The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-09
BELGRADE FALLS
after LONG SIEGE
Austrians Capture Servian Capital After
Siege Which Has Lasted Since The
War Began
BIGGEST RESULT OF WAR
Germany Increases Her War Credit.
No Decisive Victories Reported
Either In Poland Or West

Belgrade has fallen. After spasmod'
&c attacks by the Austrians ever since
the beginning Of the war, the Servi
ans were finally repulsed and forced
to evacuate their capital. This has
marked one Of the most important
steps in the a
AS the whole war resulted from an
embroglio between Austria and Servia
arising over the right of Austrian jul
rists to sit in Servian courts during
the investigation Of the assassination
Of the Austrian grand duke, the final
seizure of the Serb capital Is contend
ed in some Of the diplomatic CT cles
rs the high water mark which should
bring the great conflict to an end.
No other decisive victories have
been reported. The Berlin war office
has issued a statement to the effect
that all reports contained in the en-,
emy's press of Teutonic losses either
in. the east or west Ire untrue. It is
known, however, that the campaign In
Poland is being bitterly fought.
The Russians declare they are near
1y in control of Galicia, of which era
cow is the capital. The French are
claiming successes in the Argonne re-
gion and west of DiXmude..
An important conference Of the dip
lomats of the Latin American repub.
lies has been called in Washington,
over which Secretary Of State Bryan
will preside. The purpose Of this
meeting will be to seriously consider
ways and means Of preventing bellig'
erent war vessels from travel in pan
American waters.
Another feature Of the weeks devel'
opments which may have considerable
effect on the European war situation
is the inquiry Secretary of State Bry.
an has made of Charles M. Schwab,
president of the Bethlehem Steel Com,
pany, whether his concern is going to
manufacture submarines for the bel
ligerents. On Mr.. Schwab's return
from Europe recently it "a an
nounced he had secured contracts
from the British government amount.
ing to $500, 700, 600. Secretary Bryan
has quoted Mr.. Schwab the law which
would forbid the fulfllment of the
contracts. The steel :magnate will sub
NIT his position in writing to the sec.
rotary within a few days.
Although harassed by the Russian
Cossacks, the German forces are re-
ported to have barely escaped the hor.
rible death trap laid for them by the
Slavonic troops in northern Poland.
Official news from Poland countin:
ues to be scanty, but the messages
that have come state that both ar.
mics are claiming successes, and it
has been impossible for the news Gen.
r to tell how the terrible battle that
Is raging between Muscovites and Teu-
tons is going. OF it's intensity, how
ever, there a be no doubt.
This great battle, perhaps the ierc,
est struggle of the present war and
likely since Napoleon's strategic vic.
tory at Jena, is being fought out right
under the eyes Of the rules Of the op.
posing lines, for both the kaiser and
the gar Of all the Russias are at the
head Of their respective camps.
The king Of England is in France,
the king of Belgium is with his gal
liant but unfortunate soldiers, Presi.
dent Poincare is on the battlefield
with General Joffre in Alsace, SO that
the head Of virtually every govern
ment engaged in war Is on the scene
to participate in the direction Of the
struggle that is going to change the
map Of Europe.
The theater Of war seems to have
entirely been shifted to the Polish
border so far as the German activi-
ties are concerned, for all energies
are now bent on keeping the Musco-
vites back on their own territory and
stopping their invasion of Prussia.
A horrible battle is reported to be
In progress with the kaiser at the
head of his troops. Neither Petro-
grad nor Berlin are claiming any de-
cisive victories. The Slavs, however,
declare they have defeated the Aus
TRANS at Cracow, the Galician capital,
and that the city is now in flames.
N.nar,I M Wa Nonfurad