The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-02
GERMANS PRESS ON
THREE FRENCH CITIES ARE CAP
TURED BY INVADERS
PARIS EXPECTS A sEIGE

'IPARlS EXPECTS A SEIGE
The French Government Takes Steps
| to Prepare Capital for Long Siege
| Allied Army Makes Desperate
i Efforts to Hold Back Advancing
| Host While Russians Attack.
| A dispatch from Ostend Thursday
Isays the Germans have occupied Lille,
! Roubaix and Valenciennes, all in
France. These towns are all close to
the Belgian frontier, Lille and Val
enciennes being ten miles from the
| line, and Roubaix five. Roubaix is
FIVE miles northeast of Lille and VAL
enciennes is 80 miles southeast Of the
same city.
Lille is the most important from a
military point Of view. It has fort
ress Of the first class and the circle
of its forts is 80 miles. Recent dis
patches from Paris said Lille was
held by French reservists. Roubax
would appear not to be fortified. It
is manufacturing center Valen-
ciennes also is manufacturing city,
but has an arsenal and extensive br-
racks.
The Ostend correspondent Of The
London Daily Express in a dispatch
| published in London quoted a Bel
gian officer to the effect that it. had
been decided not to defend Lille and
that on Tuesday the mayor publish
ed proclamation announcing the;
evacuation of the French troops. and
the Transformation Of the town into
an undefended place.
Paris, it was officially announced
Thursday, is preparing for a possible
! siege The manner was discussed
by the new minister Of war, Alex
andre Millerand, with the subordi-
mates of his department, and steps
were taken to determine the exact
measures necessary to place the city
in state to withstand an attack and
invsion.
The French and British armies on
a battle line $50 miles across still
are strenuously opposing the advance
of the German forces across the
French frontier. The British troops
are reported to be occupying strong
position and are supported by the
French on both fanks.
The conflict of millions at last ap-
pears to be in progress. Meanwhile
the Russian host is drawing nearer
to Berlin. Not even during the first
great struggle between Europe and
Asia on the far Manchurian plains
was the enormous battle fought in
such impregnable silence as far as
concerns the outer world.
Only the vaguest generalities are
given to the peoples of Great Britain
and France by their respective gov
ernments. Probably the German peo-
pie know as little of what their ar
mics are accomplishing.
All the information the public OBJ
tanned was the report from the
French announced by Premier As
quith in the House of Commons that
the army was engaged on Wednes-
day against superior force and
fought splendidly, and that he con-
siders it's position and prospects in
the impending battle satisfactory.
The official news bureau gave fur
ther information that the French
operations, extending over a distance
of 25O miles, neeessitated changes in
the position of the British troops,
| which are occupying a strong line,
supported by the French on both
fanks, to meet the German advance.
| The impending battle undoubtedly
| will be an attempt by the Germans,
| with the hugest army ever employed
for a swift attack, to sledge-hammer
it's way through the allies defensive
! barrier, while trying to outhank
them between their left and the sea-
| board.
The Pail Mall Gazette's critic says
that the fighting has been on front
twenty miles long the line between
| Cambria and LIE Cateau, and between
the Rivers Schledt and Sambre, while
the Germans have been steadily at
tempting an outfanking movement
| by forced marches. The allies have
the advantage of working on interior
lines and have been falling back il
| the interests of concentration.
The Russians appear to be steadily
advancing in East Prussia. They are
approaching the great fortress OF
| Koenigsburg and have crossed the
River Allie at several points. While
they continue their advance, with
Posen as their objective, they are con-
| fronting the Austrians below the
Duiester and the Vistula, and claim
| number of victories along that line.
The Austrians assert that they
have defeated the Russians in a Six
| days battle near Krasnik, Russian
Poland, repulsing them decisively
over the entire front of about 43
miles. A dozen battles are being
fought around great wall Of Ger
man and Austrian bayonets, all OF
| which will be considered milestones
of history in less overwhelming days.
Germany to Resist.
7 So irf q finn HhtS1n-