The Raymer enterprise., 1914-08-27
PROMISE DEFEAT OF GERMANS
AFTER CONFLICT is STARTED
FROM NEW BASE.
TO TAKE k0N|GSBURG
HoRDES OF RUSSIA ANNlHIlA1E
GERMAN EASTERN ARMY IN
ADVANCE INTO PRUSSIA.
western Newspaper Union News Service

western Newspaper L mon news service
Paris. Aug. 25.-The French war OF
flee issued the following announce
ment last night:
THE French and English. the plan
Of attack having failed owing to un-
foreseen difficulties, have retired on
the covering positions.
West OF the Meuse the English
army on our left was attacked by the
Germans. but behaved admirably,
holding its ground with traditional
steadfastness.
The French assumed the offensive
with two army corps. An African bri-
sade in the front line, carried away by
their eagerness. were received by a
murderous fire They did not give an
inch, but. counter attacked by the
Prussian guard, they we're Obliged to
retire. only, however. after inflicting
enormous losses. The Prussian guard
especially suffered heavily.
East Of the Meuse our troops ad-
vanced across an extremely difficult
country and made vigorous attack
when they emerged from the woods,
but were obliged to fall back after a
stiff fight south of the river Semois.
"On order of General Joffre, our
troops and the English troops with
drew to the covering positions. Our
troops are intact; our cavalry has In
no way suffered and our artillery has
affirmed its superiority. Our officers
and soldiers are In the best of condi
ton, morally and physically.
'As a result of the orders which
have been issued, the aspect Of the
struggle will change for a few days.
The French army will remain for a
time on the defensive, but at the right
moment. to be decided upon by the
ommander-in-chief, 1t will resume q
vigorous offensive.
Our losses are heavy; 1t would be
premature to .enumerate them. 1t
would be equally so to enumerate
those OF the Germans, who suffered so
heavily that they were obliged tc
abandon their counter attacks and es.
tablish themselves in fresh positions
in Lorraine.
We made four attacks yesterday
from our position north of Nancy, In.
flicting very heavy loss on the en-
emy.
In regard to the general situation
VIC have the full use of our railroads
and retain command of the seas. Our
operations have enabled the Russians
to come in action and penetrate the
heart OF east Prussia.
1T is to be regretted that the of.
fensive operations planned failed to
achieve their purposes as result of
difficulties impossible to foresee. 1t
would have shortened the war, but
our defenses remain intact in the
presence of an already weakened
enemy.
Every Frenchman will deplore the
temporary abandonment of portions
OF Alsaee ard Lorraine. which we had
occupied. and certain parts of the ma,
tional territory will suffer from events
Of which they will be the theater.
THE ordeal is inevitable, but TEN.
porary. Thus detachments OF Ger
man cavalry. belonging to an unat-
tached division operating on the ex-
treme right have penetrated to Rou.
baix tsix miles north of Lille) and
TIE Tourcoing district. which are de.
Tended only by territorial reservists.
Our valiant people will know how
to find courage to support this trial.
with unfailing faith In final success,
which Is not 10 be doubted. In tell
ing to the country the whole truth,
the government and military authori-
ties give 1t the strongest proof of
their absolute confidence in victory,
which depends only on our perseve-
rance and tenacity."
Namur Is reported to have fallen
after the outer Notifications had been
battered by German artillery. The
city was evacuated almost without a
struggle when the outer defenses
were destroyed.