The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-08-27
Ct GERMANS Claim VICTORY
over French In ALSACE
Paris War Office Admits Being OutgeneraIed In Early Part
Of Campaign, But Has Re qained Lost Ground-Strass-
burg, German Stronghold, Still Intact.

Washington, Aug. 24.-An official
German dispatch reports a "magnif-
cent victory" of the German forces
between Metz and the Vosges noun
tains.
No additional details are given.
The German embassy here received a
report on the dispatch from German
officials in New York, through whom
known any details.
At the embassy it vas regarded as
opening a new n important phase
as chief interest thus far had been
conferred on the operations in Belgium,
whereas this indicated extensive oper-
atoms south of Belgium in the region
along the Franco-German frontier be-
tween Metz and the Vosges mountains,
one of the notable scenes Of conflict
Of the Franco-PruSSian war.
Paris, Aug. PA French war Of
fee bulletin says:
las already announced, after recon-
quering the frontier, our troops ad-
vanced into Lorraine along a front ex-
tending from the mi mountain to
Chateau Salins. They drove the Ger
mans back into the valley Of the Seille
river and the marshy district and our
advance guards reached Define. Diueze
and Mohange.
corps made a vigorous counter attack
and our advance guards fell back. h
fight was extremely fierce on both sides
and in view Of the greatly superior
number Of the m our troops,
who had been fighting continuously for
six days, retreated.
:"Our left covers the advanced work
Of Nancy and our right is firmly
established in the Donan hills. The
greater strength Of the enemy made
our remaining in Lorraine useless and
tmprudent.
"Details received show that the re-
occupation of M~uhlhausen was a great
success. The offensive first along the
line from Thanh to ann Marie DAM
merkirch) and then on to Muhlhausen
was carried out with rare dash. BY a
bold stroke, Gen. Paul Pau, once he
was master at Thann and Dame
Marie. directed the troops west Of
Muhlhausen, giving the enemy an OPP
portunity to Engage him between our
ines and the Swiss frontier and then
by a second movement the Germans
were thrown back on Muhlhausen.
while our right attacked Altkirch,
the left advanced on Weubrisach and
| SOlllldT, threatening lu6 euellly . LILO
of retreat until the Germans were then
forced to accept battle, which was hot
in the suburb Of Muhlhausen, Dornach.
Our infantry captured "a guns at the
point OF bayonets and made several
thousand prisoners. The fight swept
through the streets, house to house,
and the German losses were enormous.
"Following up the success, one part
of the army occupied M~uhlhausen,
while the other turne on Altkirch and
forced the Germans to fall backward In
disorder. hus we attained the initial
object Of our troops in upper Alsace-
to drive the German forces to the right
bank Of the Rhine"
In order to show the Importance OF
the successes in Alsace, the official
statement gives a detailed account OF
the first attempt made to force the
Germans out of Upper Alsace and
across the Rhine and to seize and hole
the bridges, thus preventing a counter
attack.
"On August T." the statement says
"the French carried Thanh and
Altkirch brilliantly, but nightfall pre-
vented them following the success an6
the German retreat was not cut off.
Despite the opposition of the rein
forced Germans, the French advance
continued. A brigade entered Muhl-
hansen but the city was difficult tt
NSASHN - ~ AAAAo
by the pro-German inhabitants, de-
livered a night attack, marching
simultaneously from the forest o.
Neuebraisach and Colmar in a di.
~rection to cut off our retreat.
by remaining in sufficient force.
In Muhlhausen, we would have riskec
having our communications with thu
upper Vosges and Belfort cut, and {
retreat was ordered. AS a matter o
fact another plan might have beer
carried out. Our forces at Altkircl
might have made a unit attack OF
the Germans marching on Gernay, VIII.
this was not done has not yet beer
properly explained. Our left being
attacked toward Cernay by manifest,
superior forces, III center attacked a
Mu.&ausen and our right remainin;
Inactive, put us in a bad position ant
retreat was the wisest course. Thi
was carried out brilliantly.
ITO attain our initial attack tn
operation was begun again on a fresl
basis under another commander, Gen
eral PAT. Prodting by the lesson
of the first attempt n with con
siderable reinforcements General Pa
resolved upon a decisive effort and no
a single reconnaissance. He sue