HOW THE GERMAN TROOPS WON THEIR WAY TO LIEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 7

HOW THE GERMAN TROOPS WON THEIR WAY TO LIEGE.

ATTACK ON FORTS MAINTAINED ALL NIGHT.

SMALL FORCE OF GERMANS LEFT IN CONTROL OF CITY.

(Received August 12, 12.55 a.m.)

London, August 11. The Daily Telegraph's Liege correspondent says heavy cannonading began at 11.30 on Wednesday night The moon was. full. The German attack was directed against the Fleron and Boncellcs forts. The artillery practice was perfect. Shell after shell exploded fairly on the ramparts. It was impossible to judge the effect of the Belgians return firo as the German gun positions were admirably concealed.

Apparently no siege guns were used. The Germans used a high explosive- shell, which burst with extraordinary vividness.

At three o'clock in the morning the infantry fire commenced.

The woods west of tho River Mourthe, between Embourg and Bonoclles, were held by the Ninth and Fourteenth Belgian Infantry Regiments, the ninth bearing the brunt of the attacks, which were repulsed all along the line. . At daybreak onlookers could see the Germans in close order.

The engagement reached its fiercest stage at five o'clock, when Fleron was silenced. It was announced afterwards that the German fire smashed much of the mechanism of the disappearing gun carriages.

Small parties of German cavalry were seen at intervals between the infantry battalions, but there was no attempt at a cavalry attack.

Towards 8 o'clock there was a lull in the attack, which was checked all along the lino. Battalion after battalion of Germans was thrown back by the Belgians, whoso, ninth regiment fought like demons.

Entrance into the City of Liege has been gained by a force of 10,000 Germans. They broke tho lines between the forts of Evegnec and Fleron.

The forts are still holding out, and while they control the approaches, the Belgian Array staff considers that tho occupation of the town is not important. The German forces arc too weak to attack the forts again.

The Belgian Army is rapidly advancing from Louvain, about 75 miles from Liege.

The Germans arc quartered in the schools, university, and public buildings of the town, and are conducting themselves well. It is doubtful how many Germans are remaining in Liege. One report says 120,000, but probably only a few hundred are left to control the citizens, as it would be madness to put a large force within the circle of uncaptured forts.

The Belgians did not shell tho Germans, not desiring to risk destruction of the city.

The German troops outside are recovering their spirits, food being now available.

An almost continuous bombardment of the forts continues.