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

LONDON, August est is announced
| that Namur, capital of tbs province O
Namur. thirty-four miles southeast o.
Brussels. and strongly fortified, ha:
fallen before the Germans.
An official announcement, made public
in Berlin, says that the city of Manu-
and five of its forts have been cap
tured by the Germans. The lombard
ment of the four other forts continue:
and their fall seems imminent.
Namur Fortifcations.
The Notifications of Namur and I.iegt
formed the finest examples of the wori
of the famous Belgian military engineer
Gen. Henri Alexis Bralmont, whose
reputation was world wide.
The defensive works of Namur were
not so strong as those Of Lege, but the
position of the city was much better fol
military purposes.
The forts are nine in number, the foul
most imp ortant being st. Herbert, Au-
doye, Suarlee and Cognelee, while the
connecting forts of less strength are
Dave, Maizeret, Malonne. Marchevolette
and Emines.
All are protected by hardened steel
domes, generally eight of them in each
fort and the artillery, consisting OF mod
ern heavy disappearing guns. Is very
powerful.
Comment on Fall of Namur.
Commenting on the fall of Namur be-
fore the Germans the Times says it is
one Of those inexplicable events which
makes war the gamble that 1t is. Thai
Namur should have fallen in two days
will require a deal of explanation. the
Times adds
The Times military expert says that it
is too early to say that the line OF the
Mouse south Of Mezieres must be abandon
ed, but the outlook is not favorable and
the development of the situation in the
next few days will be watched with legiti-
mate anxiety. He continues:
There are reports that the towns
people and even the garrison OF Namur
were less well disposed than the men OF
Liege to offer a strenuous resistance and
so bring upon their town the punishment
melted out by Germans to Liege.
There is undoubtedly some slight feel
ing among Belgians that they have not
been adequately supported by the allies
and that they have borne the whole brunt
of the war in the north, but we cannot
believe that the Belgians did less than
their duty and we expect to hear that
they were attacked by overpowering
numbers.
"Fine Stroke for Germans.
."The possession of Namur was vital for
Germany, and it was 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 often
sive in the north is only postponed and
not abandoned"
Reviewing the general situation, the
Times military expert points out that
the allies in Belgium are meeting the
full shock Of the German army. He
says that it Is essential for Germany
that she should deal a paralyzing blow
in this quarter in order to gain time
to detach troops to resist the Russian
attack on the Prussian frontier.
More Bad News Feared.
yesterday was a day of bad news.
and we fear more must follow" the
London Times says today In an edi-
torial on the fall of Namur. "In the
first phase of the great battle, the
paper continues, 1.-The Germans appear
to have won ground all along the line,
save in the area held by the British.
We were prepared for the ebb and flow
of the conflict, but not for the fall OF
Namur. - We have to face this
situation with mistaken confidence.
We have to remember that the battle
Is not yet over. The Germans nave not
yet burst their way through to France.
We have to remember that this is only
the first great encounter of war
which plainly is destined to be long
one. For the allies it is a phase; for
the Germans it is vital. They are deal
ing their blows with tremendous vigor,
but the issue in Belgium still hangs
in the balance, in spite Of the unfor-
tunate events at Namur.
Whatever be the upshot, Great Brit
ain and her allies will face the outlook
with logged determination and con-