The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-08-26
Allies Driven | 1 I Back ;
by Germans.
!: 1890 .ss i,z,... IS.
.NAMUR FALLS AFTER
THREE 4 DAYS FIGHT
Great Fortress Had Been Con-
sIdered Strong Enough to
80 !. 100 g.
Hold Out for Weeks.

Paris. Aug. 26.-Driven to their
own Notifications the French and
British lines are strictly on the de.
fensive.:. 80. 81, =
Against them the great tidal wave
of Germans beat with tremendous
force. Fresh forces Of Germans have
been rushed through to the attack
while the regiments that carried the
day Monday have been withdrawn to
rest and to reft their shattered COL
umns. e III. H..
The German assault is admittedly
as tremendous Sas it was when the
great battle begun. 49,. ~. -
Namur has fallen .... ..- -.
The great fortress, counted on to
hold out for weeks, collapsed in three
days. The German line, outspread like
gigantic FAM. has enveloped the en-
tire Franco-Belgian frontier. 49,.
In the gaps between the fortresses
tens of thousands of Germans have
been hurled. The allies are striving
with desperation to hold their lines.
The war Office says they will hold.
But it made the same promise about
Namur and there is great apprehen-
sion lest the 2Germans are going to
break through and a real invasion of
France is threatened. 49,. ...
The official bulletins contain no au-
thentic details of the situation. The
real dependence is upon the secondary
line of defense, but just where the
strongest pressure, is being exerted
the war officeewill not say. 1t insists
the general plan of defense is work.
ing out. az -. = ->>s -.<
'The battle must be along the Sec
ondary lines fof Defense" the state.
ment says, taI1d the allies will hold
this line while the Russians move In
the direction Of Berlin .-.:.:5s r.: j.
War Council at Palace.
There was a council of the cabinet
at the palace that lasted for several
hours, In which the entire war situa-
ton was carefully canvassed.
It was admitted after the reports of
General Joffre had been considered
that the campaign was working out as
we'll as could be expected when the
extraordinary strength Of the German
force was considered. The statement
said: .:.sszz~'
There is nos doubt as to what the
final outcome will be. The Germans
are still advancing in extraordinary
strength. Every battle in which they
participate, however, weakens that
strength and It is necessary for them
to bring all their supplies up from a
long distance, whereas our army is
operating from its field base.
1--WE control the railway lines, max
ing the work of rushing fresh supplies
and reinforcements much more easy
task from our standpoint.
"Our losses are very heavy, but SO
are the German. III s'--9e,c@1e,
ut is certain that the Germans have
taken the offensive all along the line
from Western Belgium to the Swiss
frontier. That being the case it is
our policy to- remain on the defensive
and force the enemy to make all the
offensive moves. ~ - :
when we get ready to strike we
| will be In position to stfike hard and
we will not leave the result long in
doubt" "zs . ~ 4 2. s. &. r. d.
The official statement has not yet
detailed the loss of Namur, but it is
understood the forts were simply
overwhelmed. -. l.. ...:-.:. !,
From the time they came under fire
there was no let up. Night and day
the German bombardment continued
and finally one of the forts was car
ried by storm. Then the Germans
were able to mount their artillery
inside this fort and to reduce the 9th
ers one by one, according to the
c&orioc told az tho NOR office