The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-08
BLOW up BOILERS SHIFT WAR Scene
Eyes Of Europe. Now Arc
Turned Toward Antwerp.
Germans Are Drawing Lines
Closer About the City.


London. Oct. s.-Au eyes today are
turned to Antwerp whose fate is re-
garded here as important out OF all pro-
portion to the number of men engaged
in its attack and defense. Germany
must not only keep an open door into
France. it is argued here, but she must
be prepared to close the back door to
Essen, most important German mill
itary center, il the long and stubborn
fight of General Won Kluck, the COM
mander of the right wing. ends in dis
aster.
The war has presented no picture Of
greater desolatiOn that that Of the hosts
of refugees fleeing from the last Bel
gian stronghold. Great crowds of the
citizens of Antwerp, dumb with terror
as the huge German shells hurtle over
their heads, with a noise like an ex-
press train. are fleeing toward England
and Holland in such numbers that the
hospitality Of these countries is like
ly to be taxed to the utmost. The
flight OF these refugees has been. -ac-
CELEBRATED by the appearance over the
city OF Zeppelin airships. dropping de-
structiOn and death.
The only ray Of hope from the al
, lies standpoint is found in the news
| that the almost exhausted garrison of
! Antwerp has been reinforced by fresh
troops and more guns.
Up to the present, only one great
German siege gun has been brought
into play and this piece of artillery is
fired only at infrequent intervals.
Guns half the size of the 'destroyers Of
Liege and Namur are being used in
the work of battering the rings Of
forts wrich surround Antwerp.
Both sides confirm the report that
the Germans have succeeded in cross
| ing the River Nethe, but the trenches
along the River Scheldt are still hold
| ing out against their determined at
tacks. The German offensive move
ment is now approaching the inner
ring of forts and Berlin reports the
| capture in the open field of four heavy
batteries fifty-two field guns and as
many machine guns.
| AS the net is being drawn tighter
about the city. the efforts of it's de-
| tenders are being redoubled; many Of
! their sorties have been marked by
/; sanguinary fighting.
| According to formal notification
sent into Antwerp by the German
commander. the active bOmbardment
of the city is now under way. This Is
confirmed by refugees to Ostend, who
can hear heavy artillery firing.
The Battle in France.
In northeastern France on the allies
left wing. the main positions of the
cOntendlng forces now reach within ten
OR fifteen miles of the Belgian border,
! while beyond these points, masses of
cavalry continue the struggle over the
frontier line and into Belgium. Along
the greater part of the front however
! the ntagOniStS seem content to watch
each other without attempting any def
/ mite movements.
| New German electives have appear
/ ed in the Lille district and the struggle
now known as the Battle of the Three
Rivers, may, decide the French CAM
paign.
/ III the east the Russians are batter
| to be suffering severely under their
artillery fire. All the efforts of the
authorities to relieve this fortress are
reported as having been repulsed by
the besiegers.
! The Russian general staff reports
! that the German army, defeated on the
Niemen river, has retreated with much
! stubbOrnness to the East Prussian
frontier, where is has entrenched itself,
and Berlin supplements this informa-
ton with the statement that the Rus
slams have been repulsed with loss
iof 200 prisoners and nine machine
| guns
! The Germans claim also that in a
minor engagement near Ivangorod.
southeast of Warsaw, in Russian Po-
land. they were successful having TAX
en- 1890 prisoners Petrograd declarcy
that the main conflict along the Wis
tula river has not as yet developed, al
though there have been preliminary
engagements between advanced forces
of the opposing armies.