West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-13
BELCIUM'S FATE
MAY BE DECIDED
BY BIG BATTLE
Dogs Of War Rush Together
lleai CspilI3d City
AEES 9 1sE THE GERMANS

Flight 7of.cvcd 60 se Raging In Neigh.
borhood OF Lieae In Which British
-oos racir r.'st Sight of German
Foe on Land--NalSer's Army De.
lieyNc &c ha.e been Reinforced
Heavily.
Aniatcrdam. Aug. j. Whether Bel.
sini- h.....s % ovcrr,l. ~ ths .nN ding
Germans. or wl,e;hor ti.v latter shall
be driven Uu,, may depend l,,.A the
battle that is being iought today in the
Vicinity OF L.cIc between tle ka.tc.'s
forces. Numbering over 100000. and
the combined army OF the allies, the
French, Delgians and English. The
forces engaged are OF such magnitude
as 70 make this one OF the greatest
battles OF history. but any attempt TO
estimate the number engaged is sim.
ply guessing. as oil channels OF infor-
nation are closed.
licee has fallen and is now In the
hands OF the German attacking force
after one OF the most heroic defenses
In history. according 10 late advices
received here.
General Leman. the Belgian com.
mander. is withdrawing his troops In
an orderly retreat from the ring OF
forts that stood as the outpost of do
tense.
Official communiQues dated Aug. o
are Of conservative tone. but they
indicate that the machinery OF the
German army became disorganized by
small incidents. They announce that
the Germans who have been captured
were all starving and were worn out
by forced marches.
Many military authorities have al
ways held that the German army was
splendid machine. perfect for ma
neuvere In time of peace, but 80 high
ly trained and Of so complicated q
character that In time of war If cog
siRped the entire machine was thrown
oIt OF action. The question no longer
is which army possesses the best the
oretfcal system. but which has the
best fighters.
London. Aug. 1f-A Central News
dispatch from Amsterdam explained
the withdrawal of tho Belgian outposts
into tho ring Of forts around Liege.
Belgian army officers declared that
this was not retreat. but O strategic
movement 70 give the worn-out sol.
diers q chance 10 secure a rest.
Gencral Leman planned the opera
ton. which was carried out with ad-
miroble precision. The harried Bel
CLANS. worn by their exposure to the
three days bombardment from Ger.
man batteries. fled over the Bressonx
bridge 10 good order and without
haste As the rear guard crossed dyn-
amite was placed under the bridge
and II was blown up To prevent the
Germans from following.
The Belgian battle lines had been in
quadrant formation IN the tongue OF
the land lying between the Meuse and
vesdre rivors. General Leman real.
I'D that their withdrawal would OK.
pose Liege 20 the German army, but
Notwithstanding this fact he felt suii.
ciontly sure of the wisdom OF his plan
20 put II into effect without delay.
General Leman secretly sent orders
to the commanders OF the Belgian
outposts 20 prepare for the movement
and at the same time couriers were
sent into Liege 70 inform the troops
In the citadel TO evacuate the city.
This allowed the Belgians to remove
oil their ammunition and provision
stores and live stock from the city be-
fore the Germans took possession.
A telegram from Charleroi, Bel
gium, 10 the Daily Mail says force
OF French troops arrived in time 10
participate I'm O fine success OF Gen.
erai Leman's Belgian division over
the German troops investing Liege
The French succeeded In reaching the
town Of Liege and working behind the
Germans. cut of their retreat. The
Germans are said 90 have lost 5000
killed and wounded. while 1,700 oi
thom we're captured
Information from tho front confirms
the report that the German troops
have ceased their advance by the val
ley OF the Ourthe. They are said Ia
have retired on their reserves and "a
be throwing up defensive works.
The German offensive movement "a
the north OF Llege Is developing.