The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-08-05
BELGRADE Seized
AUSTRIAN ARMY EASILY CAP
TURES SERVIAN CAPITAL
BRITISH navy PREPARED
Home Rule Enmities Forgotten Under
Stress of Srife-First Fleet Has
Been Stationed Near North Sea,
Ready to Take a Decisive Position
still Hoping for Peace in London

Ready to Take Decisive Position
| still Hoping for Peace in Londo1
| A dispatch to the London Standard
Thursday says: "The Austrlans
crossed the Danube thirty miles east
of Belgrade and the Save ten miles
south. Belgrade has been captured
and is now occupied by Austrian
troops, and the force which invaded
Seryia at Semendria is advancing
along the road which leads to Osi-
panica and ultimately to Nish.
"The occupation of Belgrade was
carried out without serious difficulty.
The invading troops crossed the river,
partly by means OF the remnants OF
the railway bridge, which was blown
up by the Servians, and partly by a
pontoon bridge constructed under its
cover, and approached the Servian
capital from the south.
"The attacking forces advanced by
a steep hill, driving the Servians be-
fore them. The Servians retreated,
partly along he road leading to Grocs
and partly towards Popovich. The
losses on both sides appeared to have
been light.
"The invasion of Servia at Semen
dria was a much more difficult task.
The Austrians at night built a pom
toon bridge from an island in the
middle of the Danube. where the
channel narrows to 200 yards. and
the current is swift. The building Of
the bridge was perceived from the
Servian shore and the Servians open
ed fire. The attacking forces were
aided by artillery and infantry along
the south shore of the island and sue
ceeded in completing the bridge, over
which they passed"
The British navy is prepared for
war at moments notice, and the
British army is quietly and swiftly
preparing. The war Office throws
cold water on the word "mobiliza-
tion", and has issued another careful
ly framed notice to the newspapers
that only "the usual precautions are
being taken. Nevertheless every step
necessary to place the land forces on
a war footing, except the summonlng
of the territorials to arms, has been
taken. All the territorial officers re-
ceived orders to be prepared for
call to duty.
A large section Of the engineers
staff of the territorials has been or
dered on duty. It consists of electrl-
clans, mine-layers, bridge-builders
and searchlight and lighthouse ex-
perts. Some of these are being sent
to Ireland to replace the engineers of
the regular army for duty in connec-
ton with the land defences, partlcu-
larly on the eastern coast.
Every officer and private of the
regular establishment leave has been
recalled. All the police on leave have
likewise returned to duty, some Of
them to replace soldiers guarding
military stores and stations. The gar
rison at Aldershot has been greatly
reinforced.
The searchlight stations on the
eastern coast, whose Office is to
guard against a surprise invasion, are
now fully manned. Coastwise steam
ers report the lights all along the
coast last night played on every in
coming and outgoing vessel.
None but the admiralty, which is
in constant touch through wireless at
Whitehall, knows the whereabouts OF
the first feet, which left Portland
Wednesday, but it is a safe presump-
ton that the feet is in position
close to the Channel, where 1t car
strike the North Sea in the event OF
hostilities.
The remarkable sight was witness
ed Of Premier Asquith and Andrew
Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition,
who, a few days ago, were on terms
of personal as we'll as political hos
tility, driving in the same car for a
consultation with Sir Edward Grey,
secretary for foreign affairs.
The prime minister announced in
the House of Commons that the
amending bill to the home rule bill
would be dropped for the present by
the consent of all parties.
Mr.. Bonar Law said: "In view OF
the prime minister's pronouncement
that peace and war are in the bal
ance' domestic difference must not
prevent our presenting a united front
| in the council of the world" He
added a word in behalf Of Sir Ed
ward Carson, the Ulster leader, to the
same effect.
|