The Yale expositor., 1914-09-17
Center OF German Forces Holds
Well But Other Wings
Fall Back
BELGIANS DECLARE THAT
BRUSSELS WILL BE TAKEN
All News From Theatre Of War Shows
German Forces Hard Pressed and
In Critical Condition On
Both Sides.

the Germans fell back, while the cen
ter held firm before the fortified posi-
ton of Verdun, according to dis
patches received Sunday night, CIV
ing official statements from the Paris
war office.
Meanwhile the Belgians. 1t is re-
ported, have pushed to the southeast
from Antwerp, forcing the depleted
German forces in Belgium before them
and threatening the German line of
communication between France and
Germany, through Belgium. The sig
nificance of the Belgian movement
becomes greater with the rumor, as
yet unconfirmed, that a second British
expeditionary force has been landed
at Ostend and is moving southeast
to join the Belgians in the effort to
cut off the German communication
through Belgium and block the retreat
OF the invaders right wing.
The Importance of this line of COM
munication has grown more manifest
with the pointing out by military ex-
perts here that il is the only one
available TO the Germans in eXtricat-
ing themselves from France. A dis
patch from Bordeaux contained an Of
fetal French statement which declar-
ed that the German line of retreat to
the eastward of the Argonne forest
had been cut off, owing to the rapid
advance of the allies
Ara
That Berlin realizes the gravity of
the situation in France is indicated in
reports that troops which were sent
into Russian Poland and Galcia to
help the Austrians, are being with
drawn and rushed westward to the
aid of the hard-pressed Germans in
France.
This withdrawal is in the face Of
overwhelming defeat to the Austrians,
reported in official dispatches from
Petrograd. Practically all along the
Austro- Russian firing line the Aus
trians are said to be in full flight and
utterly demoralized.
If the French official reports are cor
rest, all the German armies, except
that facing Verdun and a few miles
southwest, are retreating. General Won
Kluck's army, which a week ago was
few miles to the southeast of Paris
has retired more than 60 miles to the
northeast, while on the extreme right
the army of the Bavarian crown
prince, which was attacking the
French eastern line from Nancy to
Epinal, has fallen back to the from
tiers of Lorraine, permitting the
French to reoccupy Luneville and sew
eral other towns.
General Joffre, the French comman-
der-in-chief, pictures the retreat as
hurried, if not disorderly, with the
Germans abandoning prisoners, wound
ed and supplies.
The battle of the Marine, which
was decided in a week, is regarded
by military critics as the most mar
velous reversal of roles of two armies
known. In their view it appears to
have decided the first phase of the
war and to have made impossible the
plan which the German staff is sup
pOBeQ 10 nave Hau Oh smashing INC
French by one comprehensive stroke,
and then turning the bulk of the Ger
man forces eastward to confront the
Russians.
BeIqlans March on Brussels.
The military experts, however. are
still cautious. While recognizing the
possibility that the German armiss
may yet rally and draw strong dS
fensive line, they recognize also the
possibility of the almost complete
evacuation of France and Belgium.
Paris announces that the Germans
have evacuated Amiens. The where
abouts of German achievements of
$4,000 reported to be marching south
on three roads in that neighborhood
from Belgium are unknown.
The Belgian army is credited with
the determination to reoccupy Brus-
sells and claims to have cut the rail-
road between Liege and Brussels, thus
severing an important German line of
communication, and to be pushing the
scattered German forces, composed
for tho most mart of racerviata 70