South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-25
BATTLES NEAR MONS
AND OSTEND

SANt movement OF the FTtnGn Was
borne by the African troops. A
brigade Of these was hurled against
the German center, only TO be swept
by artillery and rifle fire which play
ed havoc with their ranks. The
Africans fought doggedly but were
driven back when a counter attack
was delivered by the Prussian guard
which fell upon the flank OF the at
attacking forces with the violence Of
an avalanche.
The French forces east OF the
Meuse were driven back TO the terri
tory south OF the Semois river, al
most upon French soil.
While the French government ad-
mits the defeat OF the allied forces,
the army is cOmplimented upon its
behavior and Gen. Joffre reports that
his Officers and soldiers are in the
best Of condition morally and ply
sically.''
SO powerful was the drive Of the
German army against the main force
Of allies that French troops stationed
in the department of NOrd were rush
ed to reinforce the left flank, leav-
ing only a body of territorials in the
district around Roubaix to resist the
attack OF the Uhlans which penetrat-
ed that region.
Now Control Most Of Belgium
From all indications the Germans
now control all of Belgium except
the extreme northern and northeast
ern parts, but military experts agree
that the kaiser must fight out a de-
cisive engagement at once If he is to
use any part Of his army in Belgium
TO attempt TO stem the advance of
the Russians through east Prussia.
Some Of the experts have advanced
the theory that the Franco-British al
lies fell back purposely to lure the
Germans onward and further away
from Berlin.
Censored dispatches telling Of the
fighting around CharlerOi on the
Sambre river. west of Mons, say that
the Germans opened the attack on
Saturday afternoon by bombarding
the city. After a furious cannonade
German troops moved forward
against the defenders. The city was
held by French and British, support
ed by heavy artillery.
During the bombardment the Ger
man artillerymen directed their fire
against the southern end of the city
to clear the bridges spanning the
Sambre. In the meantime Krupp
siege guns had been mounted upon
sheltering eminences and were she'll
ing the defensive works Of the
French. The thunder of the can
nOnade was deafening and the ground
shook as whole batteries let go in
unison.
While the battle was raging around
CharlerOi the inhabitants suddenly
heard the roar Of artillery to the
northeast This came from a German
column that had crossed the Meuse
near Huy and was fighting its way
westward opposed by French and
Belgians.
Gain FOOthoId I'm CharlerOi.
The Germans finally gained a foot
hold in CharlerOi and then followed
desperate hand-to-hand lighting in
the streets. One correspondent says
that the city was taken, lost and re-
taken six times.
Lieut.. Col. Alsager Pollock, the
military expert of the Daily Express,
expresses the opinion that the Ger
mans were able to capture Namur by
means of a grand assault and artillery
bombardment made suddenly at
night. He says:
The fall of Nemur is incompre-
hensible. Probably night attacks |
were delivered by overwhelming |
numbers. But the city having fallen, |
the line of the Sambre river Is rem |
dered untenable and the retirement |
of the French army stationed along |
that river was made inevitable.
The country in the direction of
MeZiers is very suitable to rear guard |
operations The gap between Toul |
and Epinal is threatened, but it may |
be hoped that the line of the Mozelle |
river and elsewhere has been judi |
ciously entrenched-
cit looks as though the wings of /
the allied forces between Charleroi !
and Namur found itself in danger of |
being oVerwhelme by superior Ger
man forces directed against this point |
and fell back TO avoid unnecessary |
loss Of life"
Col. Reppington, the war expert of |
the Times gives the opinion that the |
possession of NamUr was vital to the |
allies, bue he expresses the hope that
the counter offensive movement !
against the right flank Of the Ger
mans has been only postponed and |
not abandoned entirely
Lose Favorable Fort.
AS TO the retirement of the allies,
Col. Reppington says:
I'VE must frankly admit that. with
the loss of Namur and the river lines.
an offensive movement on the part of
the allies will take place under less
favorable chances for success than
heretofore existed. 1t will be seen
from dispatches that our little army
british fOrces) was fighting at Mons
while unfortunate events were hap
pening further east and that during
Sunday it retained its position. Our
is that it received the
German attack unmOved, but in what
strength it suffered we are not yet
told. 1t seems certain, however, that
our army doubtless TO les disgust and |
disappointment, had to conform with
the movements Of the French"