South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-13
KAISER'S ARMY Is
TEN DAYS BEHIND
PLAN OF MACHINE

of the British government issued the
following statement:
IAN engagement has occurred
northwest of Hasselt (Belgium) be-
tween Belgian cavalry, supported by
infantry. and German forces presum
ed to be the second cavalry division,
1000 strong, supported by one bat
TALON OF infantry and twelve guns.
THE fourth German cavalry diVi-
sion is reported 10 be moving toward
JObigne, but no German infantry is
known 10 be on the left bank of the
Meuse except those above mentioned.
"A battalion of Germans are en-
trenched near Wise.
THE Belgian forts at Liege are
The Germans are planting bat
teries of heavy guns north of Liege
preparatory to a siege of the forts.
Heavy artillery fire is heard there"
Belgians Claim Victory.
The Exchange Telegraph company
today announced the receipt of a tel
egram from it's Brussels correspond
ent saying that the right wing OF the
German army in Belgium was COM
pletely routed in battle with the Bel
CLANS. Nearly the whole German
force was cut to pieces the telegram
said, the survivors being pursued by
Belgian cavalry.
Telegraph company stated that the
following official announcement had
been issued by the Belgian war office
in Brussels:
after passing the night in the pO-
sition they had taken up following
Tuesdays retreat, the Germans were
reported in considerable numbers to
be massing opposite one of our posi-
tiOns which they believed to be weak.
The Belgian general staff was made
fully aware of this movement by Bel
gian cavalrymen who had made a
reconnaissance of the enemy's posi-
ton.
Twelve Thousand Fight.
Twelve thousand men took part In
a pitched battle which is regarded as
the commencement of the greatest en-
gagement which is yet to come, And
our troops proved once again that
they are possessed of all the attributes
necessary for good soldiers. They
had by far the best Of matters. The
main positions of rne armies to all
appearances, remain unchanged, not
withstanding this battle. One can
we'll believe that the success of our
arms has been of great advantage to
the allies in thus giving them time to
make plans for concentrated move
ment"
1t was pointed out as significant
say that the Germans were routed or
partly cut to piec 5. The fight re-
ferred to III the 1 slgian war office
statement was unquestiOnably the
conflict at Hasselt.
These announcements show that the
Germans had made rapid progress
through the hostile country, having
reached the vicinity of the city.
Antwerp Threatened
The encounter near Hasselt shows
that the advanced troops of the Ger
man army in Belgium had penetrated
TO a point within 50 miles of Ant
werp, which German strategists may
have for their objective. The cap
ture OF Antwerp would give the Ger
mans a port on the North sea much
nearer 10 the English channel than
| any on the German coast.
The fighting at Hasselt is only a
small part OF the general conflict
which is promised on a great battle
field. taking in more than three hun
dred square miles in central Belgium
This extends from LOuVain, where
the headquarters OF the Belgian army
are located, eastward to a point near
Is touching the Dutch frontier, thence
southwark 10 a point south of Yer
Viers, thence westward 10 Namur at
the junction Of the Sambre and Meuse
, rivers. In the center OF this quad
rangle is Liege with its ring of forts
where the German artillery is pound
ing away by night and day in an at
tempt TO demOlish the Belgian works.
The strongest section OF the great
German army ia Belgium and Lux
emburg is the center and left wing
which contain approximately 400. 900
men with artillery, (according TO the
military expert OF the London Times)
and which is reported TO be advancing
slowly but steadily westward.
British military men believe that il
VIII be three or four days, and maybe
longer. before the terrific engagement,
with its hosts OF armed men turned
into victory for one side or
the other. Military men agree that
IL may prove one OF the bloOdiest
battles in the worlds history.
Col. Repington, the London Times
military expert, says.
we are on the eve of a great
struggle on the Neuse. Surrounded
as she is by powerful enemies, a
great victory IL necessary for Ger
many at this moment. VIII she strike
by sea when she strikes by land
That is the only blow open 10 Ger
many which can do US mortal hurt
against success and with every day
OF the war the last chance becomes
less because out land forces are
daily growing in numbers and solid
ity. We must regard the problem
through the German eve and however
much we disbelieve. we must prepare
for a great conflict"
Throw Up Barricades.
\ telegram from Amsterdam says
that Germans are throwing UP barri-
cades along the Meuse between Macs
tricht and Liege. evidently 10 prevent
the allies from getting in the German
rear and cutting of German cOmmu-
Har i'm,
pressed a number OF Belgian peasants
in the work. the telegram said.
Another telegram from the same
source said that the sound OF heavy
artillery firing could be heard from
the direction OF Liege or Tongres