A City Devastated.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 8, 27 August 1914, Page 5

A City Devastated.

FRENCH RE-OCCUPY CHARLEROf SAO SCENES IN THE STREETS. BOMBARDING THE FORTS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, August 26. Tke battle recommenced at dawn wksn th» French reboinbaided Charle mi Ag&'iu tli« Fr«ach swarmed down

the slope towards the lower town, recapturing Chatelet. Bouffioulx, Marchienne, and Couillet. There were terrible losses on both sides. The French, in the slag-heaps of this mining district, found an admirable vantage ground for their mitrailleuses, while the Germans, as in Upper Alsace, mounted their mitrailleuses on every steeple. Despite a withering fire, the French again entered Charleroi an:! drove the Germans i» confusion across the Sambre.

The city was devastated, being littered with dead and shattered.by <heli fire in every part. The houses were smouldering or were aflame, and every cellar was occupied by terror-stricken inhabitants. Outside an inn was the dead body of a German officer, whose head was bowed over a wash-basin, the soap lather dry upon his face. Another lay across the table with a coffee cup winch he was raising to his lips broken. Meanwhile Nainur was subjected to furious bombardment, which was so well regulated that the first few shots silenced the Marchovelette Fort., Jn the North-east, the Maizeret Fort.and the Audoy Fort were almost, out ol action. The forts on the north and Forts Dave and St. Heubert continue the resistance.

ALLIES IN NEW POSITION.

GERMANS SUFFER HEAVILY

(Received 8.30 a.m.) Paris, August 26

It is officially stated that the Allies' movement to their new position has been completed. The French command the Ardennes forest outlets. There was a vigorous offensive movement towards Virion in which the Germans were repulsed with heavy losses. General Joffre stopping the pursuit.