The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-02

Fleets o. Great britain and Ger
many at last have come to grips and,
according to the reports from Lon
don, victory lay with the British.
In battle with British warships
off the island of IIcligoland in the
North sea yesterday, the Germans are
reported to have lost two cruisers and
two torpedo boats sunk, while anoth-
CT Of their cruisers and many of
their destrOyers were badly battered.
The british claimed not to have
suffered the loss of vessel and de-
clared there were few fatalities on
board tho vessels Of their fleet. The
German casualties were not stated.
The island of Heligoland, which lies
45 miles off the mouths of the rivers
Elbe and Wcser always has been re-
garded point Of great strategic val
ne for the protection Of the Kaiser
Wilhelm canal and otherwise in the
naval defense If Germany.
Recent reports had it that a large
part of the flower of the German
navy lay in the waters adjacent to the
mouths of the Elbe and Weser and in
the Kaiser Wilhelm canal.
Again last night there was a scar
city OF news concerning the land war;
faro in Europe.
The French war office in a state
ment said laconicaly that the situa-
ton along it's lines Friday was the
same as it was Thursday, adding that
the Germans apparently 'have slack
ened their march," that was ALL
From England there came not even
a word officially concerning the fight
ing on land.
assAlyerio,!s reyerse, to, British Rrms on
AAs; \ Hkspfe feontieF is offleiaiiy an
n66hoed Ia Berlin. j.
|. & AfteF nine days fighting the Ger
n ans claim to have put the western
line OF the allies to flight. The Eng
lish; 1t is asserted. were defeated al
Naubeuge, France, andN the Franco
Belgian forces driven back toward
Nlaubeuge. -
Belgian attacks from Nancy and
Antwerp were:repulsed, it is declared
t, Field Marshal Sir Johp French.
commander in chief Of, the British
fcxpeditionary force. reports that his
ft::oops were attacked by Ave German
army, corps and cavalry "Wednesday
in the neisKDdyhood of Cambraf ana
lIecateaus and that their casualties
were heavy. He docs not state the
outcome of the battle. .cambrai and
I.ecateau Ere French towns about 10
riilcs southwest Of Maubeuge and the
description OF the scene of the fighting
ny Field Marshal French as announc-
din heghouse OF commons by Pre-
mter> Asquith today fits in, with the
battle .,ffne Indicated at Berlin. s 8
>An'eEnglish correspondent at Lille
France, says that the advance guard
fof the Germans is now. at Pont-a-
Marco and Marchinennes. French
towns Just south Of Lille in the DEPART
ment Of DuNord. -
British marines are in force at Os-
tend. A press dispatch = from that
town! says that the Germans are with
In 20 miles Of the place.
a newspaper dispatch from BOu-
loSne reports that the Germans
broke through the French lines near
Arras in the province of Pas de Clais,
but that the French have the situa-
ton well in hand
German troops are reported as TAX
ing the offensive in. Belgian Congo.
The Russian military attache at
Paris IL credited with the statement
that additional Russian armies are
about to invade Western Prussia
with the intention of marching on
Berlin.
One of the important announce
mcnts Of yesterday was made by the
Marquis of Crcwc i'm the house of
lords. 1t was that England would
draw on the native forces i'm British
India to reinforce her armies i'm Eu-
rope.
The German forts at Using Tau