The Dermott news., 1914-08-13
FRENCH OCCUPY
ALSACELORRA|HE
ANCIENT PROVINCE THAT EAS
LONG BEEN A BONE OF
NATIONAL CONTENTION.

Western Newspaper Union News service
Parls.-lt is officially reported that
French troops have entered Muel
hansen.
M~uelhausen is the second largest
town of Alsace-Lorraine and lies 81
miles to the south-southwest of Strass'
burg. the capital. 1t became a free
city OF the German empire in 1273. and
IN the fifteenth century entered into
an alliance with the Swiss. which last
ed until 1875. when the city hecamc
French. 1t was taken from the French
in September. 1870, and was coded tc
Germany with Alsaee in 1871.
Nuelhausen is garrisoned by a full
infantry brigade of about 5000 men
and a full cavalry brigade of ahou'
100. 1t has a population o.: about
100000, and is the principal seat OF
cotton spinning in western Germany.
News of the first French victory 81
the war-the capture of the village Of
Altkirch. in AlsaCe. near the Swiss
frontter-which probably was more i'm
portant than the cautious official n
nounCement i~ndiCated-waS received
here with extraordinary enthusiasm.
Observers in Paris were prepared to
hear that the French had been obliged,
during the first days of the fighting
To give way before the German ad-
vance. The rejoicing was all the great
err. therefore. because the first impor-
tant engagement had been fought in
Germ.n territory and the French had
obtained i footing.
The capture OF A1tkireh appears to
have taken place two or three days
ago. The French army has penetrated
the enemy's country considerably far
thcr.
Military authorities had been con,
Niuced that the French army would
assume the offensive al the first on
%portunity because during the last eight
years the word defensive" has disap-
peared from the French text books on
strategy. instruction in tactics have
been always TO so forward.
The official report of the French in
vaaion Of AlSaoe Saturday saws the
French troops crossed into Alsace and
delivered a fierce attack on the Ger.
man forces at Altkirch. The French
troops too the village. n place Of
nearly 4.U60 inhabitants.
The German forces retreated. pur-
sued by the French troops in the dt.
rcetion Of the great fortress o. Muel
hansen.
The minister OF war announces that
the Germans suffered 30. 900 casualties
and the French 5000 in the battle at
AltkirCh. which resulted in the cap
ture. of the Alsatian village by the
French troops
The Alsatian inhabitants ape ver
ioyed at the appearance OF the French
Reports Of thu arrival of an Austrian
army corps on the Swiss frontier near
Basel We're the object OF close atten-
ton by French military authorities. l.
was said thai several more Austr!aL
army corps were being organized In
the Tyrol. when they later would be
sent toward the French frontier.
Before retiring from Nuelhausen,
the German troops are said 10 have set
fire te numerous buildings. The forest
OF Hard. near holman, is said TO have
been razcd.
II Vas nishtlall Friday when the ad
vance guard OF the French brigade ap-
preached Altkirch. a French official
statement says. The city was well do
gade. Tho Fsench began the assault
with ardor. a regiment OF infantry dis
tinguished itself by a furious charge.
shortly after which the Germans re
tired in disorder.