Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-08-27
GERMANS Claim VICTORY
over FRENCH IN 1ALSkCE
Paris War Office Admits Being 0utgeneraIed In Early Part
Of Campaign, But Has Reqained Lost Ground-Strass-
burg, German Stronghold, Still Intact.

Washington, Aug. 24.-An official
German dispatch reports a "magnifi-
cent victory of the German forces
between Metz and the Vosges noun
tains.
No additional details are given.
The German embassy here received a
officials in New York. through whom
1T had come and who would not make
known any details.
AT the embassy it was regarded as
opening a new and important phase
as chief interest thus far had been
centered on the operations in Belgium,
whereas this indicated extensive oper-
ations south OF Belgium in the region
along the Franco-German frontier be-
tween Metz and the Vosges mountains,
n of the notable scenes of conflict
of the Franco-Prussian war.
Paris, Aug. 24.-A French war Of
flee bulletin SAYS:
AS already announced, after recon-
querlng the frontier, our troops adj
yanced into Lorraine along q front eX-
tending from the Donan mountain to
Chateau Salins. They drove the Ger
mans back into the valley of the Seille
river and the marshy district and our
advance guards reached Define, Diueze
and Mohange.
Yesterday several German army
corps made a vigorous counter attack
and our advance guards fell back. The
fight was extremely fierce on both sides
number of the Germans our troops,
who had been fighting continuously for
Six days. retreated.
Our left covers the advanced work
of Nancy and our right is firmly
established in the DOMAIN hills. The
greater strength of the enemy made
our remaining in Lorraine useless and
~imprudent.
"Details received show that the re-
occupation of Muhlhausen was a great
success. The offensive first along the
line from Thanh to Dame Marie DAM
merkirch) n then on to Muhlhausen
was carried out with rare dash. BY a
bold stroke. Gen. Paul Pau. once he
was master at ham INC Dame
Marie, directed he troops west of
Muhlhausen. giving the enemy an OPP
portunity to ngage him between our
lines and the Swiss frontier and hen
by a second movement the Germans
were thrown back on Muhlhausen.
while our right attacked Altkirch.
the left advanced on Weubrisach and
Colmar. threatening the enemy's line
Of retreat until the Germans We're then
forced to accept battle, which was hot
In the suburb of Muhlhausen, Dornach.
Our infantry captured "a guns at the
point of bayorets and made several
thousand prisoners. The fight swept
through he streets, house to house.
and the German losses were enormous
FOLLOWING up the success, one part
of the army occupied Muhlhausen,
rhiJa tho othcr t1rrnl on A1t1xirpI and
forced the Germans to fall backward i'll
disorder. Thus we attained the initial
object of u troops in upper Alsace-
TO drive the German forces to the right
bank of the Rhine.
In order to show the importance of
the successes in Alsace, the official
statement gives a detailed account of
the first attempt made to force the
Germans out of Upper Aisace and
across the Rhine and to seize and hold
the bridges, thus preventing a counter
attack.
ION August Z" the statement says,
the French carried Thanh and
Altkirch brilliantly, but nightfall pre-
vented them following the success and
the German retreat was not cut off.
Despite the opposition of the rein
forced Germans, the French advance
continued. A brigade entered Null
nausen but the city was difficult to
defend. The Germans, well informed
by the pro-Gernan inhabitants, de-
livered a night attack, marching
simultaneously from the forest OF
Neuebraisach and Colmar in a di-
tection to cut off u retreat.
by remaining in sufficient forces
in M~uhlhausen, we would nave risked
having our communications with the
upper Vosges and Belfort cut. and a
retreat was ordered. AS a matter OF
fact another plan might have beer
carried out. Our forces at Altkirct
might have made a counter attack or
the Germans marching on Gernay, why
this was not done has not yet been
properly explained. Our left being
attacked toward Cernay by mallifestly
superior forces, our center attacked al
Mu,..ausen and our right remaining
Inactive, put US in a bad position and
retreat was the wisest course. This
was carried out brilliantly.
'To attain our initial attack the
operation was begun again on a fresf
basis under another commander, Gen
eral Pau. Frofiting by the lessons
Of the first attempt and with con-
siderable reinforcements General Pat
resolved upon q decisive effort and MOI
a single reconnaissance. He sue
eeeded brilliantly. Our troops, holding
the crests and principal valleys of Thu
Vosges, are in a good position to fol