NAMUAR AN INFERNO

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 52, 29 August 1914, Page 7

NAMUAR AN INFERNO

FRENCH AND BELGIANS SEVEREY HANDLED BATTLE AT MONS AND CHARLEROI MAGNIFICENT WORK BY ARTILLERY REINFORCEMENTS FOR BRITISH ARMY RUSSIANS MARCHNG ON DANZIG LOSS OF THE KAIPARA FEARED

General French reports that the British forces at the battle of Charleroi and Mons were exposed to the attack ■ of five German army corps, besides cavalry, and that the Englishmen inflicted very heavy losses on the enemy. Lord Kitchener announces that reinforcements are shortly to proceed to France. The reinforcements will include Indian troops, Further details of the fighting at Mons show that the English artillery work was magnificent, The massed batteries caused great losses 'in the German ranks, which advanced in the usual close formation. Surprise is expressed that no official communication as to the German casualties has been made, and this is interpreted that they have been so great , that the German Emperor does not wish them divulged until a .victory will justify the terrible slaughter of his troops. The Times declares that the battle is raging on a line further south than was supposed, and that the Germans have invaded northern France. The Germans made a desperate assault on which was an inferno when the French troops arrived. The enemy used forty siege guns, with a range of twelve miles. The Belgian and French troops were severely handled during the retreat. > Eepresentatives of France, Russia, and England have met the Belgian Foreign Minister at Antwerp and discussed the violation of the Hague Convention by Germans in dropping bombs from an airship over Antwerp. Servia claims that Austria lost 10,000 killed and 20,000 wounded in ten days' lighting. She intends taking reprisals for atrocities committed by the Austrians. Bussia continues her progress towards Berlin. Her troops are reported to be advancing on Danzig, one of the principal German bases/ and upon Lemberg, the capital of Austrian Galicia. FILLING UP THE GAPS THE BRITISH ARMY REINFORCEMENTS FOR TROOPS IN FRANCE (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) (Beceived August 29, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, 28th August. Lord Kitchener, in the House of Lords, announced that additional reinforcements were shortly proceeding to France. The Government had decided on reinforcement by two divisions of infantry and a cavalry division, besides other troops from India . i The first contingent from India was on its way. He was employing two divisions of Indian natives. All wastage in the army in France was being immediately filled up. THIRD OF A MILLION MAHARAJAH'S SPLENDID GIFT. (Beceived August 29, 8.55 a.m.) „,, A ,, . i „, , . „, < , SIMLA, 28th August, lhe Maharajah of Mysore has given fifty lakhs of rupees towards the cost of the Indian force* [Fifty lakhs is five millions, and a rupee being worth Is 4d, the amount of the gift is one-third of a million sterling.] OVERWHELMING ODDS AGAINST FIRST & , SECOND ARMY CORPS SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT (Received August 29, 8.10 a.m.) , . , 1 • • , LONDON, 28th August. Mr. Asquith, speaking in the House of Commons, said that Field-Marshal Sir John French reports that in Wednesday's fighting the British were exposed to the attack of five German corps, two cavalry divisions, and a reserve corps. Our second corps bore the brunt of tha cavalry attack, and our first corps inflicted Very heavy loss on the enemy. ' THE GERMAN LOSSES NO STATEMENT FROM THE KAISER AWAITING JUSTIFICATION FOR THE TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Beceived August 29, 8 a.m.) PABIS, 28th August. The utmost surprise has been created by the fact that the Germans have not issued any official communication relative to fighting at Mons and Charleroi. The general interpretation is that the German losses have been so great that the Kaiser does not wish to divuige the numbers until he wins a victory vMcfo will justify such tembb> jdAUgbier*

HUGE GUNS AT NAMUR GERMANS' 11-2 HOWITZERS THE TOWN AN INFERNO (Press Association.) (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) ' PARIS, 28th August. The Germans at Namnr had forty siege guns, witli a range of twelve miles. The largest gun on the Belgian forts was of 8.4 inches calibre, while the Germans had 11.2 inch howitzers. The Germans entered the town between the Marchovelette and Chamnion forts. When the French arrived, Namur was an inferno, and it was found neceagary to retreat. While the French and Belgians were retiring they were severely handled by the Germans, and many were made prisoners. BEFORE THE FRENCH ARRIVED PARIS, 27th August. M. Mellot, the Belgian Deputy for Namur, stated that the bombardment of Namur commenced on 14th August. \Until then the inhabitants had hoped that the French and English would arrive and rout the Germans before they reached the town. The first shell which struck the bridge of Salzinnes fell among a group of onlookers, killing five. Later the! Uhlans came in greater numbers, and by the 20th the inhabitants were unable to pass the lines of the forts. While eleven German army corps (each army corps numbers about 43,000 men) were crossing the Meuse, a powerful force wad detailed to mask the fortress, which kept up a heavy fire, extending over "ten miles on both banks of the Meuse. The Fre,nch tried to check the German advance, and ay German battery at midday on 21st August was placed between the two forts and bombarded the town. The Belgian troops then joined the French. ?* _________________ ON THE FRENCH FRONTIER ALLIES' ENTRENCHED LINES LITTLE LESS THAN IMPREGNABLE (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 28th August. The Daily Graphic describes the entrenched lines held by the Allies within the French frontier as little less than impregnable. The French troops are the anvil for the Muscovite hammer, which is gathering immense force below Pomerania. It adds that the hammer is well poised, and if the anvil stands firm, the Germans must be crushed. BRITISH FLEET AT OSTEND ADMIRAL'S OFFER TO DEFEND THE TOWN DECLINED, AND THEN ACCEPTED (Received August 29, 9 a.m.) OSTEND, 28th August. The British fleet arrived on Saturday. The Admiral in command offered to land sufficient men to defend the town against the marauding Uhlans. The Town Councillors declined the offer, fearing to scare visitors, but after the fight with the Uhlans on Tuesday the Council changed its mind, and a strong force of marines landed. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, 27th August. Ostend has decided to resist attacks by raiding parties, but in the event of the enemy attacking in great force the city will ask for the observance of the rules of warfare relating to undefended towns. (Press Association,) LONDON, 28th August. In the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill stated that British marines had occupied Ostend to prevent the Germans from getting a foothold in the Channel, GERMAN CAVALRY WORK BREAKS FRENCH LINE AT ARRAS SITUATION WELL IN HAND (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) LONDON*, 29th August. A message from Boulogne asserts that the German cavalry broke the French line at Arras. The French moved rapidly, and have the situation well in hand. [Arras is anjmportant and historical city in the Pas de Calais, south by east of Lille, from which it is distant 28 miles by one road and 31 by another. From Calais it 1 is about 65 miles, the seaport lying due north- west from Arras. Boulogne is almost exactly the same distance away in a more westerly direction. The incident reported is evidently an indication of an attempt on the part of the invaders to cut the communications of the British Expeditionary Force with Calais and Boulogne, and also to attack the communications in the rear of the Army of the Allies. Paris lies about a hundred miles south by east of Arras, Cambrai is 23 miles away east by south, and Douai 15 miles north-east. Arras is an important centre and famous for the manufacture of tapestry. It has a school of military engineering, but is unfortified.] ' JAPAN AND THE ADRIATIC A REPORT AND A DENIAL NAVY WILL NOT GO WEST (Times and Sydney Sun Special.) •t, " j-. t - „ - LONDON, 27th August. Newspapers in Rome credit the possibility of the Japanese fleet being used in the Adriatic. (Press Association.) (Received August 29, 8.55 a.m.) mv t at. j *• „ j WASHINGTON, 38th August. The Japanese Ambassador officially denies that Japan intends to send a fleet to the Adriatic. ■=* CONFIDENT JAPANESE (Times and Sydney Sim Special.) (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) TOKIO, 27th August. Since the declaration of war there have been the usual evidences of Chauvinism, but the Government and leading publicists are urging the desirability of avoiding over-confidence, and the tendency to treat the war and a powerful enemy lightly is condemned. A POLICY OF SILENCE (Times and Sydney Sun Special,) , LONDON, 27th August. Japan is. pursuing the policy of silence adopted during the 1904 war, and nothing regarding the operations at Kiao-chau is, allowed to leak out. It is believed that she is only investing the place at present. [Recent advices show that the Germans have been energetic in strengthening Tsingtau, the seat of government at Kiao-chau, now invested by the Japanese. A large ironworks was due to be opened about the time of the outbreak of war. About a mile and a half north of the town is the dockyard which contains a floating dock, able to lift ships of 16,000 tons, a 150-ton crane, and complete plant for repairs of every sort. The German flagship Scharnhorst was rebojlered and overhauled there lately, and, although sh^ was badly shaken up by stranding in the River Elbe when she was a new ship, she is said to be now a very fast and reliable steamer. The garrison includes four companies of seamen artillerists — which is actually one more than are stationed at Heligoland. There are also four companies of marines, one mounted company, one field battery, and a company of engineers, and the fortress and arsenal are known Jo have a special system of mino defence.] THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE MARCH UPOIN[ DANZIG A GREAT NAVAL STATION (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 28th August. It is reported from Rome that the Russians are marching upon Danzig. [Dantzig is a strong maritime fortress and seaport of Germany, capital of the province of West Prussia, on the left bank x>f the western arm "of the Vistula, four miles soutlr of its entrance into the Baltic, 253 miles north-east of Berlin by rail. Its population is about 160,000. The defences are of a massive character, with twenty bastions and the surrounding country can be laid under water on the eastern side. The western side is defended by a cordon of forts crowning the hills and extending down to the port of Neufahruasser. The city is full of beautiful mediaeval buildings dating back to the days of its Hanseatic glory. The manufacture of arms and artillery is carried on to a great extent, and the Imperial and private docks and shipbuilding establishments, notably, the Scbichan y_ard, famous for its torpedo

boats, turn out ships of the largest size. The town is famous for its amber beer, brandy, and liqueurs, and its transit trade makes it one of the most important commercial cities in Europe. The chief trade is in timber and sugar. Danzig was one of the great Hansa. towns, but in the 16th century 'fell under the dominion of Poland. After suffering vicissitudes it came, through the partition of Poland in 1793, into the possession of Prussia. In 1807 it was bombarded and captured by Marshal Lefebvre, who was rewarded with tho title of iho Duke of Danzig. It was given back to Prussia in 1814.] NEARING GALICIAN CAPITAL (Received August 29, 8.55 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, 28th August. The Russians are nearing Lemberg. [Lemberg is the capital of Austrian Galicia, 468 miles N.W. of Vienna by rail. The population is 160,C00j of whom over 80 per cent, are Poles, including 30 per cent. of # Jews. Leinberg is the fourth city of the Austrian Empire, coming after Vienna, Prague, and Trieste. . It is situated in a small valley surrounded by hill*, »nd is no longer fortified. It has a considerable trade in liaen, flaxj hemp, wool and seeds, and manufacturers' machinery, matches, candles, naphtha, arrack, and liqueurs, leather, and plaster of paris.] CAPTURE OF TILSIT (Received August 29, 8 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, 28th August. The Russians have occupied Tilsit, and captured many spoils. The garrison and inhabitants fled. FOUR ARMIES OF TWO MILLIONS EACH ROME, 27th August. A message from St. Petersburg says it is officially statgd that Russia has practically completed her mobilisation. Eight million men/'-divided into four armies of two million each, will be sent into the field one after the other. / T]ie "Russians expect to arrive at Berlin in three weeks. 1 ST. PETERSBURG, 27th August. The inhabitants of East Prussia are fleeing towards Berlin. It is reported that traffic on 'the western railways has been suspended for three days to enable the transfer of troops from the western front to reinforce Eastern Prussia. The small German detachments which occupied the frontier towns of Poland are rapidly vanishing. Kalisz is a heap of ruins, with dead bodies strewing the streets.