Newspaper Page Text
GERMANS VICTORIOUS
IN FIRST BIG BATTLE
• »
FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLASH WITH GER-
MANS BETWEEN MONS AND LUX
EMBURG FRONTIER
FRENCH ABANDON ALSACE
Allies Are Preparing to Offer Desperate
Resistance to Germans’
Steady Progress.
Paris, France.—The military
situation was discussed at a spe
cial meeting of the cabinet at
Elysee palace, presided over by
President Poincare.
The French war office has is
sued the following announce
ment:
“The French and English, the
plan of attack having failed, ow
ing to unforeseen difficulties,
have retired on the covering po
sitions.
“West of the Meuse the Eng
lish army on our left was attack
ed by the Germans, but behaved
admirably, holding its ground
with traditional steadfastness.
“The French assumed the of
fensive with two army corps. An
African brigade in the front line,
carried away by their eagerness,
were received by a murderous
fire. They did not give an inch,
but, counter-attacked by the
Prussian guard, they were oblig
ed to retire, only, however, after
inflicting enormous losses. The
Prussian guard especially suffer
ed heavily.
“East of the Meuse our troops
advanced across an extremely
difficult country, and made vigor
ous attack when they emerged
from the woods, but were oblig
ed to fall back after a stiff fight
south of the river Semois.
“It is to lie regretted that the
offensive operations planned fail
ed to achieve their purpose as a
result of difficulties impossible to
foresee. Il would have shorten
ed the war, but our defenses re
main intact in the presence of
an already weakened enemy.
“Every Frenchman will de
plore the temporary abandon
ment of portions of Alsace and
Lorraine, which we had occupied,
and certain parts of the national
territory will suffer from events
of which they will be the thea
ter.
“On order of General Joffre,
our troops and the British troops
withdrew to the covering posi
tions. Our troops are intact;
our cavalry has in no way suf
fered, and our artillery has af
firmed its superiority. Our offi
cers and soldiers are in the best
of condition, morally and physi
cally.
“As a result of the orders
which have been issued, the as
pect of tne struggle will change
for a few days. The French army
will remain for a time on the de
fensive, but at the right moment,
to be decided on by the comman
der-in-chief, it will resume a vig
orous offensive.
“Our losses are heavy; it
would be premature to enumer
ate them. It would be equally
so to enumerate those of the
Germans, who suffered so heav
ily that they were obliged to
abandon their counter-attacks
and establish themselves in
fresh positions in Lorraine.
“We delivered four attacks
from our positions north of Nan
cy, inflicting very heavy loss on
the enemy.
“In regard to the general sit
uation, we have the full use of
our railroads and retain com
mand of the seas. Our opera-
"Parie” Is Gay No Longer
London.—“ Paris is the saddest place
in the world,” said Miss Cornelia B.
Sage, director of the Albright Art gal
lery, Buffalo, N. Y„ who arrived in Lon
don from the French capital. "All the
artists, poets and authors have gone
to the war. Every man able to carry
arms has answered the cal). Only
small boys have been left to work in
the hotels and cases. All the studi
os are deserted. The flower of French
manhood, all the men of genius, are at
the front.”
tions have enabled the Russians
to come into action and pene
trate the heart of West Prussia.
“The ‘ordeal is inevitable,
but temporary. Thus detachments
of German cavalry belonging to an un
attached division operating on the ex
treme right, have penetrated to Rou
bad (six miles north of Lille), and
the Tourcoing district, which are de
fended only by territorial reservists,
"Our valiant people will know how
to find courage to support this trial,
with unfailing faith in final success,
which Is not to be doubted. In telling
to the country the whole truth, the
government and military authorities
give it the strongest proof of their
absolute confidence in victory, whicli
depends only on our perseverance and
tenacity.!’
French Defeated by Germans.
Berlin. - Official announcement was
made here that the German army,
commanded by Grand Duke Albrecht
of Wurtemberg, had defeated a
French army at Neufchateam
It captured many guns. Hags and
prisoners, including several generals.
German armies under Prince Rup
precht of Bavaria, Crown Prince Wil
helm and Grand Duke Albfecht are
vigorously pursuing the French.
The army under Prince Rupprecht
captured 150 guns at Lunevllle, Bla
mont and Cirey (In the French depart
ment of Meurthe and Moselle.)
The army commanded by the crown
prince pursued the French beyond
Longwy.
The Germans are west of the river
Meuse and advancing against Mau
bauge. They have defeated an Eng
gHsh brigade of cavalry.
Complete Victory for Russians
London.- —A dispatch to the Dally
Mall from St. Petersburg says the first
great battle in the east Prussian the
ater of operations has been fought
and won by the Russians, who gained
a complete victory after six days of
desperate fighting.
“The battle front,” the correspond
ent continues, “extends nearly thirty
miles on both sides of the main rail
way Une running from Eydtuhnen, a
town on the Russian border, west
ward. The fighting began when the
Russians attacked the German first
division, which had delivered several
unsuccessful assaults on Eydtkuhnen.
The forces on both sides were gradu
ally Increased, the Germans finally
having three army corps engaged.
“Fierce fighting took place at Gum
bianen, when the Germans attempted
to turn tie Russian right flank. Though
the attack here was conuuCtSi with
the utmost vigor, the attempt was
frustrated by the bravery and stub
bornness of the Russian troops on this
wing. The Russian troops took the
opportunity by the concentration of the
Germans to the northward to direct a
vigorous assault on their center,
whereby they captured many guns.
“Tile Russian west w(pg pressed on
ward and drove the enemy out of their
positions. The Germans then asked
for an armistice that they might carry
away their dead and wounded. This
was refused.
“The battle was decided when the
Germans hastily retreated, pursued
by the Russians. The enemy's losses
were very heavy. The Russians cap
tured Airas and Goldap. Reports that
the Russians have occupied Inter
burg seem to be official. This means
that Tilsit, a town on the left bank of
the Nieman, 60 miles north of Konigs
berg, has been cut off from commun
ication with other parts of Prussia.
“In the fighting eight German regi
ments of the field army and six Land
i wear regiments, toiaiiing about 70,000
men with 200 guns, took part. Later
the number was reinforced to more
than one hundred thousand men. The
German forces available in east Prus
sia besides the independent cavalry
division, are five army corps of the
field army, totalling 210,000 men. with
540 field guns and ISO Howitzers, be
sides a considerable number of .siege
guns.
“The country where the Russians
will advance is full of large and small
lakes, rivers, canals and marshes.
U. S. Officials in Berlin
Berlin.—Henry S. Breckinridge, as
sistant secretary of war at Washing
ton, and ten officers from the Ameri
can cruiser Tennessee, arrived in Ber
lin, on a special train from Holland.
They brought gold coin for succor of
needy Americans.
Under the guidance of an attache
from the American embassy here the
special train made fast time, consid
ering the state of war. This was ex
plained by the fact that the railroad
authorities attached the train to the
car of a high German official.
WHEELER COUNTY EAGLE, ALAMO, GEORGIA.
JAPAN AT WAR
WITH GERMANY
Germany’s Failure To Respond To The
Japs' Ultimatum Results In
War Declaration
AUSTRIANS MEET DEFEAT
Russians Report Success in Their
Campaign Against the Germans
in East Prussia.
Tokio.—The emperor of Japan bas
declared war on Germany. This ac
tion was taken at the expiration of
the time limit of Japan's ultimatum
to Germany demanding the surrender
of Kiao-Chow.
The Japanese government lias or
dered the beginning of operations on
land and sea.
The imperial rescript officially in
augurates hostilities in the Far East
as a result of Germany’s failure to
reply to the Japanese ultimatum.
The proclamation of the emperor
sent a thrill through the country. Ja
pan's entrance upon the fulfillment of
her obligations to her ally. Great Brit
ain, responds to the popular will from
one end of the land to the other.
Cheering crowds assembled before the
buildings occupied by the department
of foreign affairs and the administra
tion of the navy. There were lantern
processions through the street. The
popular manifestations, however, do
not approach the enthusiasm which
preceded the war with Russia.
Brilliant Victory for Servia
London. —A dispatch to Reuter's Tel
egram company from St. Petersburg
says:
"After a brilliant Servian victory'
at Matschwa, the Austrians fled to
ward the bridges of the Drina, pur
sued by the Servians, who captured
rich booty and a large number of
prisoners, including officers. They
took forty guns, most of them Howit
zers; horses, ammunition and field,
hospital and military kitchens, which
were abandoned by the Austrians.”
According to a Central News dis
patch from Rome, many Austrians
were drowned in their flight to the
Drina river. The Servian artillery an
nihilated the survivors.
The correspondent says 25,000 Aus
trians were killed or wounded and 10,-
000 taken prisoners.
Germans Retreat From Prussia
London. —Announcement is made in
St. Petersburg that the Germans are
in full retreat and crossing the river
Angerapp in East Prussia, according
in the St. Petersburg correspondent of
the Reuters Telegraph company. The
correspondent adds that the passage
across the river near Barkehmen is
in the hands of the Russians. To the
west of the Mazar lakes the Russians
occupied Johannisburg, Ortelsburg
and Wilenber's,
Germany and Austria Make Last Cail
Berlin. —Both Germany and Austria
have called the Landstrum—their last
reserve of troops—to the colors.
If the news of a great Servian vic
tory, which comes from many sources,
be true, Austria-Hungary, which must
be reeling under the smashing blow
delivered by her small adversary, will
need every available man.
The Russian army on the eastern
frontier of Germany gradually is
emerging from the mist and in such
force as will soon demand more at
tention.
May Confiscate German Property
Vancouver, British Columbia. —The
British Columbia government is con
sidering confiscating $9,000,000 worth
of timber limits and other interests
in this province owned by Baron Alvo
Von Alvensleben and other wealthy
Germans.
The government is understood also
to be preparing for the confiscation
of all German Interests held under the
crown, because of the reported con
fiscation of British interests in Ger
many by the imperial government.
Food Is Cheap in Paris
Paris,—Cheap living is an anomaly
of the present situation in Paris.
Meats sold at the lowest prices in
twenty years, and at the central mar
kets vegetables were abundant and
comparatively cheap. This in spite
of the fact that some merchants have
raised their prices at the risk of boy
cott and prosecution.
American Minister’s Narrow Escape
London. —The Central News says
Doctors Lord and Laidlaw, two Amer
ican clergymen who were delegates,
to "the Carnegie peace conference at
Constance, have arrived in London
after trying experiences, including
four days spent in a German jail.
Belgian Commander Captured
London.—Official sources confirm
the reports that General Leman, the
Belgian commander of the forts at
Liege, is a prisoner of the Germans
and en route for Cologne.
EMPEROR OF JAPAN
-
Recent portrait of the emperor of
Japan, who as the ally of Great Brit
ain Is entering the European war.
ENGLAND BEGS FOR FOOD
U. S. SHIPPERS FEAR- THEIR
DRAFTS WILL NOT BE HON-
ORED PROMPTLY
Ships Leaving New York Are Not
Carrying Half of Their
Capacity.
New York.—Every ship that sails
out of New York for English ports
these days sail light, though England
is begging for food.
The liner Celtic left with 5,000
tons of foodstuffs in her hold, when
she might have carried 16,000 tons.
The Kroonland left with 4.500 and
room for 8,000 more. The Adriatic,
St. Paul, New York, Philadelphia and
others of the thirteen ships of the
international mercantile marine
which have departed for England
since the war started, have carried
light cargoes. Other lines tell the
same story.
The storage warehouses in and
around New York are choked with
supplies for which England is offer
ing fancy prices.
The reason none of this food is go
ing to England, officials of the trans-
Atlantic lines assert, is because Amer
ican shippers have no assurances
that their drafts will be honored in
England promptly. Tons of merchan
dise, these offmmlc My ' are held up
until arrangements are made to en
able purchasers to pay promptly in
gold for American supplies.
Although in need of foodstuffs gen
erally, for the moment, England is al
most oversupplies with grain, accord
ing to estimates made by the officials
of the international mercantile ma
rine. This is due, they say, to the
diversion to British port- of large
cargoes in bottoms bound for conti
nental ports at the outbreak of the
war.
Great Britain needs sugar more than
any other article. For the first time
in years, British merchants are im
porting direct from New York. The
bulk of England’s sugar came, before
the war, from Germany and central
Europe. Nearly 1,500 tons were on the
Celtic, and 1,350 tons were aboard the
Kroonland.
Capture of German Flag Described
Paris.—An officer of the French ri
fle regiment gives to the Petit Troy
on the following account of the cap
ture of the first German flag:
"The engagement of the French
troops with the Ninety-ninth brigade
of Germans lasted from 5:30 a. m. to
9 p. m.
"The military combat was terrible.
The French 75-millimeter guns made
havoc'among the German horses and
then reduced the heavy German guns
to silence. The gunners were deci
mated by the French fire and they
abandoned their pieces, which fell
into French hands.
Great Britain Warns America
Washington.—The British govern
ment will consider it a direct viola
tion of American neutrality if the
tramp steamer Mazttlan, denied clear
ance at San Francisco, is permitted
to sail with coal for the German crui
ser Leipzig. Colville Barclay, charge
d’affaires of the British embassy here,
took the matter up with the state
department. He was informed that
the question was already under con
sideration by ths department and
some phases of it before the depart
ment of justice.
NAMUR IS NEXT
POINT OF ATTACK
Kaiser's Army Has Reached Namur And
Will Attack This Important
Stronghold
GERMANS OCCUPY BRUSSELS
Without Resistance —War Tax of For
ty Million Dollars Levied on City
By the Germans
Paris. —An official statement issued
says:
“Namur is partially invested. Heavy
artillery fire opened on the city. The
westward movement of tjie German
columns continues on both banks of
the Meuse outside the range of action
at Namur.
“German cavalry forces passed
through Brussels going westward.
They were followed later by an army
corps.
“A war tax of forty million dollars
has beeq levied on the city of Brus
sels by the German general.
“The retreat of the Belgians con
tinued without incident.
“As already announced, after re
conquering the frontier, our troops ad
vanced into Lorraine along a front ex
tending in the Donau mountain to
Chateau Salins. They drove the Ger
mans back into the valley of the Seille
river and the marshy district, and our
advance guards reached Delme, Dieuze
and Morhange.
“Several German army corps made
a vigorous counter attack, and our
advance guards fell back. The fight
was fiePce on both sides, and tn view
of the greatly superior number of
Germans our troops, who had been
fighting continuously for six days, re
treated.
“‘Our left covers the advance works
of Nancy and our right is firmly estab
lished in the Donan hills.
"Details received show that the re
occupation of Muelhausen was a great
success. The offensive, first along the
line from Thann to Dannemarie (Dam
merkirch), and then on to Muelhausen,
was carried out with rare dash. By
a bold stroke Gen. Paul Pau, once he
was master at Thann and Dennema
rie, directed the troops west of Muel
hausen, giving the enemy an oppor
tunity to engage him betwee nour
lines and the Swiss frontier, and then
by a second move the Germans were
thrown back on Muelhausen.”
Soldiers Fought Like Demons
London. —A dispatch to the Reuter’s
News agency from Ghent, Belgium,
says:
“The fight at Aerschot was extreme
ly hot. The appearance of two Ger
man aviators was the first intimation
that the Germans, who had been re
pulsed on the previous day, intended
to renew the attack.
"Flying low, the German aviators
surveyed the position and then. re
("rned to report.
"Soon afterwards the German in
fantry, supported by machine guns,
and artillery, opened a fierce attack.
"The tsoops on both sides fought
like demons and the battle soon be
came a veritable butchery.
"Two Belgian regiments which al
ready had distinguished themselves in
the forts of Liege, held the invaders
in check for two hours.
"Both sides were losing heavily
when the retreat was sounded.
“Major Gilsonal took charge of the
Belgian rear guard, which fought so
stubbornly that only seven out of his
force of 288 men returned.
Retreat to Antwerp Explained
Washington.—An official explana
tion of the Belgian field army's back
ward movement toward Antwerp was
given in the following cablegram
from London, made public by the
British "embassy:
“The Belgian field army, based on
Antwerp, has fallen back in that di
rection to cover its communication
with that fortress. In anticipation
that this might become necessary the
seat of government already had been
transferred to Antwerp.
“As Brussels is an undefended city
and no longer the seat of govern
mnet, the fact that the Germans may
have occupied it is not of great im
portance. Moreover, the present po
sition of the Belgian field army is a
menace to the right flank of any
further German advance westward.”
Japan Telia of Grievances
Washington.—lnterference by Ger
man cruisers with the shipping of Ja
pan's ally. Great Britain, the seizure
of Japanese goods in German bot
toms and the consequent grave dislo
cation of Japanese trade, are the prin
cipal reasons set forth by Japan in ex
planation of the ultimatum delivered
to Germany. Cable dispatches have
contained a brief outline of the Jap
anese grievances, but the full text of
the Japanese official's statement on
this subject was not available until
. later.