The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-08-13
25,OOgGERMANSDIE
IN FIGHT FOR CITY.
Fierce Hand-to. Inland Battle in
Streets.
ASKS TIME TO BURY DEAD
kslsers Commander Requests ARMS
tIoe Of Belgium Army-osrman
Aviator Drops Bombs on Town
and Kills Thirty Persons.

Berlin, via London, Aug. S.-sharp
denial was made by the German gov
eminent of the report that Germany
had sent an ultimatum TO Italy.
The Hague, Netherlands, Aug. s.
The Dutch arn4 is mobiliZing rapidly
for war with Germany. Queen VIII
helminia left here by automobile to
inspect the troops concentrated near
Rotterdam.
London, Aug. S.-The Belgian lega-
ton announces officially that the garri-
son at Liege is still holding out its
stubborn resistance with undiminished
valor. The Germans have taken the
forts which protect the city. The Ger
mans have asked for an armistice Of
"a hours In which to bury their dead.
In asking for the truce the German
commander, General Won Emmich, &C.
knowledged the loss Of $4,000 men.
Fighting In Streets OF Liege.
Brussels, Aug. 8.-By titanic blows
the German troops have hammered
their way into the streets Of Liege, but
the city has not capitulated The Bel
gian defenders still hold the forts, and
although their fire has been hlanked at
points of contact between the lighting
forces within the city, where the use
OF shell fire would prove as destructive
TO the defenders as to the invaders,
their effectiveness still holds good in
checking reinforcements to the Ger
man arms.
The fighting in the streets OF the
city is an anachronism of modern
scientific warfare, going back to the
primitive methods Of hand-to-hand con-
fict with bayonet charge and lance
and saber thrust. The execution on
both sides is high and the roll Of the
dead and wounded is growing by leaps.
10000 Germans Attack.
One hundred and twenty thousand
German troops were thrown in mass
upon Liege late in the afternoon. 1t
was the third desperate attempt by
General Won Emmich to capture and
sweep the city. The advance was
ordered after CALLING fire Of several
hours by 81 German batteries planted
along the banks Of the River Mouse in
a vain attempt to silence the Belgian
forts.
The infantry went into action
under cover OF the big gun FIRE and
moved forward in close order in
what looked to be a resistless tide Of
determined men.
Suburb 10 Captured.
Within a short time the leading col
umns had captured the oVerrun Bres-
SIOUX, suburb of L1ege, only short
distance from Fort Fieuron. The ad-
vance by this direction explained why
the German artillery fire had been cen
tered ON Fort Fleuron, but it's only ef-
feet was to dismount three Of the NOR
tars within the fertilization.
When the German troops, by their
splendid and orderly advance, had oc-
cupied Bressoux. the forts command.
ing this position found that their fire
would not halt the advance and began
to pour forth their legions of Belgian
troops to make stand with small
arms and oppose a barricade of SOL
diers where the Notifications had
failed.
Reinforcements Rushed.
Ten thousand infantrymen were
rushed from Fort Evegnee and Fort
Barchon to reinforce the 10000 thrown
between Bressoux and Lege to stay
the German advance. Thus practically
the entire strength OF the mobile gar.
rison at Liege was concentrated
against the advance guard Of the Ger.
man column, and the forts, on account
OF the proximity Of the warning troops,
had to turn their fire to harass the
rear guard of Germans and attack any
column that might be brought up for
reinforcements.
Shells Have Wrecked City.
Late and fragmentary reports from
Liege state that the city Is suffering
severely from the German lombard.
ment, which has lasted throughout the
day in an effort to clear a path for
the advance of the kaisers troops to-
ward Paris. Exploding shells have
set fire to a number of the historic
buildings OF the city, including the
Cathedral of st. Haut, the Palais de
Justice, the Church OF st. Jacques, the
Theater Royale and the university.
Students and citizens who are nom
combatants successfully fought the
fires In the city, but in Bressoux,
where the Germans are In force, fires
threaten the destruction of the suburb.
..' Refuse to Surrender.
Thus far the brave and stubborn de-
Tense OF Liege has cost the German
arms dearly and the Belgians have
confidence that they will be able to
hold General Won Emmich in check un.
I'll they are reinforced by the French
and other Belgian troops. g.
Their confidence and determination
were shown when they turned back
with curt refusal demand brought
into the city by German officers under
q nag OF truce that Liege be surren.
dered. Later they refused a request
for q 24-hour armistice sent In by the
German lommAndeE: He asked for