The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-17
Flames Started by German
Shells Sweeping Through
Best Part of Town.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE
Palace of Justice Partly Destroyed
and Great Cathedral in Danger
German Offensive in France
Checked by Allies
--latest Dfs6atclzeS.1

Every sign indicates that
Antwerp is falling" says the Daily
Chronicles Antwerp correspondent in
a dispatch dated Thursday. 1t is pos
sible the town will be surrendered.
The main streets are deserted, but
there are 10000 panicky people on. the
quays and around the railroad station,
waiting to leave.
The town is in lanes throughout
the southern section, and no attempt
is being made to quench them.
The Daily Chronicles Rosendaal,
Holland, correspondent, under date
of Friday, says the situation in Ant
werp is critical, and that the town is
virtually deserted except for the Bel
gian troops.
The loss of life in the city is appall-
ing. The aristocratic suburb of Ber-
chem has been burned. The southern
quarter and Pepiniere have suffered
badly, as also has the quarter around
the museum.
The Palace of Justice has been part
" destroyed, and there is ring Of
fire around the cathedral.
Allies Lines Holding.
Paris-The sharp offensive move
ment of the Germans on the western
wing of the Allies at the Belgian from
tier evidently has failed in its object
of bending or breaking the French
and British line.
The long extension of the battle
line, which now has gone beyond the
four rivers, Scarpe, Somme, Disc and
Aisne, was initiated by the Allies in
an endeavor to find a solution of the
problem Of ousting the Germans from
their strong position in Northeastern
France. In these positions the Ger
mans had been besieged nearly
month, since the conclusion of the
bloody battle of the Marine, frontal
attack being considered inexpedient
by the Allies.
Nearer and Nearer to Antwerp.
The present front is within about
sixty-eight miles of Antwerp, where
the Belgians have offered such heroic
resistance to the bombardment Of the
heavy German artillery.
Belgian officers who have arrived
here from Antwerp declares that the
BeIgians themselves destroyed the
forts Waelhem and Wavre-St. Cath
crimes.
Further down toward the center OF
the line the severest fighting con-
tinued at Rove, where the Allies took
a large number of prisoners Reims
again was subjected to a short bonn
bardment.
Empty Victory for Germans.
London-AntweTp's capture by the
Germans will be an empty victory,
While maintaining their optimistic be
lief that Antwerp will be able to with.
stand all assaults, military experts
point out that with the withdrawal
from Antwerp of the main forces OF
the Belgian army, now successfully
accomplished by King Albert, the Ger
mans will really gain nothing by the
city's capture. It is therefore appar-
ent. military strategists say, that Ger
many's main object in the city's In
vestment was "to bottle up" the Bel
gian army. King Albert was not de
ceived and withdrew all of his forces
except those barely necessary to man
the defenses.
Airships Constantly Over City.
Grent, Belgium.-German air craft
are constantly lowering over Antwerp
and the bombardment of the city from
the air is continuous. A score OF
more of fires have been started by
these aerial bombs, many of which are
filled with petrol which ignites wner
the illuminate is set of by contact
The Antwerp fire department, manned
by volunteers, has been in continuous
service for two days. Some part OF
the city is burning always.
Japs Dominate Using Tau.
Peking.-The Japanese have mount
ed siege guns on Prince Henry moUn
tain, which entirely dominates all
three of the Using Tau forts, accord
ing to advices reaching Picking. These
forts are named Bismarck, Mo1tke and
Tits and are three or four miles from
the mountain The attack on Using
Tau may begin any day. Prior to it q
demand for surrender will be made
RosSon Wins First Game