South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-25
CITY TAKEN AND THEN
RE-TAKEN SEVEN TIMES
Hand-tO-Hand Fighting Inter-
rupted by German Artillery
Puts French and English
Troops to ROut.
BY TRANKLIN p. NrERR1CK.

PARIS. Aug. 25.-Burning villages
and heaps of bodies lying on Belgian
soil around Charleroi show the fe-
rocity with which the allied French
and British troops opposed the wave
OF German troops that rolled over
them and drove them back to France.
For ten hours the tide Of battle ebbed
and flowed at CharlerOi, the town be-
ing taken and -etaken seven times
before the allies withdrew.
Part OF the city was wrecked ac-
cording to reports received by the war
office today. Tne villages Of Marchi-
enneS. MOnCeau. Chatelet and Lande-
lies were burned.
Though the inhabitants OF the
peaceful little villages had been warn
I'd that the conflict was coming, scores
remained in their homes and perished
in the flames or were killed under the
rain OF shot and shell that swept the
streets when they were driven from
the shattered structures.
Hand-tO-Iand Fighting.
Fierce hand-tO-hand lighting took
place in Charleroi. The French were
the first to occupy the town. but they
were driven out by "A bOmbardment
from the German artillery. The Ger
mans then entered by the left bank
Of the river Sambre, but within a
short time more of the allied troops
arrived and the conflict was renewed.
The Germans sought cover In the
houses in the lower part Of the town
and 10 dislOdge them the French
were forced 10 sweep that section
with their artillery.
The lower part of the town was soon
in flames and the Germans were
forced into the streets. Back and
forth through these surged the con-
testing soldiers. fighting desperately
for victory The dead lay thick when
the French were finally forced 10
withdraw.
For three days wound soldiers
have been pouring into Maubege. The
Inhabitants have opened up their
homes TO the wars victims
Mistaken for Englishmen.
The housewives. who were peering
timidly from the upper windows of
their dwellings, mistalIing the troopers
for English cavalrymen, called out a
friendly greeting.
"BOnjour. Mesdames," cried one of
the Germans who could speak French.
Und the soldiers laughed as they gal
loped on their way II the women
had known that the troopers were
Germans the latter would have got
a different reception.
A wounded French cavalryman said
that hunks OF raw horse flesh and
dried oats were found in the haver-
hacks OF prisoners taken from the
Fourth German hussars- This showed
that the Germans in the vanguard
were in straits for suitable provisions.
An extraordinary council OF war
was held at Elysee palace. the resi-
dence OF Pres. Poincare. early today
What transpired there Is known only
TO those present. who included the
ministers OF war and interior Tt is
said that three general staff officers ar
rived from the front and participated
in the conference and that az its con-
clusion they hurried back 10 their
commands
Very secret Affair.
Only a few persons in Paris know
that the war council was held. It
convened only q short time after the
cabinet had been in session with Pres.
Poincare. and while il was going on
no one was allowed 10 approach the
palace
Paris is in gloom today The ad-
missions by the war office that the
Germans have forced the allies to
withdraw from Belgium. have captur-
I'd Namur and taken Nancy. Luneville
and Dieuioard in the department OF
Muerthe-et-M -MOzelle has caused a feel
ing 0f fear 10 sweep over the city,
despite this additional statement:
The ordeal is inevitable but tenn
porary. Our valiant people will know
how 20 ind courage TO support this
trial with unfailing faith ia final sue
cess. which is not 10 be doubted"
The action OF the war Office in let
ting the people know OF reverses is ia
marked contrast with the policy fol-
lowed IN 1870 when slight successes
for French arms was magnihed Off
cially into great triumphs and severe
reverses were kept hidden as long as
possible.
War Minister Explains.
In explanation OF this today, Min
lister or War Messimy said:
1T is only right that our people
should know what Is happening in the
field. We cannot OF course. reveal
matters thet might assist the enemy,
CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHT)