The Washington times., 1914-08-21

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trenched positions held by the enemy in
a series of brilliant bayonet charges, in
which the superiority OF the French
soldiers has been conclusively demon
strated
The advance guards of the French
forces in Lorraine have encountered
strong resistance. the enemy being
strongly intrenchcd and have withdrawn
to the main forces
Fighting at Diest.
There is nothing to indicate that the
Germans met with any resistance at
BRUSSELS. bu. the Belgians made n gall
liant stand at Louvain. evacuating that
beautiful city only in order TO save it
from destruction by the German artil-
lery.
The Belgian troops are falling back
on Antwerp, whittier the seat of gov
ernment. was removed some days ago.
The famous city of Mechlin, midway
between Brussels and Antwerp, has
been evacuated, and, according to
Dutch adyices, the principal nghting
now in progress is at Diest and Aer-
schot, where the Belgians are trying TO
stem the German advance.
hiie the Germans probably will en-
oeaNor TO approach close enough to
Antwerp to invest the city, statements
that the German plan of campaign en-
braces the capture of that city Dy as
sault should not be too highly credited
Antwerp is undoubtedly one of the most
strongly fortified cities of Europe and
this fact is basis for the Belgian state
ment yesterday that the backward
movement is strategic maneuvering
which points to the early discontinue
Of the enemy"
Antwerp's Importance
The capture of Antwerp would be far
more costly than that of Liege and
without compensating advantages.
While the Germans would gain access
TO the Scheldt that river would he
quickly blockaded by the British fleet.
and. since the lower reaches of the
scheldt lie in Holland. the net result
would be to involve Holland in the
war. most probably against Germany.
The military censorship becomes more
rigorous daily, and the news issued by
the officials bureaus is at times SO
brief as to be almost oracular. This
Is specially true as regards the opera
fions in Central Belgium. 1t is GER
tain. however, that German troops con-
tinue to cross the MeuSe in force be-
tween Liege and Namur, and an official
Belgian statement admits that the in
vading army has gained ground on both
sides of the river-"up to the line where
II has been in contact with the allied
forces
ALLIED forces here probably means
Belgians and French, for a statement
by the war office in London denies
that British forces are on the Belgian
fighting lire. A French dispatch says.
however. the British probably are es-
tablished on the Belgian right center.
further west, practically on the field of
Waterloo.
The Probable Campaign.
1t may clarity the situation in Bel
tium TO say that the main German |
lines in Belgium. which on Monday |
were those of a great inverted V. are |
now roughly those of an with the |
spex at Liege. AS ON Monday one leg |
stretches into the Dinant region and |
the other, now slightly prolonged, into |
Tie Brussels district But. since Mon
day the bar of the A has been shot |
Gcross the MeuSe on the line of Huy |
snd Jodoigne, some of the troops in I;
this movement having even reached |
the River Dyle. The evident intention Of |
the German main army in Belgium is !
TO enter France on both sides of the /,
Meuse with the center pressing on |
GIvet. All other movements are sub |
ordinate.
In the triple campaign in Alsace-Lor- |
paine. the French war ministry an
nounces victory and a reverse. In /
upper Alsace the French have recap
tured Muelahusen. but the forces ad-
Nancing against Strassburg. along the
Marine and Rhine canal, and which on
Wednesday captured PfalZburg and |
were approaching Zabern. have been |
driven back by the Germans. |
Fleet Bottled Up.
The British government has notified |
the United States that the German feet |
outside the Baltic sea has been bottled |
commerce is nearly normal, German |
shipping is almost paralyzed.
Germany is reported to have decided |
90 reject the japanese demand for the !
withdrawal OF German forces from the |
Tar East. A declaration of war by |
day, when the time limit set by the |
Tokyo government for the acceptance |
Of its demands expires.
China has inquired what the attitude |
OF the United states would be toward |
the cession 0f Kiaochow to the United |
States for immediate return thereaf-
ter TO China
The Austrian government has broken |
its silence to announce that the forces |
OF the dual monarchy are making rapid |
advances in Servia Further Servian |
reports of the battle Sabac state that
st resulted in the complete route of the !
4ustrians who lost three regiments |
of infantry and two squadrons of cav
airy The French fleet. in conjunction
with the Montenegrin forts, has been
coast
Open mobilization of Austrian troops
Is now in progress along the Italian
frontier, according to a message from
Trent. the operations causing the wild
est excitement on the Italian side of
the border