Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-08-04
MAY ANN|H|LATE
 FRENCH IN ONE
 GREAT BATTLE That Appears to Be Plan of Germans, Marching in
 Three Divisions.
BIG ENGAGEMENT
 EXPECTED HOURLY
German Strategy May Lure French From Protection of KcIiOrt and Re- suit in Disaster. With Heavy
 Force Continuing t6 Paris.

London, Aug. s.-yhe first great battle of the war iY but matter of hours. Fragmentarf reports of skir- mishes during the/past 24 hours tell q story of the opfning of skirmishes which promises B be one of the most historic battles fn modern warfare.
 Four air scqits of the German army crossed the frontier near Rhemis and were driven back.
 A corps of Uhlans crossed the border into France in what appears to be an advance on Nancy and was met and repulsed in a short engage meAt at Petit Croix. customs post on the Lorraine frontier.
 While on the face of the reports, the day appears to have been disas- trious to the Germas, an analysis of these and other movements, which as yet have had no apparent effect, draws back the curtain to reveal the strategy behind a momentous ad- vance movement of the three German armies, numbering nearly million men, which is now in progres with the capture of the entire eastern IIOHtltE Ol IdIlCC dS ItS OUJtCl. IT the three armies are included 22 army corps.
 On to Paris:
 The first is moving through Bel gium. This is the strongest, as it's direction is Paris-ward, where the greatest resistance may be expected. It numbers about 600.0O0 men. The aerial scouts who were driven back at Rhems belonged to the advance body of the first body and they will reconnoiter the country to learn if any considerable body of French troops are in front.
 The second armys advance guard, was the detachment that was repuls- ed at Petit Croix. The Uhlans suf- fered temporary defeat, but only out wardly. It's functon the advance guard of this weaker body of O0,O0O men was to fall back when struck. This it did, after sharp engage ment. This army is advancing on the French border from Hetz. with Nancy as it's objective.
 Besiege Again BelfOrt.
 The third army is pushing forward in the vicinity of Mulhausenm near the Swiss border, with Belfort, the city that withstood general siege of three months during the Franco Prussian war of 1870. as its goal. Its advance formation is in leser num- bers, and is subdivided into small scouting parties. They have been en- gagged in number of skirmishes be- tween the border and Belfort, On French territory, but their movement has been more in the nature of recOnnoitering.
 Upwards of 2500O0 are reported to be, included in this army. It's great est strength is due to the practical importace ofn capturing Belfort. [
 The first clash of these great bodies of troops is likely to occur in this territory contiguous to the Swiss border and on Alsac ground. French Force Advances. The war office here tonight con- firms a report that French army of 75.000 had crossed the border. near Alt Meunstrel, on the A1sac- French | border. ten miles East of Belfort Dhile the advance of the French was slowly driving back the outguards of the German forces it was estimat. ed that it would be but rew hours before the retreat of the German ad. vance should become precipitate. French pursuit of the fleeing Ger. man advance may be brought to 2 sudden halt when it Is discovered that their quary is but falling back upon the main body. If the stratSxit manner of attempting to draw on thu main body of French troops into (Continued on page 5.)