The Washington herald., 1914-08-15


formidable works around the already
strongly fortified town Of Namur, In front
OF which the French took up quarters
today. And In expectation OF the early
appearance of the German attack there,
the inhabitants OF Nsmur were all dis
armed today to obviate. II is declared. any
pretext for reprisals on the part Of the
Germans when they come. =
Renew I.ieEe Attacks. ~
Sharp fehting occurred in half dozen
different places through the war zone
today. in addition to a continuation, at
a furious pace, of the bombardment Of
the Liege forts. Suspending their opera
lions against the forts on the right
size of the Mouse, the Germans con-
centrated their efforts on those 20 the
west Of the town. The forts attacked
were Lersa, Lantin, Loneni. Hologn, and
F1amalle. An especially severe attack
was made on Pontisse. the Germans at
tempting, during the afternoon. to take
the fort by assault
it is officially announced that none Of
the forts has capitulated. as hasS been
stated in German reports. The de-
tenders Of the forts have been instructed
to blow up the forts rather than sur
render them.
Belgian troops fired heavily on a de-
tachment Of 400 Germans between and
6 O'Clock last night at Geet-Betz. five
miles south Of Haelen, forcing the Ger
mans to retire. -
In a sortie near Namur yesterday 40
military cyclists, after surrounding 100
Germans KILLED q large number, captured
fifty and routed the rest. Further details
Of the battle OF Haelen show that the
Germans lost 1900 killed and wounded.
Belgian reports say the German officers
apparently sacrificed their men without
scruple. During the fight the Germans
were obliged to pass two bridges over
the Gethe and Velpe rivers. where they
were exposed to a heavy FIRE. The re-
firing Germans are said to have left
heaps Of dead and wounded at these
bridges. The same carnage occurred
along the road from Threck to Haelen.
where the German cavalry, exposed to
the gattling guns OF the Belgians. fell
In droyes- At Colfaekin the German in
fantry and cavalry are said to have SUI
fered similarly.
Untried Troops Steady.
Haelen as particularly significant, mas
much as Y was fought by troops who
in the main had not been under fire be-
fore Following Haelen. the Belgians
claim to have beaten the Germans in
engagements at Neville Taviers and Egg
hezee, about nine miles north Of Namur,
on Wednesday and Thursday. II is ad-
mitted by the Belgians that they lost
heavily In wounded, but they claim to
have had few men killed.
While the situation a few days ago was
such that the eventnality of the occupa-
ton Of Brussels by the Germans was con-
ia E-lrr
that the city Is no longer in any danger.
Dispatches from Diest tell Of the KILL
ing Of two German aviators. and the
vounding Of another there yesterday. The
German airmen were flying across the
Belgian lines in an effort to ascertain
the strength of the Belgian column which \
was lying in the trenches In order to
get an accurate view they were forced
to ny low and were greeted with al
yolley from the. guns mounted in the
trenches.
their machines fell In a crumpled mass. |
The third, after being wounded, tried |
valnly to reach the German lines, but |
Just when he was about to reach safety, |
4 shot hit his machine, wrecking It. He |
was badly hurt and is now a prisoher IN |
the field hospital at Diest-
II is said here. that German aeropIanes |
have proved easy marks for the Belgian
gunners operating the guns especially |
to bring down aircrafts. On the |
other hand, the German Rrupp guns, de- |
signed for the same purpose. seem noti
TO have been q success because Of their |
limited range. 1
Fighting Near Brussels.
= Heavy fighting between Belgians and |
the German army that Is advancing to-
ward Antwerp is going on almost within /
sound Of the Belgian eapitaL
Couriers from the front brought word /
Today that the forces are engaged near
Diest, which is only thirty-six miles |
southeast OF Antwerp.
Although worn out by three days Of