Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-09-23
ARMIES BATTLE IN
NORTHERN FRANCE
BOTH SIDES CONFIDENT FINAL
VICTORY WILL REST
WITH THEM.
REPORT MAUBEUGE FALLEN
Berlin Official Statement Announces
Capture and Claims 10000
Prisoners and 400
Guns Taken.


the allies are engaged in a desperate
struggle with all the forces of the
Germans who Invaded France. The
battle began on Monday when the rear
guard of the retreali2g Germans made
a stand in northeast France. II be-
came general along the whole line yes
terday and still continues. 1t may be
several days before decisive result
Us reached.
The official statement given out In
Paris last night said that the general
stan had telegraphed that the allies
had not weakened in their attack on
any point. The statement by the off.
cial bureau in London says the whole
situation -%mains favorable to the al
lies and mat the Germans have re-
treated on several points.
A message from Berlin carries the
announcement Of the general staff that
the allies have not won a victory any.
where along the great line.
Armies Number 2,5oo,o0
The battle promises to surpass even
that OF the Marine river In the number
of men engaged and the importance of
the gains to be won by the victor.
Since the battle of the Marine, which
resulted in the retreat of the Germans.
reinforcements of 100000 men have
reached the scene and the number TAX
ing part on both sides in the present
battle probably will reach $500, 900.
London. Sept 17.-Berlin officially
announced the fall of Maubeuge on
Sept. ., with 400 guns and 5000 pris-
oners.
A correspondent OF the London Tele-
graph telegraphs from Boulogne that
he was In the vicinity of Maubeuge
Sept. ii and that the forts were still
holding out. The German report OF
the fall of Maubeuge has never been
confirmed
Fort Defenses Praised.
THE defense of Maubeuge by few
hundred intrepid French soldiers"
says the correspondent, Seems to
pave been overlooked ignored
during the advance OF the Germans
20 the gates OF Paris and their subse.
puent repulse; but the resistance OF
Maubeuge has been one OF tho finest
fents of arms In the campaign.
THE Germans invested MaubeuEe
on August 25 The bombardment OF
the forts by the big German siege
guns began on Sept. 1. and has been
continued with brief intervals OF rest
ever since. Maubeuge Is defended by
seven forts, and each contained on
Aug. 20 garrison OF 2l0. II Is i'm
possible TO say HON many survive. but
IL lie known that In one or two OF the
forts the casualties were large.
10000 Germans Attack.
"Ten thousand OF the kaiser. .roops
were detached from the main armies
20 invest and attack Maubeuge. Each
day at dawn the huge German siege
guns begin to hurl missiles at the
forts. The German gunners drop
shell after shell into the forts and
defenses. The bombardment Is inces
SAINT all the morning, then there Is an
interval of rest and the bombardment
Is resumed. SO II goes on hour after
hour, day after day.
Occasionally the artillery attack Il
varied by rush of German infantry
at the forts. and then the machine
guns OF the defenders NOW down the
ranks of the advancing army with ter
Tible precision Attempts TO carry the
forts by storm were frequent at the
outset. but heavy losses inflicted or
the Germans led to their abandonment
in favor of the steady hail of shell,
from their Krupp siege guns.