The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-25
GREAT BATTLE
STILL GOES ON
(Continued fron page ~

CONTINUED from page ID
Of attack having faile owing to un-
foreseen difficulties, have retired on a
converging position.
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
brigade in the front line, carried away
by their eagerness. were received by
a murderous fire. They did not give
an inch, 1t. counter attacked by the
Prussian guard, they were obliged to
retire-only, however. after INJECTING
enormous losses. The Prussian guard
especially suffered heavily.
EAST Of the Mouse our troops ad-
vanced across an extremely dimcuit
country and made q vigorous attack
when they emerged from the woods.
but were obliged to fall back after q
stiff fight south Of tho river Semo.o.
The Allies Retreat
ION order Of General Joffre our
troops withdrew to the covering posi-
ton. Our troops are intact. Our cav
airy has in no way suffered ana our
artillery has affirmed its superiority.
Our officers and soldiers are in the
best of condition., morally and physi-
cally.
Inflicted Heavy Losses.
1--WE delivered four attacks from our
position north of Nancy. inflicting very
heavy loss on the enemy.
I'm regard to the general situation.
we have the full use Of our railroads
and retain command Of the seas Our
operations have enabled the Russians
to come into action and penetrate the
heart Of West Prussia.
eft Ia fo 10 regretted that the OfPan.
sive operations planned failed to achieve
their purpose as a result OF difficulties
impossible to foresee. It would have
shortened the war, but our defenses re-
main intact in the presence Of an al
ready weakened enemy.
THE ordeal il inevitable, but tenn
porary. Thus detachments Of German
cavalry belonging to an unattached d.
vision operating on the extreme right
have penetrated to Roubiax. six miles
north Of Lille. and the Tourcoing dis
trict, which are defended only by ter
ritorial reservists.
Our valiant people will know how to
find courage to support this trial with
unfailing faith in final success, which
is not to be doubted. In telling to the
country the whole truth, the govern
ment and military authorities give 1t
the strongest proof of their absolute
confidence in victory, which depends
only on our perseverance and tenacity."
Allies Are Dazed.
London, Aug. 25.-With a sudden
ness which apparently has temperate
ly dazed the allies, Germany has ad-
vanced in one vast concerted sweep
practically from Lille to the Swiss
border, or a distance Of 800 miles.
The movements of the kaiser's
forces in Alsace and Lorraine, If they
have not been merged with the. Bel
GUM campaign. at least have been
timed concurrently with the latter so
that simultaneously 100000 Ger
begun the advance through Belgium
and across Alsace-Lorraine into
France.
There is no confirmation in London
Of the reported successes Of the Ger
man crown prince.
The admission OF the allies, how
ever, that they have been forced to
retire is open to the most serious con-
struction.
Credence is now given to early re-
ports that Nancy has fallen into the
hands of the Germans. Nancy is an
unfortif1ed town, capital Of the de-
partment of MISUNDERSTANDING, IS
miles south of Metz on the left bank
of the Meurthe and 10 miles from the
finest and best built towns Of France,
filled with historic memories, with q
population of more than 10000.
Evidently the allies have been taken
by surprise. Just what the French
foreign office statement means is not
yet clear. 1t is not regarded as posi-
BILE, however that the allies have been
definitely defeated. That which both
England and France warned their
subjects to expect has probably come
| to pass-a reverse. Germany has
! scored the first success. But the great
engagement is still raging.
Three Battles In One.
On three important fields battles
greater and more sanguinary than the
world has ever known are now in
progress. Altogether more than q
| in these combats.
| Along 100 miles OF territory from
Mons. in Belgium. to the Luxembure
frontier one contest wages. For three
days 100000 Germans have beer
locked in death grapple there with
| an equal number of the allies, and the
issue is still undetermined.
Then along the Lorraine frontier
and extending over across the French
boundary, another great army said tt
be under the personal command Of
the crown prince, is hammering away
at the French, who have recently hai
things their own way in that vicinity
Luneville and Nancy are already re
ported to have fallen before the on
rushing Germans. who, with tn,
crown prince leading his forces, ar,
pursuing the French in the direction
of Longwy.
Finally third great battle is unde,
way in Alsace, where another German
army has fallen upon the French IL
force in a desperate effort to wres
Muelhausen from the latter.
/ Many Small Fights.
Subsidiary to these three great bat
ties reports are received of a scor,
of smaller fights linking together tn,
I three into one continuous struggle TO
supremacy along the 800 miles O