Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-08-15
HurI 100000 Men
Toward France.
LIECE IS INVESTED
Heavy Fighting Continues Fol-
Possession Of Forts.
OPPOSING ARMIES CLOSE
Several Genera Engagements
Expected Soon.

Expected Soon.
a great force 81 iermans is invest
Ing Namur a strongly fortified city
OF belgium, about thirty five miles Il
the southwest OF licge.
a report from brussels puts the
number o. men IN this force at So.oug
but a Central News dispatch to Lon
don states that the army advancing OF
Namur numbers between 100000 anc
COO. 500 men.
This movement is believed to have
developed the main campaign plan Of
the Germans i'm belgium. While large
bodies are reported to have move.
north and west OF Liege. threatenin.
Brussels and southwest. coming il
contact with the French at Givet, ir
the French department OF Arlennes
the main body OF the army of the
Meuse, it is believed. is being hurle
around liege upon the allies. neal
Namur
The forts around l.iege still said il
Brussels to be- intact. are still besieg
ed. In a similar manner, it IS expected
Namur will be laid under siege. while
the Germans push their main bod
toward the frontier This is bound, Il
is believed. to force battle OF prime
Importance on Belgian soil within :
few days.
Allies Preparing For Battle.
The allies are reported to be con
centrated and 10 have prepared All
their plans for battle. but their posi-
lions. their numbers and their plan.
for meeting the Germans have beer
carefully masked. only the opening OF
Il general engagement may revea
them.
a member OF the Belgian genera
staff in London expressed the belief
that big battle was now in progress
near l.iege.
The advance Of the Germans TO ID,
north and west Of l.iege Is led by
cavalry force OF 10000. with machine
guns They are followed by infantry
apparently in great force.
Fighting is reported as occurrinl
at Tirlemout. on the way from Liege
TO Brussels, and from Maestricht. the
Netherlands. came reports OF terrific
artillery battle around Tongrcs. NORTH
OF l.iege.
one report from Brussels indicated
that one or more Of the l.iege fort
had been reduced hy the Germans. but
officially ii is asserted In the Belgian
capital that all are holding out. The
Germans are reported to be bringinf
up heavy siege guns. few hours
bombardment from them will blow the
forts out OF existence.
The fight for the possession OF the
Liege forts continues. The Germans
erected bridge at l.ixhe for the
transport OF troops and heavy mate
rial. and IL is possible that simulta
neoUsly an attempt will be made tc
cross the river Meuse in front oil
Liege. for conveys have been sighted
proceeding toward Engis
The German cavalry. which Monday
and Tuesday spread Itself out over o
front extending from st. Trond to
Hannut. have fallen back, except al
one point. where they are keeping in
contact with the Belgians. A fight OF
importance occurred near Tirlemont
where a thousand German cavalry
with quick firing guns mounted on
horses attacked regiment of Belgian
lancers. The latter retired, owing tC
inferiority numerically. The Belgians
lost two officers and 81. all number
OF men In kinned and wounded
A regiment Of dragons coming from
the direction OF l.iege. which attempt
ed to surprise the Belgians at Aineffs
In the province of Iiege. was driven
OF. leaving i53 dead and lo2 prisoners
Chlans have taken more than $780,.
600 from the bank at Hasselt capital
OF the province Of l.imberg.
II is declared that the German
crown prince is not with the troops In
Belgium as has been reported
French and German forces are in
contact Tor siXtyiiye miles along the
Franco-German frontier. and many
sharp engagements are reported
Sharp Fighting In France.
The lines Of the opposing forces
are ~tretched along front OF loo
mil OF more. Both French and Gei
man war officer assert their forces
have been suc, essful The one thing
tina; seems certain IN the conflicting
reports ana IN tie official rcticenee OF
the various EARRING governments T.
that tie Germans are developing theiI