Barton County democrat., 1914-08-14
Begin General Offensive Move.
ment Along German Front
and Flank in Belgium.
FRENCH CAVALRY RAlDING
BEHIND KAISER'S LINES
With Import Duties Gone, War Tax
May Be Neeessary-lndustrles
crippled-Warning About
China Given.

dnOlueT, the nlgnI Oh august :, mUTe
than half the earth's surface became
embroiled in the great European con-
1ict.
The situation is decidedly compli.
Gated and will become more so. Eng
land, France, Russia and Belgium are
officially at war with Germany. Eng.
land and Belgium, however, we're not
at war with Austria up to the night of
August II, and France did not declare
war on Austria, Germans staunch ally,
until the night of August 10. Servia
and Montenegro are at war with Aus
tria but not with Germany. Austrian
and German allies are moving against
France and Russia only.
Italy forsook her alliance with Ger.
many and Austria, and when Germany
protested Italy threatened to line up
with the allies and fight defensively
to protect her neutrality. Portugal
has officially declared her friendship
for England and Japan, remembering
her alliance with Britain, is prepared
to aid the British against German &C.
tivities in the Far East.
The Weeks Losses.
During the week OF fighting In Eu.
rope 100000 men, the physical pick Of
Europe, were killed or wounded. A
billion Of money was spent for troop
transportation and ammunition. Nu-
merous villages were destroyed. Hun
dreds and hundreds of acres Of crops
were trampled. Some cities were bad
ly damaged by bombardment. Millions
ofpoor are feeling the pinch Of hunger.
Yet the activities of the great
armies, vast machines of death and
destruction, have only just started.
Not a single historic battle has been
fought. say military experts. So far
there have been only skirmishes on
land and sea.
Attempting to sweep across Bel.
GUM, a country little larger than the
state OF Massachusetts, and on to
France, a German army of 100000 met
strong opposition at Liege, Belgium,
an important city on the Belgian-G Ger.
man frontier. After four days Of fierce
fighting the Germans took the city
but they couldn't take the surround.
ing forts which the Belgian defenders
declare are impregnable.
Big Battles Coming.
The French have entered Alsace.
Lorraine, territory taken from them
during the Franco-Prussian war Of
1870. 1t is reported that important
battles will occur about August Is be
tween an army composed Of 100000
French, British and Belgian allies and
a German army of 100000, in Alsace
and between large allied army and
q German army, near Namur, Belgium
| A great sea battle is predicted be
tween the combined fleets Of England
France and Russia and that Of Ger
many, in the North sea. The fleets
have been maneuvering for more thar
q week.
The European conflict is having {
serious effect in the United States
Import taxes have practically ceased
On account of this loss of revenue Il
may be necessary soon to impose 8
special war tax. Industry here has
been seriously hurt; especially the
rubber industry, and various machine
making lines. Cotton trade with Eu
rope is practically dead. And tnt
United States may have to send a con
siderable force to China to protect al
foreigners. Secretary Bryan has mott
fed the fighting nations that the neu
trality Of China must be respected anC
that the United States will undertake
to see that 1t is preserved.
To Attack German Flank.
: London, Aug. 11.-A general often
sive movement by the French and Bel
/ gian forces has begun. The object I
to retake Liege and expel the German
invaders from Belgium.
Allied cavalry, supported by field al
tillery and mounted auxiliary forces
! met the German outposts north Of tn
Meuse. This flying column is attempt
ing to turn the kaiser's right flank,
is believed.
Fought In Close Order.
The Daily Telegraph's correspor
dent, who witnessed much Of the Heg
fighting, says the German artillery a,
ing was excellent, but expressed su
prise at the infantry in fighting
close order. Battalion after battalio
was thrown into the fight in solid TO
nation, but, he adds, the estimate {
$4,000 losses was an exaggeration.
Allied Troops Advance.
Brussels, Aug. 1.-THE main allie
army, composed Of Belgian, Frenc
and English troops, has pushed its a
vance out Of Louvain. Raiding cavall
columns have passed behind the &c
man lines, burning bridges and d
stroying railroad tracks.
The German forward movement
now toward the River Ourthhe. Ski
mishlng parties are retiring on Il
main lorce. Defensive works are