Evening star., 1914-08-18
GERMANS ON DEFENSIVE:
MOVE ON BRUSSELS HALTS
Battle in North Turns to Advantage of
Belgians- French Lose Heavily in
Fight With Germans.

LONDON, August IS (S:3O p.m.).-The
German fneursion in the direction OF
Brussels seems definitely stopped. accord
fne to an Official communication ISSUED
by the Belgian war office at noon TO-DAY
II adds: 1.-The situation remains excellent
for our army"
An the German troops recently fronting
the Beleians have taken up strictly de-
fensive intrenched positions, ACCORDING 70
an official announcement by the Belgian
war office.
The battle In the north is turning TO tne
advantage of the Beigians, 1t IL declared
According to the Belgian minister OF war
their forces have blocked the pivoelne
move southwark undertaken by three
CORDS of the German army at Liese.
German Casualties Heavy.
Fighting is reported from Gemoicux.
ten rni,ss north OF Narnur. A German
force ia said to have been caught between
a French cavalry column and Belgian
t,,oDs marching up from Namur. The
German casualties were very heavy.
A Brussels dispatch to the Exchange
reieeraph Company says the French
Casualties in the fighting between Namnr
and Dinant we're heavy. as the Germans
we're strongly intrenched and their ar
tiiIerv at the outset played great havoc
with the French.
Th.re a Nttie doubt that O great bat
tie is now occurring in Belgium between
the Germans and tho Belgian and Freheh
allies. l.,
The Daily Express correspondent. In
a cryptic dispatch from Ghent. Indicates
that the Germans are advancing on ths
historic battle ground of Waterloo ana
that events of the greatest importance
Byxsseis dispatch to the Daily Mail
says: a'Sherp hghting has been in prog
ress since Monday morning
Belgians Move to Beyard.
The left wing Of the Belgian army
assembled in force to cover Brussels
haa advanced from Louvain to Beyard'
In the direction of Diest." according to
the Brussels correspondent Of the Daily
"fhe delay in the German attack at
this point" the correspondent contin-
ues, "is attributed to the severe losses
infiicted by the Belgians. There 10 no no
doubt also that the reluctance OF
Austria to send her promised quota OF
troops, in consequence Of Italys attl-
tude, and an incipient anti-War move
ment In Germany have wrecked tho
German plans and delayed the ADVANCE
Of the German emperor's troops
Day Full Of Excitement.
relegraphinY Monday from Brussels,
the Exchange Telegraph company's Q
correspondent says;
To-day has been full of excitement.
ho1 haap rfP.
culated owing to the removal OF the
seat of government to Antwerp ana
the departure OF the royal family.
Fear is expressed that the German
effort to force the extreme lett and
center of the Belgian lines between
Gembloux and Wavre and Jodoigne and
Tiriemont is to effect a raid on Brus-
sells or else to cover the German ad-
vance toward the French army by way
Of Liege and Namur."
Germans Move Cautiously.
A dispatch received by the Havas agency
from Brussels gives the following state
ment issued last night by the Belgian
government.
German troops which yesterday fall
ed in an attempt at forward move
ment are returning today without fight
ing in the direction of Hannut. The re-
verse sustained by the German cavalry
at Haelen made them palpably more
cautious both Sunday and Monday.
firing without coming into any serious
engagement All the German troops
recently seen before our army are adopt
ing q purely defensive attitude and In
To-day passed without fighting"
The correspondent adds that accord
ing to newspaper renorts fairly I'M
portant engagement occurred in the
neighborhood Of MelvaIt near Jodoikne
Sunday. in which the Germans are said
TO have suffered heavy casualties.
Desultory Fighting.
The following dispatch has been 70
ceived by the Daily Chronicle from itl
BRUSSELS correspondent:
Il learn that there was considerable
dssultory fighting along the northern
ines Sunday. To the southwest Of Lou.
vain ] saw q stiff encounter.
"A Thousand Prussian cavalry caml
up from the direction OF st. Trond with
the apparent intention of effecting &
surprise Their advance guard IL ALLEGED
TO have been dressed in uniforms taker
from Belgian prisoners. This enabled
the Germans to approach close to thu
Belgian lines without their identify
being suspected. The Belgian soldiers II
amp We're picnicking with the towns
thlans are coming.
Belgians Charge Fiercely.
Almost Immediately terrific fire wa,
opened on the outposts by the Germans
The dismounted Belgian cavalryme,
were thrown into confusion. but rallies
quickly and. with drawn sabers
charged the enemy with such ferocit,
that the Germans in front turned anS
fed.
"The main body OF Germans benin,
were put on the defensive and the Bel
gians literally cut q path through tn,
German mass. The German machine gum
then came to their rescue. moving dow
the valiant Belgians.
TT might have gone hard with the Bel
gians save for the timely arrival Of
battery. which fired repeated charges o
shrapnel. completely demoralizing tn,
Germans.
Several young woman picnickers wer
witnesses Of all this fighting. They wer
very cool and not one OF them was In
jured."
March on Brussels Reported.