The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-08-29
ONE LINE OF DEFENSE
ABANDONED BY ALLIES
FOTtreSSeS From Lille to Mau.
beuge Left to Lock After
Themselves.

London, Aug. 29--That the defense
of the line from Lille to Maubeuge
has been abandoned by the allies and
that these fortresses have been left
temporarily to look after themselves
is indicated in dispatches concerning
the movements on the Franco-Belgian
frontier. This information, with ad-
vices that Malines has been retaken
by the Germans after a two-day bat
tie with the Belgian army, shows the
Germans steadily pressing toward
Paris. Berlin official advices say the
English and French armies of the
Sambre and Meuse rivers are sur
rounded by Germans.
Ostend, in the west of Belgium, still
is in the control of the Belgians and
British marines are being landed
there in large force. Several quick
firers were brought ashore and the
work of Decentralization is proceeding
with smoothness and decision. The
fighting at Snaeskar on Tuesday
caused the city officials to ask that
marines be landed.
Two motorcyclists attached to the
Belgian army reached Pbris with in
formation that forts at Namur still
are holding out Quiet ia reported at
Antwerp.
Heavy Fighting Reported.
A dispatch to the London Express
from Lille, France, says the advance
guard of the German army is now at
Pont-a-Marcq and Marchiennes The
correspondent says there was heavy
fighting at Marchiennes when the
Germans broke through the French
lines. The German advance forces
Ournai 1t is believed the Germans
have occupied Valenciennes, but the
British are reported to have driven
back the enemy near Mons.
The correspondent says there Is
nothing to indicate that the allies
lines from Mons to Conde has been
seriously turned. He adds that
French industrial centers frequently
are occupied and evacuated daily.
A dispatch to the London Times
from Bologne says the German cav
airy broke through the allies lines
near Arras. The French moved up
rapidly, 1t is declared, and have the
situation well in hand The dispatch
adds the allies troops have arranged
to deal with any further attempt to
break through the line between Dun
kirk and Lille Arras is fifty miles
southeast of Calais.
Allied Armies Surrounded.
A wireless from Berlin to the Ger.
man embassy at Washington says the
French and English north armies on
the Sambre and Meuse rivers have
been surrounded by German troops on
all sides as a result of the latest
fighting. The English, 1t is asserted,
were defeated at Maubeuge and the
Franco-Be Belgian forces driven back
toward Maubeuge. Belgian attacks
from Nancy and Antwerp were re-
pulsed.
The message adds that the French
east army has been partly driven to
the south, cutting communication be-
tween the French east and north
armies, while all the German armies
are in contact from Cambria through
Upper Alsace. The reports add the
German cavalry has advanced to Os-
tend. A press dispatch says the Ger
mans are within twenty miles OF Os-
tend.
Field Marshal Sir John French.
commander of the English expedition
airy force, reports that his troops
were attacked by five German army
corps and cavalry Wednesday in the
neighborhood of Cambri and La Ca.
teau and that their casualties We're
heavy. He does not state the out.
come Of the battle. Cambria and LIE
Cateau are French towns ten miles
southwest Of Maubeuge. This report
OTIS in with the battle line indicated
At Berlin.