Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-09-03
London War Office Reports
British Victory in North
Sea Naval Engagement.
ALLIES CHECK GERMAN RUSH
French Capital May Be Moved to
Bordeaux If Kaiser's Army
Makes Further Advance
Toward Paris.

London, Aug. 29.-The official re
port that the British fleet in the first
real naval battle in the North sea had
sunk two German cruisers and two
torpedo boat destroyers, and had bat
tered and set fire to a third cruiser OF
the German high sea feet. fifty miles
of the German coast, coupled with the
announcement from St Petersburg
that the Russian troops had crossed
the Vistula in Germany, almost totally
wiped out the feeling of pessimism
under which London had been labor
ing for the past few days.
Sea Fight Near Coast.
The battle in which the German feet
suffered such heavy losses was fought
only fifty miles from Cuxhaven, the
port of Hamburg, Germany. at the
mouth of the Elbe. The admiralty,
confirming the report, says the Ger
man cruiser Mainz and a cruiser of the
Eoeln type were sunk, with two de-
stroyers. The British cruiser Anne
thyst and destroyer Laertes we're dam
aged.
They also confirmed the report that
the Russian cruisers PalIada and Bo-
gatyr had sunk the German cruiser
Magdenberg.
The Mainz was a protected cruiser
of the speediest type. She was one of
four of her class. She carried $50
officers and men. Her armament con-
sisted of twelve four-inch guns.
Advance Of Germans Checked.
Paris, Aug. 29.-The German adj
vance on Paris has been checked.
Masses of the allies troops, numbering
in the neighborhood of 100000 men,
have been hurled at an equal or
greater number of the kaiser's sol
diers along the French frontier.
A terrific battle is reported raging
at Arras, and a conflict of great mag
nitude is being staged in the vicinity
of Nancy, which city the Germans as
sert they have captured. Among other
towns near Nancy claimed by the
Germans to be in their possession are
Villerupt, Longuyun, Jappecourt, Au-
dunIe-Roman, and Briey. These
points have been added to Longwy,
which fell yesterday.
100000 Soldiers Clash.
In this territory the Germans, under
the command of Crown Prince Will
helm, are faced by 100000 French
soldiers, who, according to reports re-
ceived here, are putting up a life and
death battle to prevent the further
movement forward of the invaders.
The French have concentrated the
greater part of their force between
Sedan and Verdun, with a right flank
spread to the south of Nancy.
To the north, in the vicinity of Ar
ras, French, British, and Belgian sol
diers numbering in the neighborhood
of 100000 men are fighting 100000
Germans, who are attempting to flank
the allies.
French Hold Positions.
The second line of defense, to which
the allies retired from Belgium. is
being firmly maintained although the
Germans are pushing forward new
columns with all speed France has
responded to the popular call for the
strengthening Of its forces by sending
reinforcements from the second re-
serve army.
Success Of this German fanking
movement would leave all northeast
ern France at the mercy of the kaiser
and would threaten to sever French
communication with England.
May Move French Capital.
Despite the optimistic feeling that
the allies will stem the tide of defeat
that has been theirs since the open
ing of the war, there are persistent
reports that the new cabinet is seri-
ously considering the removal of the
seat of the French government to Bor-
deaux. This removal will take place
only in the event the Germans pass
the second line of defense marked by
the ADMINISTRATIONS line.
India's Troops to Aid.
London, Aug. 29.-Lord Kitchener,
secretary of state for war, announced
In the house of lords today that the
British army in France should be fur
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