The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-02
C0T pQINfAQV VOTE
French War Office Gives
Official Statement
of War. &.

tHS opel atlOuS III Dcl6lulu ollu SioA
the French frontier A new retire
ment by the allies is recorded, while
at the same time the statement is
optimistic with reference to the op-
position which the French and Brit
ish are offering to the German ad-
vance.
No definite details are forthcoming
regarding the general battle which
apparently is in progress all along
the lines.
The French war minister has in
specteI the supplementary defenses
around Paris, which arc being rapid
ly pushing forward in anticipation Of
a possible investment Of the French
capital.
An Antwerp despatch credits Gen
eral Pau with a victory over $4,000
Germans near Peronnes. Whether
this is new victory or one to which
reference was made several days ago
is not known.
J. Queen Elizabeth of Belgium and
her children have arrived in Eng
land.
According to official advices re-
ceived at Washington, France is
considering the advisability of NOV
ing the seat Of government to Bor-
dcauX.
Great Britain has Joined France in
objecting to the purchase by the
United States of German liners in
connection with the plan to build up
an American merchant marine.
1t is reported by steamship OIL
GERS arriving at Honolulu that Brit
ish wcrships off Hong Kong are
holding up all vessels including those
under the American flag, and re-
moving Germans and Austrians
bound to the scene of hostilities.
The moratium proclaim at the
outbreak Of the war in Great Britain
has been extended for another
month.
A Japanese destroyer, which ran
ashore near Using Tau, China, was
shelled bya German gunboat. The
crew Of the destroyer, however, prev
iously had abandoned her.
Parihs, Aug. 31.-The following Of
fetal statement was issued tonight by
the war Office:
"The situation in general is actual
ly as follows:
"First-In the Vosges and in Lor-
raine, it must be remembered, our
forces, which had taken the offensive
at the beginning of the. OPERATIONS
and driven the enemy outside Of our
frontiers, afterwards underwent SER
ious checks. Before Sarreburg and
in the region of Morhajne, where
they encountered solid defensive
works, our forces were obliged to
fall back and to reform, one part
on Couronne de Nancy, and the 9TH
er on the French Vosges.
THE Germans then assumed the
offensive, but our troops, after hav-
ing thrown them back upon their po-
sitions, resumed the offensive two
days ago. This attack continues to
makes progress, although slowly. 1t
is a veritable war Of sieges, as each
position occupied is fortified lmmed-
lately.
This explains the slowness of our
advance, which is nevertheless, char
acterized each day by fresh local
successes.
"Second-The region Of Nancy and
southern Woevre, since the beginning
of the campaign in this sect.Jn, be-
tween Metz on the German side and
Toul and Verdum on the French side
has not been the theatre of impor-
tant operations.
"Third-In the direction Of the
Meuse, between Verdun and Mez-
ieres, it will be remembered the
French forces took the offensive in
the beginning toward Longwy, Neuf-
chateau and Paliseul. The troops
operating in the region of Spincourt
and Longuyon have been able to
check the enemy's army under the
command of the German crown
prince.
'In the regions Of Neufchateau anc
Paliseul, on the other hand, certain
of our troops have received partla
checks, which obliged them to retire
upon the Meuse without having theil
organization broken up. This retiring
movement has compelled the forces
operating in the neighborhood o
Spincourt to withdraw also towards