Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-12
CONFLICTING CLAIMS
BY OPPOSING FORCES
Key to Outcome of Big Battle Lies
in Center, Where Fighting is
the Hardest.
FRENCH BEAR BRUNT OF FIGHT
Germans still Making HeadlOnR
Efforts TO Drive Their Wedge
Into the French Line
south of Verdun.

LONDON, Sept 1.-THE conflicting
claims in official communications issued
at the headquarters of the forces oppos-
ing each other so fiercely in the several
battle zones emphasize the prudence of
the advice volunteered in the latest
French &C mmunication against drawing
inferences from phases Of the struggle
before a decisive result Is attained.
The key to the ultimate outcome OF
what perhaps will be the greatest battle
in history still raging on the plains of
Champagne to the east Of Paris, lies in
the center. For five days the tide Of
battle there has ebbed and flowed. bear
I ing Germans apd French alternately on
its crest, with terrific losses on both
sides, but without permanent advantage
| to either side. The Germans would still
/ appear TO be making headlong efforts
! to drive their wedge into the French
| line at a point to the south Of Nerdun,
and the already large army under Crown
| Prince Frederick William has been rein
/ forced with the object of pushing home
! this attack, the result Of which is con-
ceded to be OF extreme Importance.
! on the German right wing. where the
troops Of Emperor William are opposed
to the British forces Germany officially
admits retirement. but not defeat. as
was first reported because OF teegraphic
errors In the transmission OF messages.
! The renewal of activity on the part OF
the Belgian army seems TO be a fact
! but up TO the present time IT has not
( gone beyond harassing the small forces
! OF German reservists left behind when
the army OF occupation was sent to the
battlefields to the east OF Paris.
From the extreme right OF the French
line comes a report that battle-scarred
Muclhausen has again fallen TO the pos
session o. France II this is true, it will
be the fifth or sixth time that this Alsa-
tian town has changed hands in the pres
ent war.
In the Eastern Field.
On the eastern field OF battle the Rus
SLAMS appear 10 have been driven back II
cast Prussia. but, according to Petrograc
advices. they continue TO punish the
Austrians The latest intelligence from
Berlin indicates that Generals Benecken.
dorff and Won Hindenberg have gained
an important success in cast Prussia.
AGCOFulnG 10 TINS version, tue husstau'
are IN full retreat with the Germans Il
close pursuit. The Russian version q
that their detachments are falling back
but holding.
German naval activity In the Baltic set
Is watched with much interest here, bu
the report that there has been an en
gagement between German and Russian
squadrons off the Aland islands is de
MED This probably arose from the sink
ing by a German torpedo boat OF thu
Russian merchant steamer Ulesborg Il
this region.
The attitude Of Turkey, which has beer
a subject OF paramount anxiety To tn
foreign offices OF Europe, seems to hav'
Keen decided for her, II the story Is tru
that Roumania, Greece and Bulgarii
have agreed TO prevent Ottoman assist
snce TO Germany and Austria. The allie
have been working strenuously to thi
end.