The Colorado statesman., 1914-08-22
SWEEPS ALLIED FOES ASIDE AS
WORLDS BIG BATTLE
RACES.
SHELLS SPREAD TERROR
OVER VAST AREA AS EMPERoR'S
MEN RUSH FOR ATTACK
ON BRUSSELS.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

London, Aug. 20.-The German bat
tie line is sweeping toward the French
frontier, carrying all before it.
The formidable Liege forts, the only
check to the Kaiser's- advance, have
fallen; the rock that stemmed the
tide of Teutonic invasion has been car
ried away, and wave upon wave of
Germany's picked forces are being
hurled against the allied lines.
The German army has penetrated to
the north and south of the besieged
sity. The German advance formed
huge concave around the Belgian city
and, as the last fort fell, like a
stretched bow-string the Kaisers front
eaped forward, breaking through all
resistance.
The ominous booming of artillery
ire is heard within the walls of Brus-
sels. Fighting between skirmishers is
;eported to be going on within sight of
he city. The Belgian capital. the
great stepping stone to Paris, is trem-
bling, almost defenseless, before the
Kaiser's victorious march.
From the south Austria is rushing
toward the great battlefield. Up the
men are dragging the famous Hrolean
mountain artillery.
The attacking forces are concentrat-
ing toward the center of Belgium, the
great field of Waterloo. The big siege
guns used against the Liege forts are
being conveyed toward Brussels. An
other division is forging toward Ma
mur.
The allies seem bewildered by the
suddenness of the attack.
The Belgians are retreating toward
Antwerp, taking with them the seat Of
government.
Desperate fighting is in progress
along the entire front. The much
feared German infantry is reported to
be drawing near the advance lines in
great force under cover of field artil-
lery and cavalry. This is taken as an
indication that the Kaiser feels the
great, decisive battle is close at hand.
The line of communication between
the German forces and German soil is
unbroken at any point. More and more
troops are being poured across the
Belgian front to support the attacking
columns.
Half of Belgium swarms with Ger
many's men, and the advance of the
German flag Eas been carried every
where beyond tlNe Meuse.
The curt announcement in a tele
gram from Brussels of fierce fighting
between Belgian and German troops
along an extended front is generally
accepted in London az indicating the
real beginning of the first great bat
tie of the war.
The German attack is again re
ported made on the direct orders o
Emperor William himself to his gen
erals in the field.
The extent of the line of fighting
has not yet been revealed, but presum
ably it stretches in "a north and soutl
line. Beyond this, its definite loca
tion is virtually guesswork.
An engagement is reported to hav'
take place in northern Limburg. Al
important Franco-German battle is eS
pected.
Refugees from Diest, Tirlemont an,
other towns in that section of Belgium
who fled as the Germans approaches
are coming into Brussels in great mum
bers They declare that since the in
habitants vacated Tirlemont, Germal
shells have been dropping in the towI
A dispatch to the Paris Midi fron
Brussels says cannonading was dis
} tinctly heard in Brussels at o'clocl
yesterday morning. The correspondent
adds it is understood that a Germai
army is marching on Brussels by wa
of Huy and Jodoigne.