The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-08-13
FRENCHARMY TAKES
j 5 GERMAN TOWNS
Kaiser Said to Have Lost 30,00O
and Poinoare 5000.
NATIVES TO AID INVADERS
Muelhsusen, AltkIreh and coImRr In
AlSaee Captured by the rrl-coIor
Army-Taken From France
In Last Conflict.

faTls, aug. lU.-Ine french minis
ter Of foreign affairs asked the Aus.
TRAN ambassador for information re-
garding the intentions Of the Austrian
government. The French government
believes that part Of the Austrian
mobilization Is directed against the
French government.
Paris, Aug. 10.-The war once in
an official statement declares that the
French losses were not excessive"
but those Of the Germans were very
serious" during the French invasion Of
Alsace when the invading force occu-
pied Muelhausen and Altkirch. The
Belgian minister Of war made an esti-
mate based on unofficial reports that
the Germans lost 10000 and the
French $4,000.
1t is officially reported that French
troops have entered Muelhausen, the
second largest town Of Alsace-Lor-
raine. which lies 81 miles to the south
southwest Of Strassburs, the capital.
Lost by French In 1870.
Added interest to the entering of
Muelhausen Is lent from the fact that
the town was taken from the French
in September, 1870, and was ceded to
Germany with Alsace in 1871. 1t be-
came free city Of the German empire
in 1878; in the fifteenth century it en-
tered into an alliance with the Swiss
which lasted until 1898, when the city
became French.
Before entering Muelhausen French
soldiers had captured the village Of
Altkirch, In Alsace, near the Swiss
frontier, II miles west OF Basel.
VIII Fight for France.
1t Is officially announced that citi.
zens OF Alsace-LorraIne are to be en-.
rolled in one Of the foreign regiments
being organized to help France.
Immediately upon signing for the
duration OF the war such volunteers
become Of French nationality and may
then be transferred to any regiment.
French Cross Frontier.
The Official report of the invasion
says the French troops crossed into
Alsace and delivered a fierce attack
on the German forces at Altkirch.
The French troops took the village,
a place of nearly. 1000 inha bItants.
The German forces retreated, pur-
sued by the French troops, who fol
lowed them to Muelhausen, where the
lreat fortress Is located.
The Alsatlan natives were so de-
lighted at the arrival of the French
soldiers that they tore up the frontier
posts.
4Au official statement says that Ger
man mobilization posters placed on
walls in the towns OF Vic and Moyen-
vic, in Aleace-Lorraine, prove the
French contention that the war was
premeditated on the part of Germany.
The towns were occupied by the
French, and according to the state
ment the posters which they found af-
forded them valuable information con
corning Germany's mobilization, be-
SIDES revealing that Germany had de-
cided upon war at the time that the
triple entente was redoubling its et-
forts for peace.
News Stirs Paris.
News of the first French victory OF
Altkirch, which probably was much
more important than the cautious Off.
cial announcement indicated, was re.
ceived here with extraordinary enthu-
siasm.
Suurtly after the war office issued
the bulletin newsboys tore through the
streets waving leaflets with the huge
headlines: Victory for the French in
Alsace." Observers in Paris we're pre-
pared to hear that the French had
been obliged during the first days OF
the fighting to give way before the
German advance. The rejoicing was
all the greater, therefore, because the
fret important engagement had been
fought In German territory and the
French had obtained a footing in AL
SAGE.
Think Losses Are Heavy.
The capture OF Atlkirch appears to
have taken place two or three days
ago. There was no Official mention of
the losses, but they are believed to
have been heavy.
The great improvement in the gen.
eral train service in France is taken
as reliable indication that the mo-
bilization and concentration OF the
French armies are nearly completed
No fewer than. $500 passengers left
Paris for the south of France.
French Take Another Town.
Paris, Aug. 10.-According to uncon-
frmed report current the French col.
umn operating In Alsace has occupied
Colmar, an important railroad center
situated about midway between Muel-
hansen and Strassburg.