The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-29

lowing up this movement. The Bel
gtan army is retiring on Antwerp.
without having been engaged by the
Germans.
An official communication received
here from Brussels before the eEacua-
ton of the city says: 1.-The Germans
have gained ground on both banks of
the River Mouse and are in contact
with the armies Of the allies The
enemy finding the routes to the south
ward strongly held by French and Bel
gians, discovered an opening to the
north. This may entirely change the
strategy on both sides.
Strategy to Be Merged.
The Belgians, having held the in
vaders in check for fifteen days, have
done all that could be expected. Bel
gian strategy will now be merged into
the general plan of the allied armies
The retrograde movement does not
mean defeat. East of Namur the Ger
mans have attained the line between
Dinant and Neufchateau Large Ger
man forces continue to cross the River
Mouse between Liege and Namur
German outposts have occupied Dyle.
The retirement of the Belgians toward
Antwerp was a result of the German
movement described above.
In conformity with a pre-arranged
plan the Belgian field army retreated
on the entranched camp of Antwerp
after brilliantly fulfilling its duty as
dictated by the strategical situation
and delaying for a fortnight the Ger
man passage Of the Mouse.
Antwerp has a double role. 1t is
a formidable entrenched camp, forti
fed on most modern lines and is the
base from which the Belgian army can
threaten the German flank and CO.
operate effectively with the allies.
Butchered the Germans.
Paris.-Late dispatches received tell
ing Of the fighting in Belgium in which
the Belgians were forced to abandon
their advanced bases, described the
struggle as "a veritabIe butchery."
The Belgian troops, it is stated, COW
cred themselves with glory although
forced finally to withdraw in the face
of a superior force which charged like
demons, cutting down men by the
score, with their bayonets.
The heaviest fighting was reported
from Aerschot, a small town eight
miles east of Malines. The Belgians
were heavily intrenched along the
roads with their artillery masked in
woods and cornfields. AS the Ger
mans advanced they were greeted with
whitening voIIeys that moved the ad-
vance guard down like wheat.
French Retake Mulhausen.
Paris.-The reoccupatton of Mulhau-
sen, Alsace, by French troops is an
nounced officially here.
| The recapture of Mulhausen was
| preceded by very severe battle dur
| ing which the French troops took one
of the suburbs at the point of the
/ bayonet. They also took, as the re-
suit of their victory, six German can
non and six ammunition wagons.
| The official note says the situation
in the Yosges mountains is unchanged.
In Upper Alsace the French have &C.
southwest of Colmar.
In Lorraine it is stated the French
lines extend from the north of Saar-
burg passing through Morhange to
Define.
The situation in the Duchy of Lux
emburg and in Belgium is unchanged.
Fighting All Along Line.
London.-A Brussels official com
munication says:
Fighting is proceeding on the
whole front, extending from Basel,
Switzerland, to Diest, Belgium, and in
these numerous contacts the more the
opposing armies approach each other
the nearer come the deciding battles
and the more one must expect to hear
of an advantage to this side or that.
IN operations so vast and with
those engaged using modern arms too
great attention must not be paid to
the operations in our immediate vi
cinity.
An evolution ordered in a partic
ular previously determined aim, is not
necessarily a retreat. The engage
ments of the last few days have had
the result of rendering our adver
saries very circumspect. The delay
of the enemies advance had the great
est advantage for our general plan Of
operation.
Asks for Confidence.
1H0T0 IS H00Q LOT US 10 play luIS
the hands Of the Germans. That is
the motive of the movement now be
ing carried out. Far from being
beaten, We are making arrangement:
for beating the enemy under the bes
possible conditions.
The public should in this mattel
place full confidence in the comman
der of the army and remain calm ant
trustful of the outcome of the strug
gle, not doubtful. Meanwhile, thu
newspapers should abstain from men
tioning the movements of troops. Sc
crecy is essential to the success Of on
operations"
Joffre Leads the Invasion.
Paris.-That the German army i
being driven back through Alsace b.
a French army under the persona
command of General Joffre, comman
: der-in-chief OF the French forces, 1
: indicated by an official message jus
made public.
Ships Must Tear Out Wireless.