The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-08-19
THE FIGHT AT LIEGE
DESCRIPTION OF FIGHT AROUND
BELGIAN CITY.

Summary of the Operations Up to
Wednesday When Germans Had
Lost 5000 Men.
The occupation of Liege by the
Germans is confirmed in dispatch
received at London from Bussels ear
ly Monday morning. Telegraphing
from Brussels the correspondent of
The Daily Telegraph says: "The
Belgians have blown up the old dis
used fortress at Liege to prevent the
Germans availing themselves of its
use.'
While the battle between the Ger
man forces and the Belgians is still
in progress around Liege, an official
detailed account of the engagements,
covering a period between August 8
and 5, was issued Friday. In sum-
marizing the operations, the account
says:
1.-THE Germans lost 5000 dead.
Twenty-four guns were captured and
one general was made prisoner. The
German forces numbered 10000;
the Belgian defenders 10000.
''The German attack lacked cohe-
sion, but the Belgians utilized their
reserves with consummate skill. The
German artillery was badly shattered
by dense attacking column. The
guns were badly served and inaecu-
rate.
"The Belgian forts are intact. Not
one soldier was killed, and not one
| wounded during the three hours
| bombardment Of Fort Evegnee, the
steel cupola of which was not damag-
ed.
"The Belgian fire was well placed
and accurate, proof of which was the
destruction of two German aircraft,
to deceive the Belgians. carried Bel
gian flags"
German columns crossed the Bel
gjan frontier and came in contact
with the Belgian advanced posts on
the afternoon of August f. The fol-
lowing day the attack was general
along the whols>liRe.
"The first !attaefA the northeast
ern German column was made on
Fort Fleron, the sintervening space
between Forts Fleron and Evegnee
and the interval between Forts Fler-
on and Chaud Fontaine.
"The attack was without dash. The
Glacis had been sown with obstacles
and the artillery fire from the Bel
gian forts was heavy and well placed.
| ''The Belgian attack from the in
tervals between the forts was ener-
getic.
"The German movement soon was
checked and the engagement then
became an artillery duel, the Belgian
guns having a deadly effect on the
German forces.
"a German column attacking Fort
Barchion spread out into fan-shap-
ed formation to the extreme right
and flowed around the fort. 1t made
for the city, but Belgian reserve
brigade delivered prompt counter
attack and threw the Germans back
in great disorder. Their losses were
enormous.
1.-THE German heavy artillery fire
was concentrated against Fort Bar
chon, but seemed badly directed. The
heavy Belgian artillery dominated
the German fire and destroyed two
of their heavy guns.
''The German central column at
tackled Fort Evegnee. The Belgian
reply was two actions-artillery
cross-fre from Forts Fleron and Bar
chorn, supported by counter at
tack by the Belgian infantry. The
German advance was stopped.
eat this moment, Gen. Won En-
mich sent a flag of truce demanding
surrender. He informed the COM
mandant, Lieut.. Gen. Leman, that if
he did not not surrender Immediately
| a Zeppelin dirigible would drop an
explosive upon the headquarters Of
the general staff.
"The refusal was as summary as
the request. The fire from the forts
reopened heavily, and the ocensive
also was taken by the Belgians. The
Germans abandoned their position
and retired for a distance of six
miles. The Belgian troops followed
up their advantage without delay
and the German retreat was accel-
Grated.
"The second part of the German
attack was being carried out upon
the southeastern defence. The Ger
man troops sought to make their
way between the Belgian positions
on the Huy side. They also attack
ed Forts Boncelles and Embourg, but
they encountered entanglements and
were appreciably retarded. They
continued their advance and made
direct attack, which failed. Their
losses were heavy.
''The Belgians defending the inter-
val numbered only 1900 and they
fell back mile and a quarter. This
was a critical moment Gen. Leman
threw all his troops, which were not
engaged, upon that part of the de-
fence, and $1,000 men massed
against the attack. 1t was night and
fierce bayonet fighting ensued. The
enemy was held back.
'In the obscurity there ives same
confusion and one small German Of
icer wore an undress cap to deceive
the Belgians. He spoke English. To |