South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-31
Retirement of French Army
Along Valley of MeuSe Call
ed Mastery Stroke Fully as
Glorious as Victory.
10000 KAISER'S MEN
ARE REPELLED BY 5000
Germans Trapped in CharIeviIIe
and Are Slaughtered by Ma
chine Gun Fire After Bridges
Are Blown Up.

BERLIN, via Amsterdam, Aug.
3i.-Count de Nzogyenr-Marich,
Austrian ambassador to Germany,
announced today that the Austro-
Hungarian army that invaded Rus
sian Poland had defeated the Rus
SLAMS at Kraznik and thrown them
back upon Lublin.
"A decisive battle has been in
progress for several days at
kraznik," he said, "anA we have
won. The enemy is retreating to
Lublin.
"The AuStrianS are pursuing the
Russians, who fought with deSper-
alton, and we have also taken up
a strong position in front of Ia
most.
Losses on both sides have
been severe, | regret to say, but
the Russians suffered worse than
did the AuStrianS. We took
large number of prisoners and also
several guns.
LONDON, Aug. 31.-An Amiens
dispatch 60 the Daily Chronicle says:
..rhe French retirement before the
German army advancing from Namur
down the valley Of the Meuse was
masterly The Germans won their
way at a cost in human life as great
as in defeat yet they won their way
For France that retirement is as
glorious story as anything In her
annals.
After the battle Of Dinant the
French army was heavily outnumber-
ed and fell back gradually.
The French artillery was posted
on the heights above the river and
swept the advancing Germans with
storm of fire on the right bank the
French infantry was supported by
field guns and mitraileuses. The in
fantry did deadly work dropping back
only 10 occupy new positions just as
doggedly.
Germans Reckless of lives.
THE Germans were reckless of
their lives The most desperate fight
ing took place at the bridges. but the
French engineers succeeded in blow
ing them up one after another.
Thirty-three bridges were destroyed.
The lighting extended on both
sides OF the Meuse and many side
line engagements were fought by the
cavalry. There was memorable en-
counter at Marvelle, where 5000
Frenchmen resisted 10000 German
infantry. The French dash was so
splendid that they beat back the
enemy for . hours.
The Germans gradually pressed
their way southwark along the Meuse
TO Mezieres, near Sedan. The French
were determined that there should be
- frra rfK~
when the French army was trapped
here. So Charleville. across from
AIezieres was evacuated and the
French took up magnificent positions,
commanding the town and bridges
Capture Rapid Fire Guns.
'Mftraileuses We're hidden in aban-
doned houses and a disagreeable
shock TO any German who might
escape their fire was a number OF
German rapid fire guns. no fewer
than 95 Of them. which had been cap
tured BY o French troop in series
OF battles down the Meuse from
Namur.
Charleville on Tuesday. They were
allowed 10 ride quietly across the
bridges into an apparently deserted
town. Then suddenly their line OF
retreat was cut of.
The bridges were blown up by
contact mines and the ritraiieuses
hidden IN the houses were played on
the German cavalry. killing them in
frightful slaughter. d.
"It was for "a little while sheer
massacre, Eut the Germans fought
with extraordinary tenacity. regard
less OF the heaped bodies II their
slain comrades and utterly reckless OF
their own lives. They. too. had
brought quick FIRE guns across the
bridges and taking cover behind
(CoNTHsUED on PAGE SEvEN)