davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF LIEGE, BELGIUM, WHERE FIRST BIG BATTLE
 OF EUROPEAN WAR IS BEING FOUGHT

up around the original chapel founded
 there by St. Monulph, bishop of Tongres.
 In the tenth century 1t became recog-
 nized as an independent principalty of
 the French empire. L.iege was taken by
 Marlborough in 1702 and the fortress was
 garrisoned by the Dutch until 171S- The
 French revolutionary armies overran the
 prihcipality in 1792 and from 1794 to the
 fall of Napoleon it was annexed to
 France, and was known as the depart
 ment of the Ourthe. The Congress of Vienna in 1915 decreed that Liege, with the other provinces of the southern Meth
 erlands, should form part of the new
 Kingdom of the Netherlands under the rule of William I. of the House of Orange.
 The city took an active part in the Bel gian revolt of 1890. and since that date the ancient principality has been incor- porated into the kingdom of Belgium. The principal point of interests to the tourists in Liege has been the great cathe- dral. or church of St. Paul. The univer- sity founded in 1877, enjoys a high repu- tation for education in the arts of mining and manufacturing.
 There are many beautiful gardens in Liege and the rivers are spanned by splen- did bridges, but the larger portion of the city has a crowded aspect, with nar- row. crooked streets.
 The railway lines through Liese are the direct routes from Cologne to Paris and from Luxemburg 10 Brussels, the possession of other which would be valu- able prixes> to the German army. Waterloo, the place which everybody knows as the scene of the downfall of Napoleon at the hands of the allies on June IS, 1sl5 ia not on q direct line from Liege, but lies some O miles from 1t in air, line south of BrusseIa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
REFUGEES SUFFER
 THE HORR0RSOF WAR
English Correspondent Tells of Treatment of Russians
 At Island of Rugen

London. August 1.--The Berlin cor respondent of the Daily Telegraph. who has reached Stockholm. sends the fol-
 lowing dispatch:
 "rhe scene witnessed at Sassnitz a
 famous watering place on the German island of Rugen, in the Baltic sea,
 baifled all description. Some 5000 Rus sian refugees turned out on the quay were left to struggle for access to a steamer which was reached by sin ale gangway The vessel sailed, leav- ing 5000 of them in despair, believing that the last chance to return to their country. had gone.
 One family had a letter of credit for 10000 roubles (s10.000) but were on the verge of starvation. Some ref ugees were half mad with hunger
 thirst and lack of sleep"
 The correspondent says narrowing stories have been told by refugees ar irving at Stockholm. Many were moved
 about by train for four or five days without any idea as to what was be- l ing done. for them.
 l Foreigters taking the cure at Wies- l baden and kissingen were glad tc I crowd the fourth class cars in their de
 sire to get away.
 "They were like poultry in crates,
 the correspondent adds, without fooo
 or drink and almost without air fol 15 hours at time During the nights
 when they were not in the train they were subjected to a continuous fire ol insults from the troops. Especially the officers Women of delicate breeding were openly threatened with violenc,
 and all before the declaration of war 1 Among the victims was NJ. kasso 1 former Russian minister of education
 Twice he was placed under arrest IT spite of the knowledge of his identity land packed into a fourth class car riage. Councillor Of State Schreiber ant
 his wife were assaulted by officers te whom they complained Wives were separated from husbands and parents from their children; no consideration was shown either for age. sex or in firmity. Many persons are in ignor- i ance of the whereabouts of those dear | est to them.'
 The Standards Berlin correspondent says all persons at home or abroad wht previously had been rejected by the army as unfit for service have now 1been summoned to the oolors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07

The strategic importance of Liege' the Belgian city before which the Ger man advance is reported to have been checked, and where, according to Eu- ropean dispstches, the first great bat tic in force of the war may be fought Is many sided. Principally 1t Is the most strongly fortified obstacle to the sup- posed plan of the Germans to cut across the lower half of Belgium into French territory, but In addition to this the city is of itself prize In many ways. Iiese is the Pittsburg of Belgium. For miles to the southwest. along the River Mouse, there are scores of blast fur nnces, pudding furnaces, rolling mills and forGes. It is the site of the famous Cockerill works, said to be the largest ,yanufactory of machinery in the world
 Liege proper, with population of 1ss.- 600. lies at the junction of the Mouse and the ourthe in a basin margined by hills. All around the city is 8 wealth of coal and iron ore. The mines extend even under the city and river. These natural riches. in connection with the favorable situation of the city at the junction of two navigable rivers. have given rise to the extensive msnufacturing industry fin the city itself
 Products Are Varied :,
 The products are varied. but the prin-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07

s Articles of camp equipment and theif distinctive component parts.
 g. Armor plates.
 10. Warships including boats and their distinctive component parts of nature that they can only be used on vessel of war.
 Il. Aeropanes, airships. balloons and air craft of all kinds and their component parts, together with accessories and ar ticles recognizable for use in connection with balloons and air craft.
 F. Implements and apparatus designed exclusively for the manufacture of muni- tons of war, for the manufacture or re- pair of arms or war material for use on land and sea-
 The following will be treated as condi- tional contraband:
 l. Foodstuffs.
 ?. Forage aud grain suitable for feed ing animals.
 3. Clothing. fabrics for clothing and boots and shoes suitable for use in war.
 1. Gold and silver in coin or bullion and paper money.
 5, Vehicles of all kinds available for ust in war and their component parts.
 G. Vessels. craft and boats of all kinds floating docks. parts of docks and theil component parts. '. Railway material, both fixed and roll ing stock, and material for telegraphs wireless telegraphs. s. Fuel lubricants. g. Powder and explosives not special, prepared for use in war. 10. Barbed wire and implements for fix ing and cutting the same. II. Horseshoes and shoeing materials. F. Harness and saddlery. 1S. Field glasses, telescopes, chrono meters and all kinds of nautical instru ments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
Word From St. Petersburg
End of Acute Distress

London, August 6-Today it is be- Heyed. saw the end of acute distress for American tourists in England All steamship lines are accepting letters of credit in payment for transporta- tion- The American committee has re- lieved the most urgent cases of Amer jeans in need, while numerous wealthy Americans, among them Samuel Unter- myer of New York. have purchased steamship tickets for compatriots.
 Theodore Hetzler of New York made arrangements with a New York bank by cable today and drew s300000 here 10 tide over Americans pending the arr rival of the cruiser Tennessee, which is bringing gold.
 The American committee now Is pre- pairing to aid Americans without money nent. The transportation committee is to permit Holland American line steamers to call at Liverpool for pas sengefe. The government already has issued orders permitting Italian liners to take off Americans.
 Arrangements were completed for the departure of the cruiser Tennessee from New York tonight with her treasure store of gold. The armored cruiser North Carolina will sail in a few days with more gold.
 Red Cross headquarters announced tonight that prompt responses have been received to the appeal for Flu ropean war relief funds. officials ex- pressed the hope that a sum sufficient to charter big ship and send hospital
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
L|CHNOWSKY
 THANKS ENGLAND
German Ambassador Appre- ciates Courtesy Shown
 Him

London, August 6.-G:55 D. m)-The German ambassador at London. Prince Lichnowsky, who left England today, ad- dressed a telegram to the British govern ment expressing his thanks for the great courtesy shown to us during our jour- ney"
 departure of the British ambassador from the German capital, Emperor William sent an aide de camp to express the regret of his majesty because of the excesses committed against the British embassy. Sir Edward Goshen in reply said he was thankful for the solicitude shown him by the German government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
PASSAGE OF BUDGET
 SHOWS ENGLAND k IN DEADLY EARNEST
100, ,000 Men Needed In Ad dition to Army, Say Of ficials-War to Be
 Swift

London, August 6.--dl:50 D. m)-rf passage of a war budget for soo0 .oo0 the House of Commons today without
 dissenting voice and the granting of a
 army increase of 500,000 men in accord
 ance with plans of Lord Kitchener. tt
 new war minister. shows that Great Bri
 ain is in deadly earnest
 A call to arms issued by the war oft,
 tonight says an addition of 100000 nt
 to the regular army Is needed immed
 ately and that Lord Kitchener Is conf
 dent this appeal will at once be responde to by all who have the safety of ot empire at heartr
 The term of service for the new me i. is to be three years, or until the war ended. The age of enlistment will | between 19 and 30.
 The naval estimates provide for s7.0 I additional officers and men. which WI
 make the navys strength 2ls,oo0 men. . 1 There are no illusions in England ths the war Is certain to be swift and decis i've one. The people are steeled for l long and exhaustive struggle. The admiralty notified the public tt night that the first news from the nay might not be good news. Swift upon th
 heels of this intimation came the tidinp that the cruiser Amphion had been sun by mine with the loss of an officer an lS0 men--Great Britain's first sacrifice the war.
 Ships Run Risks It Is considered that British ships f the North Sea are running greater risk during the first days of the war tha the Germans The royal family shart with the homes of it's many subjects tn suspense of waiting for news of the faf of the different units of the fleet Print
 Albert the second son of the King, aboaf'
 the battleship Collingwood Is one of tn
 many boy midshipmen afioat sharing tll
 perils of their elders.
 There was dramatic incident in tn
 House of Commons today when the fetl
 between Lord Charles Beresford and Nir ston Spencer Churchill, first lord of tn admiralty. was buried. Admiral Beresfor shook hands with the first lord and said Well done"
 The torpedo boat destroyer Lane, which sent the Hamburg American lin steamer Koenigen Luise to the bottor | with four shots, only came out of tn 1 ship yards last Saturday hardly dry. Realization of War 1 Londoners had the first realization ( war brought home to them tonight whe hundreds of commuters. taking the | trains at the Victoria station. were SUI prised to see S5 German prisoners guars l ed by English soldiers with fixed bay ! nets. The Germans were naval reser'
 ists taken from their ships and mat 1 prisoners of war A goodly number l naval reservists and also some Gerint army reservists who were attempting proceed to Germany. were held by tl authorities today
 Some persons in the crowd fin the st tion, thinking the Germans spies. begs to hiss them. The demonstration W, quickly sllenced by cries of shame" Tl l Germans seemed on the best terms vii 1 their captors. Several more persons sui | posed to be spies were arrested today | different parts of England
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07

Washington, August 6.-Although no responses had been received tonight 10 the formal tender of good offices made by the United States to warning pow CTS in Europe. administration officials thought that within a short time the American government probably would be called to play the role of mediator.
 By placing itself on record, the uni- ted States. now caring incidentally for diplomatic interests of most of the na- tions at war. will have first oppor- tuEity to compose the situation if a ray of hope for peace arises.
 War developments for the most part were overshadowed by the death at the White House of Mrs Wilson.
 Dispatches to the state department
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
FOREST FIRES
 IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Fernie. B. C.. August 6.--Forest fire today continued to rage in this vicinity The town of Corbin was saved by tn wind shifting. The 300 men in the tow.
 At Hosmer citizens buried their be longings and women and children were re moved to the river for safety The are; now burning in this part of British Co lumbia is 20 square miles. Twelve refsi gees who arrived today reported hun dreds marooned at Camp Six.
 Only three deaths from forest fires an known.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION FOLLOW PATH OF EUROPEAN WAR
UNITED STATES MAY YET
 PLAY ROLE OF MEDIATOR

from Belgium told of the repulse of German forces. Administration officials considered the situation in China and the far east. but no action was taken, The Chinese government had suggest cd informally that the United states might help at this moment to maintain tho integrity of China,
 The feeling in administration circles was that none of the countries at war would be inclined to asgravate the sit uation in the far east and that a status quo would be maintained. Should revo- lutionaries become active in China however. and the moral support of the American government be required, there is little doubt that il will be given because general disturbances In China at this time would menace the lives Of missionaries and foreigners generally
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
PENSACOLA MAN
 SHOT BY WOMAN

Mobile. August 6.--News reached Mo bile tonight of the killing of I. | Brown at Pensacola this afternoon b: Mrs. Florence M. McGowan, traine, nurse of this city. Brown had jus teen arraigned on a statutory charge the girl involved being the 15-yeaf old daughter of Mrs. McGowan. wh' visited Pensacola last week. The shoot ing occurred at the courthouse and fol lowed Browns preliminary hearing i'm mediately.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
TENNESSEE SAILS TO
 SUCCOR AMERICANS
tcontlnued From ra.e -one.,

IT EOM H-u&e OmCsy fcans who are in want In European countries.
 When the cruiser nosed outward to sea in the darkness she had on board about $6 900 900 in gold-$3, GOO, 900 from the Bank CTS Trust company, 2.750Oo0 appropriated by Congress and about s30o00o intrusted to the paymaster's carei by personal friends of individuals abroad
 More private funds are expected to be placed with the treasury authorities here
 and it is likely that second shipment
 of gold will be sent, probably on the
 cruiser North Carolina. The Tennessee 8
 gold goes as a bulk lot of government
 money. The individual depositors' names
 are not mentioned. but the delivery of
 the money to individual drawees who have
 orders from their American shippers will
 be made. This plan, directed by the war
 department, 1t was believed in financial
 circles here. Is to prevent any question
 of American neutrality. The gold was
 insured against marine risks. The rate
 was not announced.
 Money Not Taken
 Two million dollars intended as part of the Tennessee's money cargo did not go. Bankers arranged that 1t be held here against money that may be drawn by the French ambass in Washington for the currency needs of his government. The French government has deposited with J. P Morgan & Co. through their Paris house. Messrs. Morgan, Harjes & Co.,, 30O0O,0O0 francs (about $6.000,O00), which has been placed to the credit of | the French government. Explaining this | arrangement J. P. Morgan, in a Aate- ment today said This is considered a | significant and encouraging sign as evi- 1 dencing movement on the part of the 1 foreign governments to esta blish credits | in the United States
 | Morgan. Harjes & Co.,. have arranged
 that large portion of the $6.O00.O00 shall 1 be payable in gold in order to provide arrangement to be carried out in connec-
 tion with the same group of bankers which Is forwarding gold to London by the. Tennessee for the same purpose. Distribution . Difficulty Bankers here assert that the ruling of Secretary Daniels that only government officials may accompany the gold on the Tennessee will add to the difficulty of distribution. They say that representa- tives of banks must get to Europe to carry out the instructions of their prin- cipals and that any delay in their arr rival will Duse complications
 The Tennessee is comparatively slow cruiser. It Is believed 1t will be 10 or | F days before she reaches England. Bankers representatives are planning to sail on the American liner St. Paul for l Liverpool tomorrow, hopeful of making connections with the gold cruiser at some British port.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
Real Estate Active In Baldwin

Bay Minette. August 6-(S Special, )- number of the real estate men ov' the county are reporting sales aI stating that business is beginning
 pick up after the dull season. Wht( has been experienced during the sun ner. A goodly number of northei home seekers came in on the excurni( over the Louisville and Nashvtl "wednesday and most of them expect purchase before returning. The beoI| ming of the influx of northern Dettl@ on the excursions indicates that q real estate business win soon open '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07

cipal ones. and that which would make Liege a valuable prize of war, is that of firearms. More than 2O,OOO persons are employed in the manufacture of guns, ranging from Nsmall arms to the largest of modern weapons. There is royal cannon factory and small arm factory also in the suburb of St. Leonard.
 In wars of the last century, Liege has played only small part, but today the city is well defended with modern for tfications It's strength. it is said is far greater than generally has been appre- ciated by strategists. Tn 1888 the Belgium authorities decided to adequately fortify both Liege and Nalnur, the two impor- tant points on the Mouse. At each place a number of detached forts were con structed along perimeter drawn a dis tance varying from within four to six miles of the city. At Liege 12 of these forts were constructed, six on the right bank and six on the left side of the river. All of the forts have been kept fairly well up to date.
 The heavy gu,s in their concrete case ments are raised and lowered automatic ally. The average distance between them is four miles. but two, which defend the main line of the railway from Germany, are little over mile apart.
 It has been estimated that 25.000 men would be necessary for an adequate de- fense of these Qualifications.
 History of City
 The city first appears in history in the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
Present Arms

Harwich, England. August 6.--t520 D. m.) When the German embassy, numbering 100 persons. arrived here late today a contingent of the rifle brigade received them and presented arms. The ambassa- dor in reply to the honor raised his hand.
 A young German in the crowd shouted: {: God save Germany" There was no dis turbance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
POP GEERS DRIVES
 ETAWAH TO ANOTHER
 RECORD FOR COLTS

Grand Rapids. August Etawah who two weeks ago at Cleveland broke the 4-year-old colt record helt by Directum for 21 years. clipped an other quarter of a second from ths mark at todays Grand Circuit meel when. driven by Geers in an exhibition mile, he covered the distance in 2:03 %
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07

Copenhagen, via London, August G. (9:30 D. m.)-Twelve hundred Ameri- can tourists, who found it impossible to reach home by way of Hamburg, sailed from here today on the Danish : American liner United States direct to New York.
 Prince Waldemar, whose marriage last January to Countess Calvi Bergo1o at Turin caused his partial estrangement from the King, was arrested day or two ago on the German frontier as a spy. Subsequently he was released and now is on his way to England.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
BLOODY BATTLE
 RACES AT LIEGE
tcontinued from Page one)

make stand as fierce as that at Liege
 The Belgian army was brilliantly full filling it's task of delaying of the Ger man advance and it appeared certain the German plan of campaign in Bel g'ium would be hindered by the ob : stinate stand of the Belgians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
--------'ss---------7--7 NO OFFICIAL WORD OF
 PEACE AGREEMENT
tcontinued from Page one)

march constitutionaIIsts troops to Mex leo City.
 General Carranza tonight wired Presi- dent Carbajal, stating that he had just learned it was not the intention of the federal army to surrender and adding that if this movement be carried out whether by orders of Carbajal or army officers, direct action would result The constitutionaist chief advised the Presi- dent that in the event arms and ammuni- tion were not delivered to constitutional is,s he would apply the law of 1863, apply ing it to the President himself and all civilian accomplices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-07
PERSONAL

George Ficke of Cincinnati was in the city yesterday He Is widely known in Birmingham, where he visits often, ana where he has many friends.