The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-08-19
HOSTS GATHER
FOR DECISIVE
ENGAGEMENT
Germans Still Pressing Forward
Toward France
PREPARING FOR GREAT FIGHT

fully Guarded by Censors-Beleved
Full German Strength Will Be Con-
centrated at One Point For Test
Of Strength-Allies Are Confidently
Awaiting the Onslaught.
Fragmentary reprts which have
reached London from Paris and Brus-
sells indicate that the advance move
ment of the German army against the
lines of the allies in Belgium and Luz
emburg is proceeding slowly bu,
steadily despite numerous unimpor
tant repulses between advance guards.
The checks administered to the Ger
man scouting detachments at Eghzee,
Halen, Noville-Taviers, Diest, Tongres
and other Belgian towns are not re-
garded by military experts here as of
great account except in their possible
moral effect upon the defenders.
1t seems certain that the German
battle line is closing in and that the
beginning of a general engagement
that may last for weeks cannot be
long deferred.
Namur, the fortified city south Of
Brussels, is preparing for assault, and
formidable defenses in addition to the
forts have been erected. In anticipa-
tion that the city will be taken by the
Germans, even though the forts do not
yield, all the inhabitants have been
disarmed to save them from German
reprisals.
Suspending the bombardment of the
forts on the right bank of the river
at Liege, the Germans concentrated
their guns upon those west of the
town, attacking forts Pontisse, Liers,
Lantin, Loncin, Hollogne and Flo
MALE, all of which vigorously replied.
The German cavalry advance re-
newed the raids on the Belgian lines
at half a dozen points, but the war
office officials claim that in every in
stance they failed to penetrate the
advanced Belgium position. The raids
have been for the purpose of feeling
out the Belgian front, but the enemy
was unable to locate any weak spots.
The Belgian aero corps is proving of
inestimable value to the field forces.
Every German move Is anticipated,
and because of the excellent transport
arrangements it is possible for the
Belgian field commanders to meet the
Germans more than half way in every
attack.
The German losses at Tirlemont, No
ville-Taviers and Eghezac are declared
by the Belgian war Office to have eX-
ceeded 10000 in killed and wounded,
along with more than 5000 taken pris-
Oners.
Three German aviators were shot
down at Diest, two being killed and
the third seriously wounded while
their aeroplanes were wrecked.
The The G. GeS 2ISg = aying
ascertain the strength of the NHsls.hn
column which was in the shelter Of
its trenches. In order to get an ac-
curate view the aviators were forced
to fly low and were greeted with a
volley from the guns mounted in the
trenches. Two aviators were literally
shot from their seats and their ma
chimes fell in crumpled masses. The
third tried vainly to reach. the German
lines, but just when il seemed that ne
might do so shot hit his engine,
wrecking it. He was flying very low
at the time, but was badly hurt, and
is now in the field hospital at Diest,
prisoner.
Ever since the fighting on Belgian
soil began the efforts of the German
aviators to- reconnoiter the Belgian
positions have been baflled by the ac-
curacy of the Belgian fire. The guns
that were especially designed to de-
stroy aeroplanes have more than full
filled their mission and the marksman-
ship of the Delgians has been wonder
full. On the other hand, the KruDp
aero guns used by the Germans have
all but proven useless. They were used
against the. Belgians at Liege, but in
nearly every instance it developed
that their range was too limited.
A correspondent give the following
description of scenes in the battle
torn district:
Over the country between Tirlemont
and st. Trond, but yesterday rich in
corn fields and carefully tended gar.
dens, the withering breath Of war has
passed.
Approaching the village of Dormael
unmistakable tokens of desolation
meet the view, She tered window
panes and domestic utensils are flung
among the cabbages in the gardens or
before the wretched doors. Here
couple of children prattling in subdued
tones. There a mother leading three
orphaned little girls from the still
smoking ruins.
Belgians, who dealt with them at
close quarters at Dormael, declare the
Uhlans fought with the bitterness OF
personal fury. Many corpses have
their hands raised and their elbows on
a level with their shoulders. Horrible
wounds were inflicted with weapons
fired from a distance or Il couple of