Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-25

however. after in.Iicting enormous losses
The Prussian guard especially suffered
heavily.
East of the Mouse our troops advanced
across an extremely difficult country ano
made a vigorous attack when they
Obliged to fall back after stiff fight
south of the River Semois.
Forces in Good Condition.
ION order of Gen Joffre. our troops and
the British troops withdrew to the cover
ing positions. Our troops are intact; our
cavalry has in no way suffered and our
artillery has affirmed its superiority. our
officers and soldiers are in the best OF
condition morally and physically.
AS the result of the orders which
have been issued, the aspect OF the strus-
gle will change for a few days. The
French army will remain for a tine on
the defensive. but at the right moment.
to be decided upon by the commander
in-chief, it will resume vigorous or
fensive.
Heavy Losses Admitted.
Our losses are heavy; it would be
premature to enumerate them 1t would
be equally so to enumerate those OF
the Germans, who suffered so heavly
that they were obliged to abandon their
counter-attacks and establish them
selves in fresh positions in Lorraine.
I'VE delivered four attacks yesterday
from our positions north of Nancy, In
fiicting very heavy loss to the enemy.
TN regard to the general situation
we have the full use of our railroads
foir md nf 10
operations have enabled the Russians to
come into action and penetrate the
heart of west Prussia.
TT is to be regretted that the often
sive operations planned failed to
achieve their purpose as a result of diff
fculties impossible to fCresee. 1t
would have shortened the war, but our
defenses remain intact in the preDence
of already weakened enemy.
Every Frenchman will deplore the
temporary abandonment of portions of
Alsace and lorraine which we had oc-
cupied, and certain parts of the ma
tional territory will suffer from events
of which they will be the theater.
Ordeal Is Inevitable.
rary Thus detachments of German
cavalry belonging to an unattached di-
vision operating on the extreme right
north of Lille. and the Tourcoing dis
trict, which are defended only by terri
torial reservists.
Our valiant people will know how to
find courage to support this trial with
unfailing faith in final success. which is
not to be doubted. In telling to the
country the whole truth, the government
and military authorities give it the
strongest proof Of their absolute conf
dence in victory which depends only on
our perseverance and tenacity.
Great Battle in Hainaut.
LONDON. August % (s:15 a.mD.-A
dispatch to the Express from Ostend
says: "A great battle has been in prog
ress In the province of Hainaut on the
southern frontier of Belgium. since Fri
day evening. French and British troops
have been engaged in desperate conflicts
north of Charleroi and Fleurus with Ger
mans who crossed the Meuse at Huy.
Saturday French troops, which had
spread from Lille, met the German right
in East Flanders.
Desperate fighting between outposts
took place at Oudenarde and Renaix.
The losses were heavy on both sides
Monday.
Twenty-Five thousand Germans have
been surrounded between Courtrai and
Anseghem. town six miles west of
Oudenarde. Fighting was progressing
Sunday at Peronnes, between Mons and
Pinche, and between Wateghem and
Oudenarde.
Attack on Charleroi.
The Daily Telegraph's Paris corre-
spondent, telegraphing Sunday. sends a
letter dated o'clock Saturday afternoon
in Jeumont, Department of Nord. France,
which SAWS.