The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-08-27
TERRIFIC BATTLE !
IS BEING WAGEDL
BETWEEN ARMIES
British Forces Have Joined
French in Belgium.
MILLION MEN ARE ENGAGED
Wounded Soldiers Pour Into Paris
Allies Attack Teutons In Effort TO
Cut Them OF From Base
Russians Menace Germany.

1
Russians Menace Germany.
Rome, Aug. 24.-Open rupture o.
the relations between Italy and Aus
tria is expected hourly. Mobilization
OF ltaly's army probably will be com
pleted by August 81. Austrian pres
sure to force Italy to support actively
the two belligerent nations of the
triple alliance Is being redoubled, and
France and Russia In an effort to
counteract Austria's solicitations have
sent respectively Theophile Delcasse
and Count Witte, their most distin.
gutshed diplomats, to Rome. A declar.
alton Of war may be made this week.
Paris, Aug. 24.-The whereabouts of
the British army, which for days has
been shrouded in mystery, was re.
vealed in an official statement from
the war Office, which announces that
the allied French and British armies
are engaged In a terrific battle with
ing for 100 miles from Mons, Bel
GUM, to the Luxembourg frontier.
The statement says that the allies
are engaged with tte entire German
army, both active and reserve. -
The war Office adds that the battle
is of such huge proportions that il
cannot be followed step by step and
that therefore 1t is unlikely that any.
thing definite can be learned about it
for several days. $3.50
Allies and Germans Clash.
London; Aug. 24-The French and
English troops are locked In a death
grapple with the Germans in the first
great battle of the war, with its cen.
ter at Charleroi, Belgium.
Since dawn on Saturday a million
men have been on the firing line, and
over a battle front Of 100 miles.
The roar of cannon is reported from
a vast area In southern Belgium, and
wounded from both armies are be-
ginning to pour into Paris.
Waterloo dwarfs into insignifi-
canoe before this terrible conflict" de-
clare the experts.
Russians Reinforced.
At the moment of the first decisive
battle against the German invaders
comes news OF the rush of a vast
Russian army against KoenigsbuTg,
the most important city of eastern
Germany. Fresh from their victory
at Gumbinnen a few days ago, the
Russian army seized Interburg, 80
miles inside the German border, and
on Saturday three fresh army corps
arrived to REINFORCE them. Koenigs-
burg is now menaced by this power
full foe. In their operations thus far
the Russians have taken eight Ger
man cannon and many prisoners.
But the eyes of the world, and es-
pecially of England. are focused on
Belgium. where the mighty armies
are locked In struggle which may
last for days.
Guns Shake All Belgium.
AS nearly as can be told from the
neager dispatches which the censors
permit to filter through, the battle line
extends from somewhere south of
Client. southeasterly to Hal, almost |
lue south to Luttre, easterly to Char
eroi. south again to Walcourt, and !
EAST almost to the Luxembourg border. |
The allies have not waited passive
y for the Germans to reach them, but |
AVE, apparently, thrown their line for |
ward and are now trying to break |
through the line of the German ad- |
rance to Dinant. thus cutting them off |
rom their base of supplies.
There are indications that the fight. |
ng extends down the River Sambre all |
he way from Charleroi to Namur, |
where the little Belgian forts still are
folding out, and where the Germans |
ire hammering at them with their
leaVy siege guns.
Greatest Battle Of War On.
II is declared that the first "a hours
4 fighting. from Saturday morning uD-
dl Sunday morning, the allies had
successfully hammered the German
line of communication so that the
position on the River Mouse
8 menaced."
The main shock OF the conflict is oc.
at Charleroi, on the Sabre
liver, above Namur.
Both armies are using their full
strength of cavalry. infantry and artil-
cry, and the whole south of Belgium
s shaking as In an earthquake with
he shock OF armies.
The allies have taken advantage OF
/ chain of forts across this vast bat
le6eld, and the Germans are Smelling
he forts at the same time they are
,attering at the mighty mass Of the
lilies united armies.
The war Office at Paris no longer
ries to conceal the fact that the decid.
ng battle 10 on, but the war office It,
Ielf knows little as yet of what has
,een won or lost, and moy not know
definitely for days.
IL is officially announced from Paris
hat the allies are striking at the Ger.