The Washington herald., 1914-08-08
$4,000 GERMANS
FALL At LIEGE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CDNTlNCED FROM PAGE ONE.
upon them. The Germans fought fierce
ly but their force was almost annihllated.
Twenty-seven field pieces were left be-
hind by the Germans in this engage
ment.
Three Night Attacks FaIII.
Three times during the night the Ger
man attacking column was hurled
against the Notifications. The Germans
moved in close formation and each time
as they advanced upon the forts. mines
were exploded beneath their feet. The
carnage was frightful At one point an
entire brigade was deciminated and left
200 wounded when II retreated.
Three times this afternoon the Ger
mans formed their solid battle lines and
with desperate courage sought TO cap
ture the city by brute force. Their
charges took them across the open plains
in front OF the city and they were
moved down. rank by rank. by the de-
vastating fire from the Belgian artillery.
The close order tactics OF the Germans
made their slaughter the more certain.
Massed closely together their columns
were wiped out by entire squads.
Despite their appalling losses the Ger
mans continued their splendid dash. One
actually succeeded IN enter
ing Liege Desperate fighting followed
in the streets Scarcely any OF the Ger
man invaders made their escape back
to their lines.
Following the retreat the ground be-
tween the forts and the invaders was
strewn with the dead and wounded.
Scores Of dead were heaped up against
the ramparts. Hundreds of wounded and
dying lay in the burning sun between the
two battle lines. The means OF the
wounded could be heard in the Belgian
forts as well as by their comrades in the
German ranks. No aid could reach them
because across the open space the ar
tillery duel between Germans and Bel
CLANS was still IN full play. They lay
there tonight. dead and wounded, side
by side. awaiting q decision on the Ger
man request for an armistice.
Hundreds Of the German wounded are
being cared for IN Liege. Many moro
have been brought to this city. Excite
ment here Is intense. but public faith in
the army Is complete.
Lter~ Citizens EvacuatinE.
has begun. There are grave fears there
now Of an epidemic. German prisoners
are enthusiastic in their praise Of the
bravery of the Belgians.
Following their defeat Of last night the
Germans reiterated in good order across
the Meuse. During the night REINFORCE
ments arrived. II is reported that the
German Crown Prince assumed command
with fresr troops In the early morning
the Germans recrossed the river. Heavy
siege guns were placed in position ana
for an hour LieGe was shelled at long
range. The German shell fire was dead
with the desperate charges which made
absolutely no Roadway against the LieGc
forts. Among the killed in tine fighting
around Liege was the nineteen-year-old
son Of the German general. Count Won
Arnim.
The correspondent Of the Daily News
at Brussels has sent the following:
IAN the forts surrounding Lege are
intact A Belgian airnan thus describes
the German attack on Liege:
After a terrible CannOnade the Ger
man infantry approached en- masse ana
reached the glasis Of the forts, where
the heavy defensive guns were unable
to reach them. Gen. Lnman sent artil-
lery to a point where the invading in
fantry could be shelled ard the Germans
were swept from their position. This
occurred several times during the day
and night
"A patrol of Uhlans performed a re-
exploit by riding into the town.
Belgian officers recognized them as Of
Ulcers and a desperate fight ensued.
Red Cross automobiles arriving at
report that the ground before
he forts is covered with dead and
Germans"
IieRe Key To Paris.
II the Germans capture Liege they will !
ave no difficulty in taking Namur and |
hen the road to Paris will be opened !
1iege and Namur control the main line |
f invasion into France. The former is |
defended by twelve forts, the total arm !
S 400 guns. Each fort has at least eight !
.eavy guns and mortars and four quick |
Iring guns.
The forts main armament is in cupo-
as. or behind armored easements. 1t
will require heavy howitzers to deal
With these. They cannot be rushed, as
he Seventh German Corps found in the
irst days attack.
The weakness of Liege lies in the wide
between the forts, but for five
lays 5000 laborers have been digging
Ieep trenches and preparing obstacles
hat the Germans will be compelled to
urmount before they take the city.
An English correspondent who sue
eeded in reaching Liege sent the fol-
owing dispatch here today:
Truly they are heroes! These de-
enders OF Liege. They have held back
wo German army corps for forty hours.
( they had done no more they have
achieved the great task Of the moment
They gained time. which was vital |
Confident in their numbers, the Ger !
pans believed that no obstacle would be !
resented to their strategy of outfiank- |
ng the French position on the eastern |
rontier. The unexpected fighting abil- |