New Britain Herald Newspaper, August 13, 1914, Page 1

(% gan territory are made vague owing _—nm———————_————— 1 HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS e TS NEW BRITAIN HERALD HERALD “ADS” MEAN BETTER BUSINESS PRICE THREE CENTS. ZSTABLISHET 1876. NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1914 —TWELVE PAGES. Great Britain Declares War Upon Austria; German Soil Cleared of French Troops .Over 1,000 French Officers and Soldiers Taken Prisoners by Germans During Fighting at Mueihausen---First Despatch Direct From Berlin Received Today. Many Germans in Homes at the Disposal of Berlin Place Their Stranded Americans, The first despatch direct from Ber- lin uncensored by the authorities of the nations at war with Germany was received today by The Assoclated Press through the medium of the Goldschmidt Wireless company's station at Tuckerton, N. J. The mes- gage contained the important infor-: mation that during the fighting at) Muelhausen considerably over 1,000 French officers and soldiers were taken prisoners by the Germans who' aiso captured four cannon while in a | fight with the French on the border «f Lorraine further to the north, the Germans also took one thousand prisoners. The despatch adds that German soil has been cleared of French troops. Developments in the war zone, which appears chiefly confined to Bel- to the strict censorship over news re- lating to military movements. Positions occupied by the main French, Belgian and Britlsh forces ‘are not permitted to be disclosed even approximately, so that their plan of campaign cannot be assumed. As to the German forces, indications from various sources point to the concentration of the main body with its right wing in Belgium and its left wing in the Duchy of Luxemburg. The German staff is said to have gathered twenty-six army corps along the eastern frontier facing Belgium and France. Many of these troops probably are stationed at the great fortresses in Alsace-Lorraine and along the Rhine. One despatch as- serts the defense of Germany’s Rus- gian frontier has been left to armies made up of reservists. Although all of these are trained soldiers it would, seem natural to leave as a nucleus for their organization a’ considerable force from the active army. The dispositions and strength of the French invaders in Alsace, where tliey are said to hold a long line within the German border, are kept .rigidly secret. On the sea, the reported safe arrival in the Dardanelles of the | German cruisers Goeben and Breslau has led toc rumors of their probable dis- mantling until the end of the war. In the north Atlantic, although Rear Admiral Craddock has declared It “clear of German cruisers as far south as Trinidad,” the French liner Rochambeau which was to leave ves- terday with French reservists, was held in New York by orders. from France. In the North Sea, which the British government says may be strewn with mines, the main squadrons of British battleships are still out; but their position is not publicly known. Neither is the location of the main German fleet public property. The reports from Dover, at the eastern entrance to the English chan- “nel, say heavy cannonading lasting an hour was heard this morning coming from the direction of the North Sea. The Austro-Hungarian fleet, owing to the declaration of war by Great Britain added to that of Germany, is said to be in the Adriatic, where it was recently occupied in blockading the Montenegrin coast. The British squadron in the Medi- terranean is strong and has the sup- port there of almost the entire French fleet. Belgian reports assert that a strong force of German cavalry, supported by infantry and artillery after severe fghting around Haelen was thrown back toward Liege by a division of Belgian cavalry with infantry and artillery. The German killed and wounded are said to have numbered three-fifths of the 5,000 men engagea, while those of the Helgians ported “relatively light The French foreign minister de- ndes a German report of the capture by Germans of a I‘rench regiment Briey. Meurthe-et-Moselle. Swiss reports assert the Franco- Ferman battle before Muelhausen to have been so severe that the neighboi- inz Hospital accommodations proved absolutely “inadequate. a are re | their homes at the disposal of strand- ed Americans. War Between Powers Further Regularized London, Aug. 13.—The war between the nations of Europe today became further regularized with the formal declaration of war on Austria-Hun- gary by Great Britain. The strength of the British fleet in the Mediter- ranean is unknown, as no movements of war ships have been made public since the first outbreak of hostilities. It is known, however, that France has the bulk of her fleet in the Med- iterranean so that no apprehension exists as to the safety of trade routes through that sea now that it seems certain that the German cruisers Goe- ben and Breslau are out of action. The official press bureau here, de- scribing today the disposition of Brit- ish cruisers in the Atlantic and else- where, urges traders of all nations doing businesd with Great Britain to send their cargoes confidently and boldly to sea in British or neutral ships in all directions except the North Sea, where owing to mines and the probability of naval operations, no guarantee can yet be given, al- though, as announced yesterday, pas- senger services are' again running. In the fleld of land operations lit- tle change had occurred since yes- terday. ! It must be remembered in consider- | ing all the published reports of mili- tary operations that these despatchcs emanate almost exclusively from the side of the allied French and Belgian armies. Nothing whatever comes from the German and Austrian side relating to, military movements or dispositions and only occasfonally a brief item describing the result of past engage- ments is made public from those quarters. The strict censorship\exercised over the whole: field makes it difficult to Neither the British foreign office nor the Turkish embassy has re- ceived any despatch confirming the reported purchase by Turkey of the German cruisers Goeben and Bres- lau. estimate the value of the news re- ceived. The struggle for the possession of the Belgian forts surrounding Liege has re-commenced, and reports of ar- tillery and cavalry engagements ars taken as indicating the possible be- gu&mng of a great battle on Belgian soil. The bulk of the German forces is belleved to be concentrated on the frontler between Liege and the Duchy of Luxemburg, leading to the conclusion that Germany’s frontier facing Russia can only be ohly lightly guarded, probably by newly organized armies composed of reservists called to the colors. Great Britain Breaks With Austria-Hungary London, Aug, 13.—It is officially announced that a state of war has existed between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary since midnight. As soon as the fact became public a large number of Austrians and Hun- 1 | Probable Nancy, one of the pretti and most prosperous cities in France, will like- ly run red with blood again, | It is a strategic point on the French frontier, and its proposed capture was one of the steps in the German campaign of invasion, Nancy is the capital of the department of Meuthe-et-Moselle. It MIC VIEW of CITY of NANCY, FR is situated on the lefu bank of the Meurthe river and is thirty-five miles south of Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, which is one of the bases of supplies of the German army. Nancy is on the main railroad from Paris to Strassburg, also another main point for the operation of the German advance. The city Battle Ground in German Invasion | NCE - 'hfla a population of about 100,000, 'll has a beautiful cathedral, which shows in the accompanying picture. ! The city was captured by Charles the Bold in 1475, and he was killed in besieging it again in 1477, Louis XIIT !took it in 1634. The old citade] is still standing, to the problem of the relief commit- tees. ’ The British foreign office later is- sued the following statement: “Diplomatic relations between France and Austria-Hungary being broken off, the French government requested his majesty’s government to communicate to the Austro-Hun- garian ambassador in London the fol- lowing declaration: ‘ ‘Having declared war on Servia and thus taken the initiative in hos- tilities in Europe, the Austro-Hun- garian government has placed itself without any provocation from France in a state of war with France, and after Germany had: successively de- clared war against Russia and France, Austria-Hungary has interfered In the conflict by declaring war on Russia, who already was fighting on the side of France, According to information worthy of bellef, Austria-Hungary has sent troops over the German frontier in such a manner as to constitute a direct menace against France. In face of these facts the French govern« ment finds Itself obliged to declare to the Austro-Hungary government that it will take all measures permit- ted to it to reply to these acts ana menaces.’ 4 “In communicating his declaration accordingly to the Austro-Hungarian ambassador in London, his Britannic majesty’s government has declared to his excellency that the rupture with France having been brought about in this way it feels itself obliged to an- nounce that a state of war exists be- tween Great Britain and Austria- Hungary as from midnight.” German Soil Cleared garians resident in London and who were liable to be called up for mili- tary service applied to Robert P. Skinner, the American consul general for enrollment. The clerks of the consulate general at once began stamping the men's military books, and this will be regarded by the Austrlan authorities as evidence that the men were ready Lo perform their duty. In accordance with previous in- structions received from Secretary of State Bryan, Consul General Skinner has notified the ..merican o throughout the British Isles to over the Austrian consulates. Ambassador Page was ready to us- sume charge of the Austro-Hun- Barian embassy here as soon as re- quested (o do The number of l.\Iu trians and Hungarfans in the British Isles is not known, but it is Many Germans in Berlin have placed expected they will add considerably of French Troops Berlin, Aug. 13.—(By direct wire- less from Nauen, Germany to the Goldschmidt wireless company’s stu- tion at Tuckerton, N. J.) The German troops took 120 I'rench officers and 1,110 TFrench j prisoners in the ilghting at Muel- hausen, Alsace. They also capturcd i four French cannon. Another 1,000 French officers men were taken prisoners by the i mans in the fight near Longwy German soil Is now entirely | cleared of French troops. na - iFrench Trot;fisr Resist German Army Corps London. Aug. | 12,16 m.—/ despatch from the French foreizn minister {ssued by the French em- P soldiers * | | ! | bassy here today reiterated that the French troops. behind Muelhausen, Alsace, “have not retired but have victoriously resisted an entire Ger- man army corps.” The minister adds: “The Belgian army and the forts around Liege are intact and are pre- pared to resist all attacks. “There has been no important change in Lorraine and there is no truth in the report that the Sixteenth regiment of French infantry was taken prisoner by the Germans at Briey, in the department of Muerthe- Et-Moselle.” At the end of his communication the French minister says: “France is gratified by the attitude of America.” Despatch to the graph Co., clal says: “At 10 o’clock Wednesday morning Pont-a-Mousson, a town in the de- partment of Muerthe-et-Moselle, six- teen miles southwest of Metz was bombarded by heavy artillery from a considerable distance. Shells falling in the town's streets killed and wounded many of the inhabitants and wrecked a large number of houses.” At Gibraltar more than fifty ves- sels of all nationalities have bheen stopped and their sailing preventdd. Exchange Tele- from Paris, labelled oiti- Germans Repulsed at Eydtkuhnen, Prussia St. Petersburg, Via London, Aug. 13, 5:10 a. m.—The following ofi- clal communication has been issucd: “On August 10 and 11 the enemy made careful reconnnaisance on the frontiers of the governments of Kovno and Suwalki. A German detachment of four battalions, three squadrons of cavalry and eightecn cannon attacked Eydtkuhnen, east Prussia, but was repulsed.” . The communication gives details of number of small frontier affairs. It is stated that Grand Duke Ni olas Michaelovitch soon will join the active army, and it is believed that most of the male members of the im- perial family will follow his example. The Grand Duke Constantine has endowed field hospital with fifty beds. The grand Duchesses Marie and e A g WEATHER. Hartford, Aug, 13.—Gener- ally fair tonight and Friday. Slightly warmer on Friday. - 'Helen have volunteered as hospital nurses. A Russian force has taken the town of Sokal, Austrian,Galicia by assault, inflicting heavy casualties on the Austrian garrison, according to a semi-official announcement. The Austrian garrison consisted of two Infantry battalions, a regiment of lancers and a regiment of hussars. After dislodging them the Russian cavalry pursued the Austrians across the river Bug and blew up two bridges and a viaduot. Several houses in Sokal, which is forty-five miles northeast of Lemberg, were burned by the Russian troops because civilians had fired from them on the attacking force, The Russlans captured some mili- tary building magerial, pontoons and telegraph instruments. According to a _semi-official de- spatch the German troops before Kuzllez, Russian Poland, have issued a Yproclamation stating that every tenth inhabitant of Kaliez will be shot in the event of further resistance. Germans Lose 10,000 Men at Muelhausen London, Aug. 13, 7:30 a. m.—A des- patch to the Exchange Telegraph Co. from Basel, Switzerland, says: “Following a terrible battle at Muelhausen the hospital facilities proved absolutely inadequate to care for the almost incredible number of wounded. Not only are all the hos- pitals filled, but schools, churches and hotels are occupled to their capacity. Kven then it has been found neces- sary to charter special trains to con- vey the wounded to Muelhiem and St. Ludwig and other towns, “The latest estimates place the Ger- man losses at from eight to ten thou- sand.” German Troops Open Fire Upon Priests Brussels, Aug. 13 (vin Paris, 2:34 A, M.)— Peasants report that the muns are waging a war of extermin tion. They allege that the troops s firing upon priests and are killing wounding people indiscriminat 3 Whole villages, according to their stories, are being wiped out by the invaders. Yesterday al Tirlemont the Belgian lancers lost twenty-five killed, includ- ing Captain Kappen and Lieutenant Count Van Der Burch, while fighting l (Continued on Tenth Page.) { surers of the society in other cities, AUSTRIAN ATTITUDE SHOWN IN LETTER | | of H. Johnston Correspondent Writes From Prague After Declaration of War, Interesting because it shows the Austrian side of the war and repre- sents an attitude alien to that of many Americans letter received from a friend in Prague, Bohemia, by | President I H. Johnston of the State Business Men's association, | Mr. Johnston's correspondent is an | Austrian, Gustav A. Steiner, agent for American typewriters in Austria, {who was a delegate to the Interna- | | tional Chamber of Commerce in Paris | in June, where Mr. Johnston met him, and a delegate to the congress in Boston in September, 1912. He | and his wife, who is a native of New York, travelled for two weeks in | France with Mr. Johnston this sum- | | mer. Mr. Steiner’s letter, which was writ- ten on July 28, just after the declar- | ation of war between Austria and Servia, says in part: “At the present time we are hav- ing war with Servia, and I hope the latter will get the thrashing due to | them. All .the European countries are against Servia except the despotic | Russia, which apparently sides Wwith the murderers of kings. Neverthe- less, Germany holds to Austria, and this fact will probably keep Russia |from interfering. Should the war | spread and other nations interfere, it will be a war such as Europe has not seen for a hundred years. Business | is at a standstill at present. All men | from twenty to twenty-seven years | old must go to war. I have just ac- | companied two of is a ! my brothers, lieutenants in the army, to the rail- road station. They went down to | Dalmatia.” CERMAN CRUISER LEIZIG CLEARED FOR ACTION Captain Optimistic Concern- ing Outcome of Engage- ments Which May Occur San Francisco, Aug. 13.—The Ge=- man crulser lLeipzig now off' this port is stripped for action, all deck wood work haviag. n jettisoned. “We have ;A " Lieuten- ant Standke sald:: ‘newspapar men who visited the el, “They included a beautiful steam launch and a motor launch, the Lein- zig's pride. But we decided that nothing should be left to encumber us when we engaged the enemy. We took all our boats and towed them out from the ship. We then loaded onr ‘four inchers. It was splendid target practice. Every shot took effect and our boats disappeared. That Captain Huan of the Leipzig is optimistic concerning the outcome of engagements in which his com- mand may be involved is shown by his remark to Baron Von Schadk, acting consul for Germany, who /is- ited the Lelpzig yesterday, accom- panied by newspaper men. “It would not take us long,~ he said. ““I believe we could dispose of them at the rate of one a day." Eight hostile craft are now on the Pacific coast. WILSON APPEALS TO AMERICAN PEOPLE President As Head of American Red Cross Soclety Asks Ald For Sick and Wounded Soldiers, 13.—President ity as head of today ap- Washington, Wilson, in his capa the American Red Cross, pealed to the American people to | contribute money for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers of the warring i European nations. The appeal was | as follows: “To the people States: “The present wars in Europe are certain to impose upon the Red Cross of the nations engaged a burden which demands the sympathy and aid of the world. The American Red Cross is earnest- 1y desirous of assisting its sister so- eleties in thelr endeavors to alleviate | distress and suffering among the combatants, and therefore, appeals for funds to be expended impartially for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers of the nations at war. “Contributions for this purpose may | be sent to the American Red Cross, | washington, D, C, or to local trea- of the United | 1 contidently hope that the human- ity and liberality of the people of the [ United States, 50 often manifested in | the past, will them re- spond promptly reneronsly to thiz appeal. (Signed) “WOODI “President of Americ 1 to and W WILSON, n Red Cross' HAS CLAIM OF $400, | i William Kowalski has a claim of | $400 against Alex Gerent and has taken legal measures to recover that | amount. Te claims that Gerent owes him $192 damages of but he seeks retained PRESIDENT WILSON WANTS EXPLANATION OF RISE IN PRICES Chief Exccutive Orders Att General McReynols to laves gate ‘Higher Food Costs. INCREASES IN MANY CASES UNJUSTIFIAB President Hl)';:mnlfl' Ought to Defended Against Men Who Taki Advantage of European War to Ad: vance rices of Foodstuffs—Prosecu: tions May Follow as Result o Investigation. Washington, Aug. | 13.—Presid Wilson today directed Attorney Gem: eral McReynolds to investiga increases in prices of foodstuffs | to take up the question whether persons responsible can be prosecuf The president sent the following let ter (0 the attorney general: Very Serious Matter. “The rapid and uhwarranted crease in the prices of foodstuffs this country upon the pretext of conditions existing in Europe i serious and vital a matter that take the liberty of calling your a tion to it. ' “1 would be very much obliged you would advise me whether th is under existing law any action whic the department of justice could taki either by way of investigation or I process, and what federa] legislat! if any, would in your judgment Justifiable and warrantable in the ¢ | cumstance. Defense Is Necessary. “1 feel that this is a matter wi we cannot let pass by without to serve the country. Certainly ) country ought to be defended, if sible, against men m would advantage of | umstances | iny ‘the of food and the of living.” The president took up the g of increasing prices the first today and was impressed by the pi sure of the situation. He at on cided that legal action should taken if possible and that if t were no law covering the g new legislation should be passed. Increases Wholly Unjustifiable, Officlals said the president co ered that in many cases the Inc: were wholly unjustifiable. Attorney General Replies, Attorney General McReynolds once replied to the president as lows have your letter of August in reference, to the unwarranted crease in the price of foodstuffs, Instructions Sent Out. “The head of our special has been instructed to give di to his men throughout the country begin investigations in order to ascer: tain the real facts, and 1 am sen the various district attorneys simi: fnstructions. This should enable to secure some definite information in respect to true conditions. “May 1 take the liberty of sugs ing that perhaps the agents of the de. partment of commerce could aluable assistance along the lines in. dicated ? Wil Stady Matter, “When we have hecome som: more familiar with the exact tion 1 hope to be able to make some suggestions in respect of proceedings or appropriate K tion. ““The department has for some been making Investigations in ous directions concerning the of foodstuffs.™ The president at once instructed Secretary Redfield to have his aj begin similar Investigations. SAIL FOR EUROPE DESPITE BIG W. Two Local People and One elte on Board Frederick VITI, Bound for Sweden, Anxious to reach Burope in spite 0f the fuct that thousands of Amerioa) tourists are hurrying across the cons tinent to ape the complication which threate to follow the outbreal) hostilities between the greatest of world powers, Miss Amy Anders and Claes Abrahamson of this and Theodore Larson of Plain. sailed for Sweden yesterd board the Scandinavian-American I'ner Frederick VIH, o Miss Anderson will visigghe the midnight sun becanse of her de- clining health, and Mr. Abrahamson makes the trip so that he will have the pleasure of joining his family in the old country, but Mr, Larson had the son city ville £400, He ha Attorney Jo- seph G. Woods. no definite purpose in mind when took his leave.