The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-08-18
Greatest Battle In
History Imminent.
ADVANCE NOT CHECKED
Kaiser Hopes TO Smash Foes
By Mere Force Of Numbers.
RAMUR STRENG HENS DEFENSE

All Inhabitants Disarmed to Save
Them From German ReprisaIs In
the Event Of the Capture Of the
city-French Army In Alsace Mem
Z aolng Strassburg, the Chief Fortl.
Z fed City Of the Lost Province-con.
fllcts Along the Frontier.
= Brussels, Aug. 5.-Undismayed by
Nrepulses administered to its outposts
by Belgian commands, the huge Ger
man army OF the Meuse is swinging
forward In solid battle front extend
ing from north Of Hasselt south to
ct. Trond. great battle is newt
able when this German host comes In
contact with the allied army.
Great masses of German troops are
being pushed forward from Aix-La-
Chapelle and Liege in the kaiser's
eliminating effort to crush the allies
by mere force OF overwhelming num-
% 6ers.
Diest, where the Belgians repulsed
the German cavalry on Wednesday,
Erschot and ToDgres lie in the path
OF the German forces and must inev-
ftably become again the scenes of
desperate encounters, for the Belgian
aeropIanes have watched the masslng
and the forward movements and the
allies are blocking the advance. With
In twenty-four hours the battle Is ex-
pected along the whole German ad-
vance.
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
Germans, even though the forts do
not yield, all the inhabitants have
been disarmed to save them from
German reprsals.
Suspendlng the bombardment of
the forts on the right bank of the
river at IAege, the Germans concen-
trated their guns upon those west OF
the town, attacking forts Pontisse.
Iiers, Lantin, Loncin, Hollogne and
Fiemalle, all OF which vigorously re-
piled.
mander at Liege, General Won EN-
mich, has committed suicide because
of reverses.
French Menacing Strassburg.
The French army IN Alsace ia mem
ecing Strassburg, the chief fortified
city OF the lost province, over which
every Frenchman longs to see the trl-
color wave, Passing northward In a
desperate five days battle on the
Sidges OF the Vosges mountains, they
hurled the Germans back from Saales
Pass. thirty miles from Strassburg,
End now dominate the valley OF the
Fruche river leading to that city. "On
70 Strassburg!" is the battlecry OF the
French army in Alsace One German
division surrendered after repeated
desperate assaults in an attempt to
retake the Bonhomme and St Marie
Aux-Mines passes and the ridges OF
ihe Vosges mountains, where the
French were entrenched.
Great masses OF German troops are
reported to be on the way from Co
iogne by way of Aix.La- Chapelle to
support the attack on the allies The
Beigians and their allies are throwing
up earthworks before Namur to re-
xist an expected attack. There are
firther reports or minor engagements
between advance forces OF the two
great armies, the Belgians claiming
guccess In these engagements RE
ports show that the situation contin.
ueG favorable TO us and our allies,
the Belgian war ONCE says. The Bel.
Eians are reported to have frustrated
an attempt by German raiding par.
~ 60 seize the railroad at Noville-
TaViers.
II is officially announced that a
large French force has entered Bel
1Gium and Is proceeding from Charlie
rol TO Gembloux, ten miles northwest
OF Namur.
French outposts claim victory
over the German outposts at Cham
brey. in the German province OF Lor
raine. while two French battaliont
near La Garde, in the same province
were driven back across the border.
ohloans In Germany.
Columbus, Aug. 15. - Horace L
Chapman, coal operator, wired Sena
tor POmerene from Atlantic City ex
pressing anxiety over the safety q
his wife who Is at Carlsbad, GeN
many. James Ross wired the senate
asking him to take measures for tn
safety OF Fred Lazarus. Mrs. Lazare
and their son JEFFREY. who are at RAJ
Wildungen. Germany.
tAws