The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-14
.BELGIANS REPORT
 DEFEAT OF GERMANS

Brussels, Aug. 1.-The Belgian war lloflce. announces that a German force advancing upon Eghezee, to the north of Namur, has been repulsed by Bel i. .gian troops today According to the Belgian reports of the encounter, tn . Germans suffered severe losses and the Belgians captured several machine guns mounted on motor trucks. A second slzirInish as reported here was between a body of French drat- goons on a recennoitering trip andss detachment of German IJhlans. The French horseInen took the offensive and, according to reports, cut the Uh- Ian detachment to pieces. The Ger mans, are reported to have lost fifty killed.
 Despatches to Le soir say that the German troops which were repulsed Wednesday at Haelen reformed their lines. and renewed the attack at 5 o'clock this morning. Fresh Belgian brunt of the attack, relieving the troops which had fought all day yester- day. f
 Reports from various parts of Bel gfurn- in which German cavalry de- tachnents are still operating tell of the seizure of railroad running stock by the inv aders. passenger trai1fs was stopped near Warremmee by German cavalry patrol today and the passengers were forced to get off in the open country The engineer was compelled to run the train back to- ward the German lines.
 The. War Office has issued the fol- lowing official statement:
 sThe Belgian cavalry division this 1Thursday1 morning took up thes Of fensive against the Germans who were defeated in yesterdays battle at Hae- len with the object it is believed, of picking up the dead and wounded and collecting the German war material.
 .sNo German surprise was expected and there are no reasons Ito fear any sels from the south, all the roads lead ing to the capital being guarded by the Belgian army and the civic guard
 ''The right wing of the German army was completely routed in a battle with the Belgian forces. After passing the night in the position they had taken up following Tuesdays retreat, the Germans were reported to be massing in considerable numbers opposite one of our positions which they believed to be weak. Twelve thousand men took part in an engagement which followed and which is regarded as the begin ming of a greater engagement now un- der way,
 ssour troops have by far thes best of the situation. The main position of the armies is unchanged. Possibilities are in progress for about 300 miles iaelud-
 
 of France, where the French troops are reported to be holding their own Advance troops of the German army in Belgium have penetrated to within s miles of Antwerp, which Ger man strategists may have for their oh- jective point
 fThe capture of Antwerp would give the Germans port on the North Sea much nearer the English Channel than any port on the German coast, The strongest section of the German army in Belgium and Luxemburg is the cen ter and left flank, which contain ap- proximately 400, 900 men with artillery This body is reported to be advaac- ing slowly but steadily westward'
 The accurate Knowledge of the ground over which the fighting thus far has taken place was of great value to the Belgian strategists. Their troops of all three branches of the service, moved so rapidly that the German plan of attack had to be abandoned.