The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-09


of French re-enforcements, which
! are hurrying forward under forced
marches. A general engagement
between the Germans and the
French and Belgians is imminent.
French Join BeIEians.
The French have already effected a
pa rtial' junction with the BelSiRns and a
French army OF 10000 is reported TO be
approaching from Lille.
At the same time it is reported that
the German crown prince. Frederick
William, is leading 10000 Germans in the
forward movement against France.
According 10 an official statement is
sued by the war office $500 Germans
took part in the repeated assaults upon
the Liege forts. The war office declares
that the Germans failed to make any
impression upon the fertilization.
In the attack three army corps. the
Seventh. Ninth and Tenth. General Won
Emmich commanding. were badly cut up
and their fighting efficiency reduced TO
the minimum. General Won Emmich was
in command II these troops which con-
sisted of the Seventh, Ninth and Tenth
corps.
The statement continues: For many
DAYS our little army by its tenacity and
courage has rendered highly valuable
service to the French army which for
some days. by forced marches, has been
hurrying to our assistance and now oc-
cupies 4 considerable portion OF our ter
ritOry.
Hundreds Of Germans. chiefly caval-
rymen. have been captured.
The spirit OF the German soldiers
lacks enthusiasm They appear TO be
fighting in a lethargic manner. The on
GERS are endeavoring to pass themselves
OF as Frenchmen."
Bodies Of Germans literally fill the
trenches OF the outgusrd in the vicinity
OF Liege. according to reports brought
here by soldiers. They are piled four
and five deep in some places.
According to the newspaper. LIE Peuple.
Prince George. who is a relative Of the
Kaiser. and who commanded a German
cavalry regiment. is among the prisoners
captured and wounded by the Belgians-
Repeated and brilliant charges were
made by the Germans on the fortiftca-
tons The slaughter was frightful. as
the Belgian FIRE was deadly. The Ger
mans were forced TO advance over open
spaces which had been accurately map
ped by the Belgians. Every shot from
behind the Belgian batteries took deadly
effect. The Belgians were admirably as
sisted by their aviation corps. which To-
Gated the position Of concealed German
columns and siGnaled hack 10 the forts.
Mines were repeatedly exploded beneath
the feet Of advancing columns of Ger
mans. They fought on dogGedly. They
fought under the most distressing condi-
tons. Their supply trains have been de-
stroyed by swollen streams. the result
of heavy rains. Belgian cavalry are
circling around them and cutting their
communications. The railroad has been
destroyed. Shot for shot the Germans
returned the artillery fire. Thousands OF
exploding shells landed in the fortifica-
tons and in LieGe from the artillery
mortars and siege guns OF the Germans
The city of Liegc has been fired In a
dozen places. The roof of the famous
Liege Cathedral was shelled away by the
cannonade.
Forts sim Intact.
At one stage Of the battle the Germans
penetrated into the city. but were later
withdrawn when it was seen that all
the fortifcations were still intact
With receipt of the news that the
French were coming the fury OF the Bel
sians appeared to be redoubled.
Later reports were that while the Bel
gian cavalry. under command OF King
Albert, was hammering away at the
German flank and effectively hemming in
the force OF Teutons between the forts
of LieEe and the impenetratable wall of
mounted troops, the forts at Liege re-
opened the bombardment on the entrapp-
ed force.
The German field artillery. the siege
guns and mortars were swung into &C.
ton and thousands of shells were ex-
ploded within the Belgian fortresses. The
German shells utterly destroyed the roof
tons held and the Belgian guns beIched
forth their deadly fire.
The Germans were finally compelled
to give way and retire on the main
column near the river.
In one sortie the Belgians fell back
as II defeated. drawing on a German
advance. The latter rushed into the
trap. Belgians returning to the fray
literally cut to pieces seven regiments
Of German cavalry.
An official detailed account of the fight
ing at Liege, which has just. issued,
says:
The German columns crossed the Bel
gian frontier during the night between
August and August 4. German cavalry
came into contact with the Belgian ad-
vanced posts to the east Of the forts at
? o'clock in the afternoon Of August l.
The plan of attack developed during the
day of August 5. Each German column
had a different objective, Forts Fleron.
Barchon, and Evegnee constituting the
northwestern section. being the first
point while the second column attacked
the southeastern section comprising Forts
BonceIles and Embourg.
First Attack on Left.
THE first attack of the northeastern
German column was made on the left
1t attacked Fort FlerCn itself and the
space between Forts Fleron
and Evegnee and also the interval be-
tween Forts Fleron and Chaudfontaine.
The attack from the beginning was
without dash. The glacis/ has been sown
with obstacles by the Belgian infantry
and the artillery fire from the forts was