New Britain Herald Newspaper, August 8, 1914, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL l LOCAL NEWSPAPERS —_— HERALD “ADS” ME BETTER BUSINES NEW BRITAIN HERALD! NEW BRITAIN. CONNECTICUT, SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1914—TWELVE PAGES. PRICE THREE CENTS. ‘Four British Battleships Sunk By Flotilla of German ~ Torpedo Boats According to Private Cable Advice ‘French and German Troops Reported to Have Come in Contact at Luxembur ESTABLISHF" 1873, - Portugal Decides to Support Great Britain in European War; Norwegian Steamer Strikes Mine and is Beached; Americans Held as Spies. ; Force of French Cavalry Is Said to Have Arrived at Liege--German Cruiser Sunk By Russians. New York, Aug. 8—Private cable advices received in New York report that a flotilla of German torpedo boats has attacked British warships in the Humber, the wa- terway to Hull, on the east coast of England, sinking four of them. 5 A number of the attacking German torpedo boats were lost. The report tallies with yesterday’s declaration of thc British admiralty that the first news of the war might he unfavorable. The date of this engagement is not given. London, Aug. 8—A despatch to the Exchange Telegraph from Lisbon says that at a special meet- ing of parliament today the declaraton was. made that Portugal would place herself unconditionally o1 the side England, ancient treaty. The declaration was received with enthusiastic cheering for France and England. Premier Mashado in announcing the attitude of the government said: “According to our alliance we have duties which we in no way fail to realize.” \ Portuguese warships have been ordered’ to prepare for a cruise around the coast and foreign shipping in Por- tuguese ports has peen notified to remove their wireless installation. It is reported that the war office has ordered the mo- bilization of all military divisions. Lisbon, Portugal, Via London, Aug. 8, 12:20 p. m.— Portugal’s decision to support Great Britain in the gener- al European war was announced today after Germany had demanded to be informed of her intentions. Vienna, Aug. 8, Via London, 4:10 2. m.—The Monte- negrin government has informed the Austrian minister that Monténegro considers itself in a state of war with Austria. As a consequence the Austrian minister has left Cettinje. St. Petersburg, Aug 8, Via London, 4:10 2. m.—The government has published the official papers in connection with the negotiations between Russia and Germany pre- ceeding the war. It is stated that they show Russia’s paci- fic intentions to the last and fix complete responsibility for the war on Germany. ° Flushing, Holland, Via London, 1:20 p. m.—The Norwegian steamer Tysla of 2,905 tons, struck a mine outside the Dutch fsland of Wieringen today. The ex- plosion shattered her stern, but the captain managed to run her on the beach. London, Aug. 8, 5a. m.—The latest despatches from Brussels indicate that the armistice of 24 hours asked by the Germans has been refused by the Belgians. London, Aug 8,5 a. m—A despatch to the Exchange Telegraph comlpany from Brussels says that a division of German cavalfy which had succeeded in fording the Meuse to the inorth of Liege was surprised and practically annihilated by Belgian cavalry and infantry, supported by a battery of/ light artiliery. The German rout was com- nlete. Seven{German regiments surrendered. Londofy, Aug. 8.—The Standard, Daily Mail, and other papefrs today appeal to Italy to abandon her neu- trality and§come to the assistance of England and France against “The common enemy of Europe.” according to the terms of her| | 1 ]All Eyes Turned s Toward Belgium London, Aug 8.—All eyes were turned today toward Belgium where the unexpected stand made by the Belgian army against a German ad- vance guard has earned praise in ali quarters. Tne authorities here have tak=n the greatest precautions to preven: the leakage of information as to mi tary and naval movements, but indi- cations were seen in the commandeer- 1ing of large liners and stoppage of the cross-channel passenger traffic thaz the deparfure of a British expedition- ary force would probably soon take place. The fighting around, although regarded in military circies as 1im- portant, is considered as merely an opering movement in the campaign. No hint has yvet been given as .o the position of the bulk of the twenty- four German army corps or of the twenty-one French army corps. It is known that several of the -‘German army corps are near the Russiun frontier. ; Tne organization of other corps from the immense body of reserves must hove occurred since the mobiii- | zation. It is pointed out by military men that any decisive offensive movement by the German or French army will involve several hundred thousand men on each side, whose contact will completely throw into the shadow the fight which has just taken place at Liege. Reports from many quarters rec- ord further captures of merchant ves- sels sailing under the German flag, while the presence of contact mines even in neutral waters was shown in today’s wreck of a Norwegian steamer in the Zuider Zee. What is happening in the African colonies of Germany, France, Belgium and Great Britain is not known,. as news from those places appears to be suppressed. - The spirit in which the British peo- ple are taking the war has found ex- pression in their acceptance of their first misfortune, the loss of the crui- ser Amphion with 136 men. In a lesser conflict it would have been mourned as a disaster; today it is re- garded as a regrettable, but not un- expected incident. The public ac- cept the loss calmly. The reports of a victory in the North Sea raised false hopes which the admiralty promptly dissipated. The business section of the town displays very few flags, and even sol- diers march through the streets with- cut attracting special notice. An on- looker said: “Thetemper which we are certain is going to inspire the nation cannot be expressed better than in words of the greatest of Americans, Abraham Lincoln: “With malice toward none and with charity for all.” The Nation, which is the organ of the pacificists, says: “There is but one substantial hope of averting a second return of Europe to barbarism. That lies in setting up in each afflicted country a reign of modified socialism.” The authorities hold that there is certainly no malice being shown toward the 30,000 Germans who re- main in England. The war office be- lieves that the Germans have main- tzined for several years ‘the largest and best organized system of espion- age that one nation ever supported against another. Consequently the police have arrested a large number of Germans. About fifty were rounded up yesterday. The police took pos- session of the residence at Maresfield of Prince Muenster of Derenburg, who left for Germany upon the declaration of war. They also raided the German monolight works at Sulford and seized a number of rifles and some ammuni- tion. Thirty-two Germans at the plant, were arrested. Bow street police station is housing a small armory of weapons Which have been taken by the police from the homes of Germans. Several large German stores and restaurants display signs announcing that “The proprietor is a naturalized PBritish subject.”” A few German shops in the suburbs have been closed. No instance of Germans be- ing mobbed or assaulted has been re- ported and there have heen only a few cases where they have been in- suited. A British force on the Gold Coast, West Africa, has seized Port Lome, German Togoland According to late despatches this morning, quite an important engage- ment between French anll Germans occurred in Belgian Luxemburg. The Etoile Belge of 'Brussels learns fromn &an official source that no decision has \ I Method of Attack on France | [ To undeérstand the fighting which marks the beginning of the great Franco-German conflict it is neces- sary to grasp clearly just one simple geographical fact. From the Rhine, which is the base of German opera- tions, three routes lead west and south into France. The first starts at Cologne, crosses the Belgian frontier just beyond Aix-la-Chapelle, reaches the Meuse at Liege and ascends the Meuse to enter France between Maubeuge and Givet by a natural gap in the divide between the headwaters of the Oise and the Sam- bre. This is the route followed by the main railroad between Paris and | Berlin, It was employed by the allies in the second campaign in the Frenci revolution. The invaders were de- feated by the French army cele- brated in song and story as the Army of the “Sambre et Meuse” at the de- cisive battle of Fleurus. The second natural avenue to France starts at Coblenz and ascends the valley of the Moselle until it arrives at Luxem- burg. Tt then crosses into France by Longwy an the gap of Stenay. This route was followed by the Duke of Brunswick in' the first invasion of France at the time of the revolution and by Bleucher in 1814, The first attempt penetrated through Longwy, passed Verdun, which surrendered, and was checked at the famous “Cannonade of Valmy.” The thira approach follows the Rhine valley from Mayence to Strassburg and then turns west through the famous Sev- erne gap to cross the frontier of France near Lunevi]le and Nancy ana directly in the center of the open space left by the French between Epinal and Toul. This was the route used by all invaders prior to the time when France seized Alsace in the seventeenth century, and it was to close this gap that Louis XIV. and Richelieu struggled to acquire the Rhine frontier. This map shows these three routes of attack. been received on the question of an armistice at Liege, an engagement having begun elsewhere. \ Another report states that an armis- tice of two hours only was granted the Germans in order that they might collect their wounded. An official communication issued at Paris states that the troops in the Fortress of Liege being sufficient for the defense of the town, an active division mobilized at Liege has joined the army in the field. English military critics in London papers comment on the failure of the tactics of the German Infantry ex- hibited in their frontal attacks on the Liege forts, in which they were re- pulsed It is contended that the Ger- mans learned nothing from recent wars and still adhere , to methods adopted in the Franco-German war. 125,000 Germans Participated in Assault on Liege Forts Brussels, Aug. 8, (Via London 6 a. m.)—The war office has issued an official statement saying that 125,000 Germans participated in the assault on the forts at Liege, but that they completely failed to make any im- pression on the fortifications. Three army corps engaged in the attack were cut up and rendered useless, it is declared. “For many days,” reads the state- ment, “‘our little army by tenacity and courage rendered highly valuable ser- vice to the French army, which for -_— e WEATHER. Hartford, Aug. S.—Cloudy and cooler tonight. Sunday fair with rising temperature. some days under forced march has been hurrying to our assistance and now occupies a considerable portion of our territory. ‘““Hundreds of German soldiers have been captured. These are chiefly cavalrymen. The spirit of the Ger- man soldiers lacks enthusiasm. They appear to be fighting lethargically, while their officers endeavor to puss themselves off as Frenchmen.” Trenches Around Liege Filled With Germaus Brussels, Aug. 8.—London, 9:20 a. m.—Soldiers returning here report that the trenches around Liege are literally filled with the bodies of Germans. In some places the bodics are piled four and five deep. A force of French cavalry arrived to the east of Liege today, according to an official announcement here. The French troopers were said to be rapidly advancing. The minister of war has receivea word that fighting has occurred be- tween French and Germans in Bei- gium and Luxemburg. Honors City of Liege With Legion of Honor Brussels, Via. London, 11:30 a. m,, Aug. 8.—President Poincare in in- forming King Albert of the decoration of the *“Valiant city of Liege” with the cross of the Legion of Honor today said: “‘The government of the French re- public wishes thus to honor the courageous defenders of Liege and the (Continued on Fourth Page.) BE LGIAN AUTHORITIES SEIZE THIRTY-SIX GERMAN SHIF Thirty-four Steamers and Two Sailing C at Antwerp Port Taken as Prizes of'War; German Steamer in Italy Seized. Antwerp, Belgium, Via London, Aug. 8, 2:45 p. m.—The Belgian gov- ernment today seized thirty-four Ger- man steamers and two sailing ships in the new port here. Cruiser Augsburg Sunk By Russian Torpedo Boat Paris, Aug. 7., despatch published Parisien states that Via. by the London,—A the Petit German | the Russian port of Libau, has been : sunk by a Russian torpedo boat. The German cruiser Augsburg is a 'protec!ed cruiser of 4,280 tons dis- placement with a speed of 27 knots. men. German Vessels Seized By Italian Officials London, Aug. 8.—A despatch from Milan to the Chronicle says that the Italian authorities at Genoa have seized two German trans-Atlantic ves- sels, the Moltke and the Koenig Al- bert. It is explained that the action was taken when the captains demand- ed a supply of coal, though they al- ready had coal aboard, The Koenig Albert belongs to the North German Lloyd Line and sailed from New York July 4, and arrived on July 17 at Genoa. The Moltke is a Hamburg-American liner. She left New York on July 15, arriving In Genoa on the 28th. A telegram from Rome to the Cen- tral News says semaphores on the south coast of Italy report the Cer- man cruisers Goeben and Bresla making for the Adriatic. A request to the Austrian fleet for aid was re- fused on the ground that there had been no declaration of war between ‘Austria-Hungary and Great Britain. Russian Warships Capture German Merchantman Shanghai, Aug.’ 8.—Russian war- ships have captured the German mer- chantman Sabine Rickmers at th2 mouth of the Amur river. The Deike Rickmers, another German merchant- man, after an exciting run from Hons Kong arrived here safely today ana found shelter behind an island. On the voyage here she sighted a Britisn { cruiser Augsburg which bombarded | She carries a crew of 379 officers and | cruiser and forthwith ran up a ish flag. Austrians:Shoot Number of Czech Soldi Paris, Aug, 7, 8:06 P. M.—An ficial despatch received at the | office here states that the Aust: |shot a number of Czech soldiers the Bohemian regiments before | latter left for the scene of war, According to rellable informat | reteived here Belglan troops have jthe railroad between Arion and |ton thus stopping all Geimag t portation in the direction of { At Athus the Belgians took £ away bodily. P y . It ie oficially announced §" & ! English troops under the 4 French officers are disembark French soil. The point of barkation is not revealed. The disembarkation was made der the direction of French who spoke English fluently and witnessed by a crowd that cheered t) Englishmen. The government ix appointing commission to consider the food ply, sanitation, organization of ployment bureaus and other lkin subjects that may ari is arran for the country to have the sel of a number of the most distingul public men in France who cannot taken into the cabinet, The great improvement today the general train service in France taken as a reliable indication that ti mobilization and concentration of French armies are nearly compl No fewer than 2,600 passengers anrl- today for the south of Fn Four Danish Children Shot By Germans Paris, Aug. 8, 1:52 p. m,—Col Albert DeMun, one of the conservath lcaders in the chamber of deput writes over his signature to & ne paper here today: was related to me by a frien that twelve Danish children who wi on a German train going to the tier, carried away by the impru of their youth and the fervor of. young hearts, shouted ‘Viva France!’ They were immed! dragged out of the train and four them were picked out and shot.” (Continued on Fourth Page.) Developments of European War ity During Past Twenty-four Hours | Indications that both British and French troops are hurrying te the assistance of the Belgians are given in spatches today. French officlal de-" The extent of the support is kept secret as well as the route taken by the reinforcements. French cavalry is said to hav where masses of German troopr e arrived on the scene at Liege, are reported moving forward to support the strong advance army which was checked by the Bel- gains and is reported from Belgian sources to have lost 25,000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners, the German check not a defeat but the result of an heroic of a small German force to adva The German war office declares attempt | nee in face of difficulties. ° k French and German troops are sald to have come into contaot in Luxemburg, where several German army corps are supposed to have concentrated. Large numbers of Germans have been arrested in suspicion of spying. Portugal decided to act as ally of Great Fngland on Britain under the terms of an old treaty by which it must supply 10,000 men. A French newspaper despatch reports the sinking of the Gers man cruiser Augsburg in the Balt fc by a Russian torpedo boat. A big Norweglan steamer struck a mine on the Dutch coast and was beached. Trans-Aflantic lines running from Glasgow suspended their sail- ings today, causing the stranding of many dians. The Bank of owing to the improvement The Russian warships, cent England reduced its discount rate to Austrian merchant steamer Stella has been Americans and Cans- fve in the monetary situation. o captured by per