Arizona republican., 1914-08-09

pared 10 near that the FTench had
 been obliged during the first days
 fighting to give way before the Ger
 man advance. Rejoicing was all the
 greater, therefore, because the first
 important engagement had been
 fought in German territory and the
 French had obtained a footing in
 Alsace. The capture of Altkirch ap-
 pears to have taken place two or
 three days ago, and the French army
 has now penetrated the enemy's coun-
 try considerably further. There was
 no official mention of losses, but they are believed to have been heavy.
 The first attack of the northern | Germany column was made on the
 left. It attacked Fort Fleron itself,
 the intervening space between Forts ! Fleron and Evagnee and also the in- 'rval between Forts Fleron and i Chaudfontaine
 1 The attack from the beginning was without dash. Artillery fire from the
 forts was heavy and well placed | The Belgians' attack at intervals be-
 tween the forts was energetic and the German offensive movement was soon
 checked and the engagement then be- i came an artillery duel, the Belgian
 guns having a deadly effect on the | German forces.
 The German column attacking Fort Barchon spread out into a fan shape formation to the extreme right and 1 followed around the fort It made for the city, but the Belgian reserve | brigade delivered a prompt counter 1 attack and threw the Germans back in disorder. Their losses were enor- nous.
 l The German heavy artillery fire
 was concentrated against Fort Barch- | on. but seemed badly directed. Heavy
 Belgian artillery dominated the Ger
 man fire and destroyed two of their heavy guns.
 The German centrol column attack
 ed Fort Evagnee. The Belgian reply
 of two actions of artillery and the crossfire from Forts F'leron and
 Barchon was supported by a counter
 attack by the Belgian infantry. The | German advance was stopped. | At this moment General Von Elm
 mich sent a flag of truce, demanding
 surrender. He informed the com
 mandant. Lieutenant General Leman | that if he did not surrender imme- diately, a Zeppelin dirigible would
 drop an explosive upon the head quarters of the general staff
 ;, The refusal was as summary as the T, request. The fire from the fort was reopened heavily and the offensive was also taken by the Belgians The
 Germans abandoned their positions ! and retired for distance of six
 miles. The Belgian troops followed
 up their advantage without delay. The Il German retreat was accelerated
 Coincident with these events on the
 northern forts, the second part of the German attack was being carried out upon the southeastern defenses The German troops sought to make their way between the Belgian positions on l every side. They also attacked Forts Comedies from Bourg but encountered entanglements, which had been num- erously placed and the wire was ap- preciably retarded. They continued their advance and made direct at tack, which failed. Their losses were heavy.
 The Belgians defending in the in terval numbered only 1500 but they fell back mile and a quarter This was critical moment General Le- man threw all his troops, which were not engaged upon that part of the de- fense and 15,000 men were massed against the attack.
 All night fierce bayonet fighting ensued The enemy held back In the obscurity there was some confu- sion and one small German column of infantry succeeded in entering the city. The German officer wore an ! undress cap to deceive the Belgians ! He spoke English. To complete the deception his men carried their rifles { at their shoulders. They got within { fifty yards d the general head { | quarters, when the gendarmeS recog- ! nized them and opened fire. Violent ! street fighting followed and the Ger ! mans were driven out of the city ! General Leman then transferred his ] headquarters to one of the forts"