tack on Diest developed. JTIIIO (U'EIUTiONS AR(»T"XI; L!K:,:i. i ax akkotlaxf: ciiask. ! Brussels, August 1 !. I In Hie operation- around Liege t'.ie i Belgians have taken iO'Ti |i'i-, ir .,.i-. ilavivg iii-mliieient accommodation for them | thev have asked the French to hike 'charge of them. Tin' French captured !."!!:> prisoners ! iji other parts of the frontier. J It is reported that, a From* avlalo- ! reconnoitring ill Lorraine was pursued : by two larger Germ.'n imie'iiuo-, ea'.'ry- ; ing three armed men. After an on'itI ing vhase the Freiiclinuin '■- -aped. A i!er- ! man aviator carrying v. French ling Hew lover Vesoul and Fare, near l'» li'ort. avei ■ dreppeil bombs. Tile damage was i,!>- | important and the airman was pat to j flight hv a voilev from gendarmes. j A mixed detachment of TSclgianx loj day surprised ■flennan cavalry regiments I encamped between Xamur anil Fghezee. | forced them eastwards and captured I numerous prisoners and maHhine guns. ; There are no (lennan caralrv now- !■(■- ; I tween Hasselet and Uamiliies.' i S "The iifst. piinni-." 1 j London. August 11. - I }fr. Asquith and Sir Kdward (Ire;, r | in letters to the lielgian Minister for - , War, cxpresKcd admiration at the courii j age of King Albert, the Government and - I the army, which was the best y.roof that e ' Britain did right in intervening.

. A MIDNIGHT ASSAULT. GERMAN'S THIRL THEMSELVES AGAINST A FORT. •■ FIERCE FIGHTING AND HEAVY LOSSES. lleecived lfi, 5.5 p.m. Brussels, August 11. The Germans at Liege are devoting their energies to tile forts on the left bank of the Meuse, particularly those at De IPontisse, which prevent the free ■use of 'the llerstal bridge. The Germans attempted to rush the front by main force in Mil- middle of Thursday night. The fight developed with great fierceness, the Germans hoping to profit by the few hours of darkness. However, they did not rendi beyond the glacis, where they were mown down. , The Germans were provided with bundles of wood and mutresses to fill up ditches, but were unable to use them. Fort Delliers, next on the north side. boldly assisted De Pontisse. All the forts fought bravely. During the attack on De Pontisse. the Germans', armed with hand grenades and huge wire-cutters, reached the. outworks. The Belgians detected their presence, when the German artillery tired star-shells, which lit up the'neighborhood, and the Belgian machine-guns decimated the columns. The attackers were provided with steel shields and hand bags containing entrenching tools in order to dig themselves into cover, similar to the JapanI ese tactics at Port Arthur.

Germans falling rack. ivelglvn kixg moves about ei:i.;i.;lv. Received 10, 5.5 p.m. Brussels, August 15 (moTiiing'i. No attack was reported 011 Eridav. Reconnaissances show that the Milanhave i'ailen back on the main liodv. exccpt in the extreme nortli, where a few daring raiders close to the forts ilefendiii" Antwerp, retreated before the Belgian cavalry, which attei::;itod to cut olf the Uhlans. The Kin:; of the liclsians is con;;t:uit',v among the troops. 'lie passed several uiuiits iu bivouac. The Kins:' 'ravels i>. motor-car. attended bv a, sinsrle officer, and so simply attired that often lie is not recognised, arrested. A SHATTERING RT.OVC. THAT IS YET TO COME. GERMANS' ATTACK' ON FRANCE. London. August, I!. Strategists (leclaie tlint Germiinv's obiict is to utilise the whole first line of j the army to deal a shattering blow at ! France and then move the army across Geniniiiy in time to meet the Russian advance. London. Augn-t I I. It is reiiorted from Heme that i : "' Germans fired tm their own <ror.p„ at Liege, destroying a whole liattitli.-.n. RF.GCLATIXG INTELLIGENCE. LIMITING THE OUTPUT. Received Ifi, 5.5 p.m. Rrussels. August It ((' "."'.l' flie Minister of War has decided, in I I'iew of the present disno'-ilions of the l'ren<!li and lielgian armies, that no f'.iriher annonneement of niovements should he made. The Government relies on the patriotism of tho Press !o preserve absolute silence.

I . ANXTOUS FOR FIGHTING. FRENCH SOLDIICRS IX HIGH SPIRITS A SUCCESSFUL 'CYCLE UAH). Received Hi. 5.5 p.m. Brussels, August 18. Two hundred cyclists and carbineers on Thursday surrounded and surprised throe hundred Germans, killed seventy and captured forty. The rest were dispersed. The arrival of the prisoner*, escorted by tin; cyclists, led to an extraordinary scene at Namui. The whole population turned out, and decked the anxious for fighting. Namur is heavily garrisoned. Its (hilly situation makes it stronger than LiegeAiiiny French are holding the left tank of the 'Mouse, supportid by mitrailleuses. They arc in -high spirits and anxious for fighting. It is understood that the transportation of French troops has been completed. All the inhabitants of Namur have been disarmed, in order that the Hermans may have no pretext for wreaking 'vengeance, on the civil population. GERMAN -WIRELESS IX BELGIUM. YET THE FATHERLAND WAS ILLINFORMED. Received 17, 115 a.m. Paris, August 13. Le Temps' Brussels correspondent states that before transmitting tier kt.est ibvibe to Belgium, Germnny attempted, to persuade the United States Minister to convey it, but the lattei indignantly refused. The correspondent adds diht wireless stations have been discovered all over Belgium, many of them ingeniously hidden. Many German servants are engaged in espionage. The German 'Minister and the, AgentGeneral of the Hamburg-Amerika line entertained lavishly commercial and military men of high standing at Antwerp. >Vhen a magistrate, drew the attention of the authorities, the latter said, •'You've got the.spy fever." BAULK AT THE BAYO-vET. GERMAN ARTILLERY FIRE IS INFERIOR. Received 10, 5.5 p.m. London, August 15. The Press Bureau reports that there, are indications that the Germans will endeavor to envelope the allies' extreme left. Official news continues to indicate that the French and Belgian artillery are superior, also that the German' infantry do not determinedly face the bayonet. The Government has started a war prisoners' information bureau, under the Hague Convention. iRAID ON A BANK. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 15," 5.15 p.m. Brussels, August 15. Uhlans raided the National Bank at Ifasselt. and secured 22,000 francs. Immediately afterwards the Belgian cavalry ant field guns overtook tlieln and utterly, routed the Uhlans, regaining the. money. a spy-catcher. one way of serving his couxtrv:. Received Hi, 5.5 p.m. Brussels, August 15. Belgium U over-run with spies. All captured are fried late each night. A certain number have been shot down. fifty Germans were cantuved at Antwerp in one day. Man;,' have been captured wearing'the IMgum uniform. One citizen of Brussels who was too ill to I go to the front volunteered as a spycatcher. lie speaks German perfectly, and l\as -a German appearance. He goes to the cafes, and if he sees susnicions .persons he. asks. "Are you a German?" italic stranger answers "Yes," he asks.. "Where do we meet to-morrow?" \'l satisfied that the case reonjres investigation he signals to tie police and the spy is arrested.

AMONG TIIK WOUNDED. I GERMANS ORDERED TO EIRE LOW. ■SURGICAL WORK HINDERED. Received 10. 0.5 pni August 15 /morning). t A ISritish doctor who visited the ho- I "tills round that very many Hclgians * lave been wounded iu the logs. M iUlv ' I; d ..ollajrscd from she,.,- exhaustion. I Keenest, dosuo to rftnrn to arms. Tile ' German prisoners explain that they were < ordered lo fire low. presumably because ( * man Lit in the leg immediacy be- ' ™»''' S lmrs ] (i .<' ™ml.at. Xevertlieless, « , , Wonn ' "'» th(> f»lf and thigh heal 1 ae.,heady recover:,,,-. The majority ',, (^, ™* ~ , s . wm wounded i« the ' «dy. Jho Belgian doctors are workin., ' ft" KI V ''"t snrKijm work at lK £ ' hindered l.y lack of chloroform. A GLORICTS EXIT. ' 15KLC1AX CORPORAL'S HEROISM. Received 17, ] : >.j Av , .. , Brnssol*. Arnnist Ifi. 11 .,;\" ,1P , ( ', ,C, ' C ' l ; of ™» uiussvd by tl German l>a.U,.rv at Italian*, near dnpille, an 18-vca.r-old tw. I'ora , named Liniin, crcirt round to (he . 'ell -behind a wall. enfilade flifc hiUlery shoo, nil;- (|„. principal ~/Pk-i.rs ami soli" men, ,u,d threw tho battery into eon- ' lirsMMi. Jin- hatterv, liofore refroating, fired a las: shot. In-icging down the v.'all and burying Lupin. A Belgian company Rnvnriscd iwo companies of Gorman ey.-lists -at Yos--enaekrii, rear Louwin. about "20 miles from the field of VVaterV'o. Tin. German, retreated, leaviii- 50 killed. relojan strategy. , fixe intelligence, sioryke. Received 1", U2.5 a.m. i'.russi.ls, Ai'giist l(i (moraine). A Dutchman from. Liege recounts how. "no- i„ Mi,. ..,{,-.,..k 0,11 the foris. 24 Belgian Lancers, with carrier pigens; '''' ""oiti'e'l the German position. T!wv hid themselves in the wood-, hsiU-wa'v between Lie;n> and Aix-hi-Chanell". am! l-.'-pi. the defenders of "Hie forls awave ..f ev«rv .--haugo in,'.lie disposition of the German troops. MAORI LAND f!ITM,S AT 'HIE I FRONT. Received 17, 12.5 .".in. Tiru-wls. Aiignd l'i. |.'o v t'--one English! nurses, iireludino I 1 two Xew Zealanilers who were spend 1 ) in" holidaivs in England, arrived on Kntnrdiiv nicht, and were given a-TP"t cva-lkm." __ .j.. :^^i;.iiLl3!!iJHDll