Evening journal., 1914-08-10
Allied armies
GATHER FOR THE
Greatest BATTLE
BY ED. L. KEEN.


LONDON, Aug. 10.-Alsace and Bel
GUM monopolized the attention of the
world today. In Belgium. the lines are
rapidly being drawn for the greatest
battle of modern times. Although the
censorship is rigid, It is known that a
great British and French army Is
mobillzing to aid the Belgins in hold
ing Namur
The French guard the entire from
tier of Lorraine and are operating I'm
force against the Germans in southern
Alsace with so far uninterrupted sue
cess.
Announcement that the battle fleet
had sunk a German submarine has
definitely located the British fleet. Il
must be somewhere off the German
naval base at Heligoland inasmuch as
the U-15, the submarine sunk. has a
very limited steaming area, and was
designed for coast defense work OK
clusively. That the British fleet is so
close to the German coast that the
enemy can utilize their defense sub
marines means the German war fleet
is bottled up and that the British
fleet is now constantly subject to at
tack by torpedoboats, destroyers and
summaries
Not single word is permitted to
leak regarding the movements of the
British troops. but It is known that
many arc now on the continent.
Others are en- route in transport fleets
escorted by the reserve warships.
That they will be first heard from
when they clash with the Germans in
supporting the French and Belgians
is believed certain here
The first big battle of the war is ex-
pected TO take place in the vicinity of
Namur i'm Belgium lt is there that
the British and French armies are con
centrating and il is there that the ma
ior portion of the Belgian army is held
The announcement that the Kaiser had
gone to Aix-la Chappelle is accepted
here 10 mean he will command in per
son the Germany army of invasion, the
advance guard, of which, under Won
Emmich, is now in Liege City and be-
sieging the forts there.
Brussels dispatches today agree that
the Germans at Lege have halted the
advance, presumably TO await the ar
rival of reinforcements and badly need
ed supplies. The French Foreign Of
flee declares that the French and Bel
gian cavalry have driven back the Ger
mans so that their advance toward
Brussels has been completely checked.
Paris also reports serious fighting in
Luxembuprg, where IL is said the Ger
mans are present in strength, but SO
far have been unable TO cross the French
frontier Skirmishing OF severe ma
ture has been in progress near the Lux
emburg- French frontier for the last AS
hours but claims of French victories
are not confirmed.
The French second mobilization
division which Is operating in Alsace
! is engaged with the Germans near
! Men Breisach, but all details of this
fighting are refused by the censor.
II Is believed. however, that the Ger
man defense here will be particularly
stubborn as there was plenty of time
e. concentrate troops here and the
/ rcrtihcations of Neu Breisach are
very strong.
The French hold possession Of the
| Vosges mountain passes, havNg
taken that at Sainte Marie and Bon
homme after hard fighting In which
| the attacking force sustained severe
/ losses. The French aeroplanes we're
Of great service in this fighting, as
they accurately located the German
forces.
Definite announcement that France
and Austria are at war is expected
very soon. France has demanded
OF the Austrian ambassador at Paris
that his country announce its posi-
ton. This demand was made i'm
mediately following the announce
mcnt that an Austrian army corps,
made up OF veterans from the Aus
tran Tyrol had crossed Lake Con-
stance and was already in position
to strike the French operating along
the Swiss border OF Alsace. Il was
considered certain that II a poper
explanation was not made. and one
was not expected-the ambassador
would be handed his passports.
In fact rumors that such action
already has been taken have been
circulated in Paris, but are not yet
officially confirmed.
Frances delay in acting against
Austria was due to the conviction OF
her chief oficials that Austria want
ed France 10 take the initiative in
the hope that this would force Italy
TO come TO her aid.
Announcement was made in the
House of Commons late today thai
Earl Kitchener. the minister of war
has ordered the enlistment of a sec
ond volunteer army OF 100000. Thi.
shows that Kitchener at least does
not accept the early German reverses
as meaning that Germany will b,
overwhelmed. Instead he looks FOL
/ serious fighting in which all the re
sources Of the allies will be strained
before the German army can be elm