The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-08-13
Hur| 100000 Men
Toward France.
L|EGE IS INVESTED
Heavy Fighting Continues For
Possession Of Forts.
OPPOSING ARMIES CLOSE
Several General Engagements
Expected Soon.
OPPOSING ARMIES CLOSE

OGv6I al uGIGIol lu0uOoiHo"tS
Expected Soon.
London, Aug. ia great force OF
Germans is investing Namur, strong
" fortified city of Belgium, ABOUT
thirty-five miles to the southwest OF
Liege.
A report from Brussels puts the
number of men in this force at $4,000,
but q Central News dispatch to Lon
don states that the army advancing on
Namur numbers between 100000 and
100000 men.
This movement is believed to nave
developed the main campaign plan OF
the Germans in Belgium. While large
bodies are reported to have moved
north and west of Liege, threatening
Brussels and southwest, coming In
contact with the French at Givet, In
the French department OF Ardennes,
the main body of the army OF the
Meuse, it is believed, is being hurled
around Liege upon the allies, near
Namur.
The forts around Liege, still said In
Brussels to be intact, are still besieg-
ed. In similar manner, it is expected,
Namur will be laid under siege, while
the Germans push their main body
toward the frontier. This is bound, II
is believed, to force battle OF prime
importance on Belgian soil within a
few days.
Allies Preparing For Battle.
The allies are reported to be con.
centrated and to have prepared all
their plans for battle, but their posi-
lions, their numbers and their plans
for meeting the Germans have been
carefully masked. Only the opening OF
. general engagement may reveal
them.
A member of the Belgian general
star in London expressed the belief
that big battle was now In progress
near Lege.
The advance of the Germans to the
north and west of Liege is led by a
cavalry force of 10000, with machine
guns They are followed by infantry,
app lily in great force.
. is reported as 0ccIring
mt mt, On On the The Wy way A ffem LEGS
to Brussels, and from Maestricht, the
Netherlands, came reports of a terrific
artillery battle around Tongres, north
of Liege.
One report from Brussels indicated
- %h4 TO
had been reduced by the Germans, but
onicially it is asserted in the Belgian
capital that all are holding out. The
Germans are reported to be bringing
up heavy siege guns. A few hours
bombardment from them will blow the
forts out of existence.
The fight for the possession of the
Liege forts continues. The Germans
erected a bridge at Lixhe for the
transport of troops and heavy mate
rial, and it is possible that simulta-
neously an attempt will be made to
cross the river Meuse in front Of
Lege, for conveys have been sighted
proceeding toward Engis.
The German cavalry, which Monday
and Tuesday spread itself out over a
front extending from st. Trond to
Hannut, have fallen back, except at
one point, where they are keeping in
contact with the Belgians. A fight Of
importance occurred near Tirlemont,
where a thousand German cavalry
with quick firing guns mounted on
horses attacked a regiment Of Belgian
lancers. The latter retired, owing to
inferiQrity numerically. The Belgians
lost two officers and a small number
Of men in kinned and wounded.
A regiment of dragons coming from
the direction of Liege, which attempt.
ed to surprise the Belgians at Aineffs,
in the province of Liege, was driven
on, leaving 153 dead and 102 prisoners.
Uhlans have taken more than $780,.
900 from the bank at Hasselt, capital
Of the province of Limberg.
It is declared that heIGerman
crown prince is not witArhe troops in
French and German forces are In
contact for sixty-five miles along the
Franco-German frontier, and many
sharp engagements are reported.
Sharp Fighting In France.
The lines of the opposing forces
are stretched along front of 10c
miles or more. Both French and Ger
man war officers assert their forces
have been successful. The one thing
that seems certain in the conflicting
reports and in the official reticence Of
the various warning governments is
that the Germans are developing theil
main movement against France. This,
according to many experts, is the ad-
vance through Metz and through the
grand duchy of Luxembourg. Sharp
fighting is reported in that direction
and q battle of some magnitude may
soon be fought.
Such messages as have come
through from Berlin show that In the
kaiser's capital satisfaction is felt
with regard to the army's movements.
It Is declared there that the French
had $4,000 men at Muelhausen and
that they were driven from the town
and completely defeated.
Further news of German victory
comes by way of Rome, where dis
patch quoted General Won Stein, of
the German general staff, as declaring
that Belgian force which had attack
ed the Germans around Liege, had
been nearly annihilated. Only a small
German force was engaged at Liege,