OPERATIONS IN BELGIUM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 11 August 1914, Page 5

OPERATIONS IN BELGIUM.

GERMANS CLAIM TO HOLD LIEGE

LONDON, Aug. 10

An Amsterdam cable, dated 10.30 on the' night of the eighth, states that the following official message was received from Berlin: "We hold Liege fast in our hands. The lasses of the enemy were considerable." BRUSSELS, Aug. 10. Three German army corps at Liego remain in position. An important movement of German troops towards Huy is in progress, suggesting that the Germans intend to concentrate five army corps, which will attack the main Belgian army • before the French arrive. j The Germans will seek to cross the Meuse by passing round the forts towards Vise, and between Liego and Huy. The German cavalry is already between Liege and Namur. The Belgian army is ready\ and the French are in touch. The Germans have detached the third corps, known as the Iron Corps, from the advance towards the Murthe to attack Liege. The six forts attacked on Thursday were Barchon, Evegnes, Fleron, Chandfontaine, Embourg, and Boncelles, all east of the Meuse. The principal attack was on the spaces between the forts, thirteen thousand men being hurled at one space, which was protected by trenches and barbed wire. It was a terrifying spectacle, creeping masses of men advancing under the blinding glare of the 6earehlights, vhose in front carrying nippers. The cupolas, meanwhile, were belching forth shots, and the machine guns on the parapets were firing inces-santly. The Germans got through between Fleron and Evegnes, and shelled the city, but all the forts remained intact. NAt ten o'clock on Saturday night the general situation had further improved. The French army was advancing steadily. AMSTERDAM, Aug. 10. The Germans hold the Governor of the province of Liege and the Bishop of Liege as hostages and threaten to kill them if the forts continue their fire. Refugees state that the inhabitants of Liege were firing on the Germans from the windows. All caught were inetantly shot. Raihvaymen and twenty-five others arrested at Berneau, accused of firing at the Germans, were driven at the • bayonet point into the firing line before the forts. Three comrades were killed, but the rest fell and pretended to be dead, and escaped at nightfall.

AT SEA.