The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-15
Flying Squadron of Cruisers
Organized al YOkOsuka-
BattIeship Fleet Ready.
GERMANS SAID TO HAVE
LIFTED SIEGE At LiEGE
Kaiser Withdraws Forces to Left
Bank of River-British Fleet Beats
Back German Ships in the
North Sea.
{ Summary of EVeuts. }

Of|"||/EH'| y
Japan probably Will enter the
European conflict in which Eng
land, Russia, France, Belgium and
Servia and Montenegro are fight
ing Germany and Austria.
Diplomatic dispatches to the
American State Department re-
ceived late Friday, August Z, in
Dictated that the japanese would
join their ally, England, In Far
East operations against the Ger
mans.
Press dispatches from Toxic say
that a squadron Of heavy cruisers
and one of battleships have been
ordered to be ready to put to sea
on short notice. Admiral Kato
has been put in supreme com
mand. All reserve japanese army
officers have been instructed to
hold themselves ready for imme-
date mobilization of troops.
Germany is said to be at the
point of declaring war on Italy
because the latter forsook the
Triple Alliance.
Messages from Brussels, London
and Paris tell details of the Ger
man assault on the Belgian forts
at the city of Liege which indicate
that the Kaiser's army was so
completely repulsed it has aban-
doned its first plan of offense
against France by pouring armies
across the Belgian frontier.
Reports given out officially state
that the German army of $4,000 to
100000 men has at last given up the
idea of reducing the Belgian forces
of $4,000 men which have for three
days defended the great line of forts
about L-ege. Further reports say the
German loss was around 10000 in
killed, wounded and captured.
Military experts of the United States
who are watching the operations close
ly declare this enormous loss was due
to the reckless waste Of men by Ger
man officers who time and time again
drove their mounted and foot soldiery,
unsupported by artillery, against their
hidden and intrenched enemy who
used machine guns with deadly effect
In one case two whole regiments of
Uhlans, crack cavalry organizations
of the Kaiser's Own Guard, were sim
ply wiped out as they charged across
a long field upon an enemy they could
not see. The German attacks were
spectacular and heroic. but fruitless.
Vague reports of a great naval bat
tie in the North sea have been com
ing into Washington for three days.
One of them stated that nineteen Ger
man war vessels were sunk and that
the British and French allied fleets
lost several vessels A German en-
gagged Russian warship in the China
sea and both were sunk
In order to preserve strict neutral
ity as far as possible, the United
States dreadnought Florida lies in
outer New York harbor with decks
cleared for action and sharp eyes on
all shipping. The whole American
coast is now under patrol by revenue
cutters and small warcraft
Japan Prepares for War.
Tokio.-The reserve army officers
have been instructed to hold them
selves in readiness for possible mo
biliZation. A flying squadron of seven
cruisers has been organized at Yoke
suka The battleship squadron has
been increased to eight vessels and
is ready for service. Admiral Kate
is in command. The Notifications al
Vladivostock, Asiatic Russia, and al
Saigon, the French possession il
China, have been strengthened tt
meet a possible bombardment of Ger
man warships.
Quit Liege Attack.
Brussels.-It is feported that the
attack on Liege forts has been aban
1loned after an encounter of three
days. The German division has re
tired to the left of the river Mouse.
After having suffered a serious
check and heavy casualties at thu
hands of the Belgians at Lieg'
Wednesday, the German troops re
turned to the fray with redoubled al
India Feels the Pinch of War.