The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-07
ALL-DAY BATTLE
|SFOUCHT ABOUT
FORTS AT L|EGE
Brilliant Defense of Bel
gians Met by Determined
Attack of Germans.
THOUSANDS HAVE FALLEN,
AND FIGHTING GOES ON
City May Be Taken, but Then
Kaiser's Troops Must
Face Namur.
FRENCH RUSHING TO SCENE
Belgian Airmen Perform Prodigies
Of Valor In Destroying
Enemy.
THOUSANDS HAVE FALLEN,
AND FIGHTING GOES ON
FRENCH RUSHING TO SCENE
Belgian Airmen Perform Prodig1es
Of Valor in Destroying
Enemy.

Especial Cable to Tho Times Nspatch)
BRUSSELS. August 6.-A desperate
all-day battle is raging about The
Liese forts. Military experts declare
II to be one OF the important battles
OF the war.
Since carly morning tho contendinx
armie: have been continuously en- :
gagged. Tho roar OF artillery firing can
be heard thirty miles away. Astonish-
Ing bravery ia being d,splayed on both
sides. Thousands have fallen.
Tho fate of LEGO is in doubt. Ger
man shell hre has already reduced two
of the forts, but the Belgians continue
70 resist with inspired gallantry.
The German artillery now has tho
range OF the Belgian position. and its
fire Is Of deadly effectiveness. Bel
gian reinforcements are being rushed
TO the scene. Machine guns are being
mounted outside OF the forte, whore
Trey will command all approaches
Mines are being laid and barbed wire
ntanglements constructed.
The German attack Is along tho en-
tire front of the Liege forts. Shells
are being hurled from Krupp/guns OF
heavy calibre at long range
GERMANS FIGHT WITH
DEADLY DETERMINATION
Tho Germans are lighting with
deadly determination. A squadron OF
Belgian lancers. 1t Is reported. WAS
completely wiped out after II had
killed $50 German Uhlans.
Hand-to- hand lighting followed the
reduction of the two forts When they
were silenced the German advance
broke through and were fought back
by the BelgIans using their rifles as
clubs. The other forts are reported
10 be holding out determined stand
is being made by the Belgians before
the city of Liege.
- AT -
ported 10 be engaged and fighting
with frenzied desperation TO wipe out
the disgrace of yesterdays disastrous
defeat. The French are reported to
have effected a union with the Bel
sians. and An equal number OF French
and Belgians are making a stand in
defense of the city.
The object of the allied French and
Belgians now seems TO be chiefly TO
delay the advance of the Germans un-
I'll France and England are ready with
sufficient force to meet the general
German advance In decisive battle
which is imminent within a weak or
two.
In the View OF observers at the
front. Liese will not be able much
longer TO hold out against the on
rushing Germans. The situation In
the city of Liese tonight. according
to the latest dispatches is as follows:
1t seems certain that the fortinca-
tions cannot stop the German advance
which can only be delayed by the de-
termlned stand OF the Belgians
The fortiiications have already held
out for thirty-six hours of almost con-
tinuous fighting. The fierce resistance
which the Germans have met and con-
tinue to meet, it Is believed. Will com
pei them to Pause and revictual. All
this VIII be fulfilling the plans which
have been formed for the Belgians.
And, IL finally the Germans succeed in
taking Liege, they Will then find them
selves confronted by an intrenched
camp at Namur twenty miles south
on the Meuse River. at which the Bel
gians are preparing TO make as deter
mined stand as they have made at
LleGe. Moreover. French army of
more than $4,000 is hurrylng forward
to join the Belgians at Namur, and
other French forces OF considerably
larger size are believed to be moving
forward in the same general direction
PROGRAM OF ALLIES
BRILLIANTLY FULFILIED
In this, military men say. the OBJ
stinate and unexpected stand of the
Belgians has brilliantly fulfilled the
task of delaying the German advance
and upsetting the carefully laid plans
Of the German general staff.
There is no sign yet of the surren-
ger Oh tne CITY. repeated uenldnUS Tor
surrender have been met by still
more desperate resistance To-days
fighting was worthy of the soil on
which Waterloo was fought.
The Belgian airmen have performed
prodgies OF valor. During this after
moons lighting Germany lost one of
her biggest Zeppelin dirisibles. 1t at
tempted to pass over, the fortification
on the Herve plateau. Belgian gun
ners quickly got the range with gun
designed to fight air craft. An explo-
sive shell tore through the envelope
and the sashag exploded. the machine
falling amid the assembled Belgian
troops in crumpled mass. The en-
tire crew, numbering twenty six, WAS
killed.
Immediately afterwards an aeroplane
arose from the German lines and at
tempted flight over the Herve forth
fcations in the direction OF the main
fortress of Liege. IT was also wrecked
by the air gun from the fort.
\ third encounter from airmen oc-
CURED during the day. Belgian and
Continued On Second page)