The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-25
The War Experts Are Unable to
Understand IL.
FEAR BHl6IAnS ARE weary
OF Fighting the Emperor's
Army Unsupported.
The City and Five of Its Forts
Are Taken.

Berlin, Aug. 25.-An official an
nouncement made public here today
of its forts have been captured by the
Germans.
The bombardment of the four other
forts continues and their fall seems Inn
minent.
London. Aug. 25.-It 10 announced
that Namur, capital of the province
of Namur, 4s miles southeast Of Brus-
sells, and strongly fortified has fallen
before the Germans.
Beyond the bare statement that It
was announced that Namur had fallen
has issued nothing on the subject. 1t
| is not yet known definitely here
whether the fall refers to the town or
| the forts or to both.
The Qualifications of Namur and
Liege formed the finest examples OF
the work of the famous Belgian mill
tary engineer, General Henri Alexis
Brialmont. whose reputation was
world wide. The defensive works of
Namur were not so strong as those OF
Liege. but the position of the city was
much better for military purposes
| The forts are nine in number, the four
most important being st. Herbert.
Audoye, Suarlee and Cognelle. while
the connecting forts of less strength
are Dave, Maizeret, MalOnne, Marche-
tvolette and Emines.
All are protected by hardened steel
domes. generally eight of them in each
modern heavy disappearing guns -
~ Bad for. the. Anics. = ss'fs
/ London. Aug. z5.-Commenting on
the fall of Namur before the Germans,
the Times says it is one CT those in
explicable events which make war the
I; gamble that it Is. That Namur should
have fallen in two days will require
| a deal of explanation, the Times adds.
The Times military expert says 1t IL
too early to say that the line of the
| Meuse south of Mezieres must be
abandoned. but the outlook is not fa-
vOrable and the development OF the
| situation in the next few days will be
watched with legitimate anxiety. He
! continues:
! There are reports that the towns
| people and even the garrison of Ma
muir were less well disposed than the
men Of -.iege to offer strenuous
resistance and SO bring upon their
town the punishment meted out by
/ Germans to Liege. There is undOubt-
| edly some slight feeling among the
Belgians that they have.not been ade-
! quately supported by the allies, and
that they have borne the brunt Of the
| war in the north. but we cannot be-
i lieve that the Belgians did less than
their duty md we expect to hear that
| they were attacked by overpowering
numbers.
Vital to Germany.
! 1.-The possession of Namur was vital
| for Germany and 1t was a fine stroke
for the Germans to have rushed the
, place under the eyes of the allied
armies. We still hope and believe
| that our counter offensive in the north
is only postponed and not abandoned %
{ Commenting on the loss Of the Bel
gian stronghold, the Chronicle says:
THE news today is decidedly bad. %
Adding that IL the allies losse-; have
been heavy I'VE may vet see before
long the Germans march in earnest
upon Paris.
: "Namur is fortress Of great
strength which its defenders could
possibly hold several months. We do
not imagine that 1t was taken by q
rush. More probably a breach made
elsewhere in the line Of the allies i'm
posed on them the alternative Of leav-
ing a large force to be invested in
Namur or withdrawing from 1t alto
gether.
1.-The blunt fact remains that in a
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