The Yale expositor., 1914-09-03
Italy Concentrating Forces.

Italy Concentrating Forces.
Rome-Large forces of Italian
troops are being concentrated along
the Adige river, north of Verona, less
than 100 miles from Trient, the Tyro-
lean town of Austria, where Austro-
Hungarian forces are reported to be
massing. Though government officials
declare that nothing can alter Italy's
determination to remain neutral, the
situation is very grave.
1t is admitted that Austria's action
in massing troops at Trient is uncalled
for in view of the fact that both
Switzerland and Italy have declared
their neutrality, but the Italians pro-
fess to believe that Austria will not
bring another foe upon herself
Picturesque Town Is Destroyed.
Washington-A wireless dispatch
from Berlin to the German embassy
here says:
civilians of the Belgian town of
Louvain made a perfidious attack on
German troops while fighting. Lou
vain was punished by the destruction
of the city"
1t is presumed the city was bonn
barded and set afire.
The city of Louvain reported de-
stroyed by the Germans was one of
the most picturesque in all Belgium.
ofs Of s,I "a
tants and rich in famous buildings
erected in the 18th and 18th centuries
when Louvain was the capital Of Bra
bant. Ii was Is miles east by north
of Brussels. It's old ramparts had
been leveled and turned into a prom
enade several miles inslength.
Defenses Of Paris Good.
Washington-The Notifications of
Paris and their ability to resist a
siege are receiving the close attention
of military observers, now that Paris
is the announced objective point of
the German forces and the French
ministry Of war has adopted urgent
means Of Strengthening the city's de-
fenses to the utmost.
While the city's detailed defenses
are surrounded with strict secrecy
by French military authorities, yet
their general character and formida-
BILE strength are well known to mill
tary experts, who recognize them as
among the strongest Notifications in
the world
These fortifications consist of
three distinct circles sweeping
around the city: First. the solid
wall of masonry 1S feet high extend
ing for 22 miles around the old Sec
tions of Paris; second, the system of
II detached forts arranged at inter-
walls, two miles beyond the wall, and
making a circuit of the city "a miles
long; and third. an outer girdle of
forts 75 miles long on the nights
commanding the valley of the Seine.
Fortified Area 400 Miles.
Each of these circles of masonry
and steel is a complete defense in
itself, the forts being linked together
with redoubts, bastion and glacis
which permit a cross-fire against ap-
proach from any direction. The mag
nitude of the system is shown by it's
area, which exceeds 400 square miles.
Germany Attacks Belgian Congo.
Paris-A dispatch to the Havas
agency from Libreville, in the French
Congo, says that the Belgian Congo
has been attacked by German troops.
The Belgian administration, in ac-
cord with Great Britain, has taken
defensive measures and has informed
the French government of its action.
The Belgian Congo lies in the CEN
ter of Africa. 1t is separated from
Kamerun, the German colony OF west
ern equatorial Africa, by the French
Congo.
The colony possesses a force of ma
tive troops, amounting to $4,000 men.
The officers, 1872, and the 2s3 noncom-
missioner officers are Europeans, for
the most part Belgians.