Morning Oregonian., September 21, 1914, Page 3, Image 3

THE MORNING OREGONTAN, MONDAY, SEPTEMTVER 21, 1914.
3
500 GERMANS BOUT
WHOLE ARMY CORPS
Daring Charge Against Posi
tion Believed Impregnable
Makes History.
FRENCH SUPPORT LACKING
Individual Bravery Undoubted, but
Good Generalship and Perfect
Co-ordination Are Tlegard
- ed as Greatest Xced.
AACHEN (Aix-la-Chapelle), Germany,
Sept. 4 Correspondence of the Asso
ciated Press.) In most of the encoun
ters in Belgium the overwhelming num
bers were enough to account for their
access. In the fight at Buissierre on
the morning- of Monday, August 24,
however, two companies of German in
fantry were the cause of the rout of an
entire French army corps. The tre
mendous advantage in the position held
by the French makes this defeat one
of the crowning riddles of the German
advance.
The little village of Buissierre is di
vided by the River Sambre, which at
this point is lined with marble stations,
boat houses and breweries. North the
land rises gradually and is dotted with
farmhouses; on the south bank of the
river there is a sharp bluff about 75
feet high, and so 'abrupt as to give It
the appearance of a geological freak.
Along the verge of this almost perpen
dicular height runs a low hedge.
The Germans held the village Itself
and 'were encamped on ground to the
north about a quarter of a mile from
the river.
Strategic Position Taken.
The Forty-eighth regiment of the
second French army corps crept before
sunrise to the top of the strategic posi
tion on the south bank of the river,
where the natural advantage was so
great that It would have seemed that
a dozen rifles might have held it. Be
hind the regiment of chasseurs-a-pied,
who reinforced their security by a low
trench behind the hedge which topped
the bluff, the Two Hundred and Fifty
first and Two Hundred and Eighteenth
and the Twenty-seventh Infantry regi
ment of the line took their stand. Still
further back on a sort of second emi
nence which rose from the bluft' itself
like a camel's hump were stationed the
Twenty-seventh Dragoons of the Fifth
Army Corps and five batteries of the
artillery divisions of the same corps.
As the sun rose the artillery opened
lire on the Twenty-seventh brigade of
the Seventh German Army Corps across
the river. It did deadly execution, and
so raked the unoffending village of
Buissierre. across which it had to fire,
that the buildings in the congested por
tion near the river seemed to topple
over as if they had been rocked by an
earthquake. The Twenty-fourth Ger
man Artillery was late in arriving and
hundreds of Germans had fallen before
the French machine .sruns were an
swered by German artillery fire.
tirrnans Decide on Charge.
Finding the French fire too powerful,
the Germans determined on a charge
which will go down in history. Two
companies oi infantry, consisting only
of 500 men, advanced at full speed down
the easy slope ttrthe Sambre and, dash
ing across a small bridge which the
French at that moment were trying to
destroy with dynamite, they charged
up a small pass which threaded its way
up the steep incline to the crest, where
the French sharpshooters were eh
sconsed. The hedge which screened the enemy
emitted almost continuous tongues of
flame. The effect was" deadly, but the
diminished German companies scaled
the bluff and dispersed the French
troops by a bayonet charge.
1.0MM Heavy on Both Sides.
The battle of Buissierre. aside from
the unique character which it derived
from the army positions and the ex
traordinary German charge, is typical
of a series of German encounters reach
ing from Buissierre far over the French
border. In every case the Germans tes
tify that the French soldiers have acted
with great individual bravery, but in
every case something has been lack
ing. In Buissierre and in several other
encounters the French, according to
German officers, relied too much on
their artillery. In as many other bat
tles their Infantry, strong in itself, has
not been properly supported by cavalry.
It is the German opinion that the
French lack preparedness, good gener
alship and perfect co-ordination.
In the battle of Buissierre the losses
were heavy on. both sides, but it is im
possible to give definite figures. Fifty
French prisoners, including two officers.
Were taken.
DIVE BY HERO SAVES ONE
(Continued From First Page.)
bridge to take charge of such rescues
as we could make. I knew from the
thousands of ties and timbers afloat
about us that we were at the scene of
the Legsett disaster. As the Buck came
about she began to drift down on the
voice, which became instantly nearer
and louder and more appealing. Then
it was that our man, Lars Eskildson,
made what I consider to be one of the
finest attempts at rescue work I ever
saw.
Rescue Prnlxed Highly.
"A man was seen with a life belt on,
Clinging to a piece of wreckage, but
owing to the high seas running I did
not deem it advisable to launch a life
boat, and maneuvered the Buck down
alongside him. Then Quartermaster
Eskildson bravely jumped overboard
with a lifeline, swam to the exhausted
survivor and tied it to him. Then both
rescued and rescuer were hauled on
board and everything possible was done
for them.
"It was a night of heavy storm, with
a huge sea running, and Esklldson's
work will stand high in the annals of
lifesaving wherever they shall be writ
ten. AVhen the man was brought on
board we did all in our power to make
him comfortable and he is just about
the most grateful human being it was
ever my good fortune to see and talk
to."
Llfesaver Falls Overboard.
"From papers found in the pocket of
the man picked up he proved- to be
George Poleman, of St Cloud. Alberta.
In the meantime, with the aid of the
ship's searchlight, another survivor
adrift was sighted and I called for vol
unteers to man the lifeboat and in
stant response was made by Chief Of
ficer A. A. Sawyer and six seamen. In
launching the boat one of the llfesavers
was washed overboard, but was quickly
picked up.
"The second survivor, after a hunt
of two hours, was found and taken on
board the boat and later placed on
board the steamship Beaver.
Paiieoiceri Cheer Reicoen.
"Too much praise cannot be given
the work of these lifesavers. The
Beaver had come up in the meantime
and it was more convenient to get the
man on her than the Buck and he was
cordially welcomed there, because, even
at the early hour In which this' work
was done, the passengers on the Bea
ver were all up and crowding her rails
and cheered the work of the rescuers
to the very echo.
One of the survivors, having been
sufficiently revived to be Interviewed,
said that when the deckload of the
Leggett was washed overboard the
holds Immediately filled with water.
the vessel going down like a rock, the
heatches having not been put on before
leaving port. Two boats were launched
from the Leggett. but were at once
capsized, there being' at one time in
plain sight from 25 to 30 persons in
the water, clinging to wreckage in all
directions, but dropping off one by one.
Long Search Made.
"The Buck and the steamship . Bea
ver stayed in the vicinity until day
light, closely examining every cluster
of ties and lumber for human dere
licts, but found no further trace. Wien
we took up our courses for the Colum
bia River. We sighted the Japanese
cruiser Idzumo at 11 o'clock yesterday
morning off the Tillamook coast, bound
south."
George Poelman. survivor, is a Hol
lander, about 24 years of age, of me
dium "height and build, light complex
loned and seemingly of a quiet dispo
sition. He seemed none the worse for
his thrilling experience except for a
few slight bruises and scratches re
ceived from the floating wreckage dur
in bis seven or eight hours in the
water.
GERMANL1NERD0DGESIN
BALTIMORE REACHED FROM
VAN A, VIA SCOTLAND.
HA-
Vessel Kept Busy Dodging British Wi
ships and Makes Port With SO
Tons of Coal in Bunkers.
BALTIMORE, Md., Sept- 20. With
her name painted out, her deckhouses,
boats and masts painted a dark brown
and her funnel black, the North German-Lloyd
liner Neckar docked here to
day after dodging Dack and forth across
the Atlantic for seven weeks. Captain
Hinsch reported . that there were few
days that the vessel had been free from
pursuit by a F.rench or English war
ship from the time she left Havana
for Bremen August 5. All the time
she steamed along without a light, save
a dim oil lamp in the chartroom.
The last two weeks the food supply
was low and the men had only half
rations each "day. An inventory of the
vessel's coal bunkers after her arrival
showed that there were only about 30
tons of coal left.
The Neckar sailed from Baltimore
late in July for Galveston, Tex. She
started on her return trip to Bremen,
and had put Into Havana before war
was declared. Although he had been
advised of the declaration of war and
that It would be unwise to leave Ha
vana, Captain Hinsch . determined to
make a dash for Bremen.
When 300 miles off the coast of Scot
land the Neckar was discovered by a
British cruiser, which immediately
started in pursuit. Captain Hinsch put
on all Bteam. swung southward and
after a long chase threw the cruiser off
the track. While making for South
America the. Neckar was forced back
again almost to mid-Atlantic by a Brit
ish cruiser;
Both coal and food were running low
and Captain Hinsch started for Balti
more. On the way up the cost the
vessel encountered several foreign war
ships but was comparatively untroubled
by them as she kept just within the
three-mile limit.
Three days ago the British cruiser
Lancaster was within 20 miles of the
Neckar but the German vessel slipped
past the cruiser in the night.
Prosser Entertains Postmasters.
PROSSER, Wash., Sepi. 20 (Special.)
The state convention of postmasters,
held last week In Prosser, was one of
especial interest. Many leading men
in the department were present and
added much to the sessions. At the
Commercial Club banquet given the
postmasters responses to toasts were
made by speakers who gave much in
formation that was of interest to Pros
ser and the Yakima Valley.
Railroad-State Hearing Set.
SALEM, Or., Sept. 20. (Special.)
Attorney-General Crawford was noti
fied today that the suit of the Corval
lis -& Eastern Railroad against the
State Land Board relating to land
worth about $1,000,000, had been set
for argument In the United States Su
preme Court October 26. The decision
of the Oregpn courts was against the
State.
RELIEF MAP
DUNKIRK
- a l li l i m 1 1 1 1 i i -r-w-ir v-' -XT - - -Z -TiLnv.diU 3 JU.-I
msjar3 --yfiT
i
THIS MAP SHOWS THE SAME COUNTRY AXD FORCKS AS PREVIO US NES -.PUBLISHED TSfTR E ORBGOMAN, Bl'T HAS THE ADDED AD
VANTAGE OF GIVING AN ID ISA OF THE3 NATURES OF T11K LANK. TEG OKiVV. CXKOtkKED UKK SHOWS THE EXTREME OK THE
GERMAN ADVANCE. THE LI G1ITKR LINE SHOWS EXTREME OX GJHUSIAN U7IREAX. SXKCTK TB3 S WAS REACHED THE GERMANS
: HAVE ADVANCED SOMEW HAT . AGAIN. THEIR RIGHT IS N OW -Ai AILING KHt.lllii, WHOSE STIENDID CATHEDRAL THEY HAVE
FIRED.
BERLIN QUESTIONS
BRITISH SINCERITY
Munitions Said to Have Been
Stored in France Long in
Advance of War.
GREAT BITTERNESS SHOWN
Violation of Declaration of London
With Kespect to Neutral Ves
sels and Soizure of Mails
, "Is Cha-eed.
BERLIN, Sept. 4. (Correspondence
of the Associated Press.) Nobody in
Germany is willing to admit the sin
cerity of Great Britain's basing its
declaration of. war on Germany's vio
lation of the territory of Belgium and
Luxemburg and much alleged evidence
is produced In newspapers and maga
zines to prove that Great Britain had
already made up its mind to Join
France and Russia previous to Ger
many's advance on Belgium territory,
In the highest circles of the Ger
man government it is asserted that
the foreign office has evidence that
Great Britain was negotiating with
Russia several months before the war
broke out to furnish ships for a descent
of Russian troops on the coast of
Pomerenia. which lies on the Baltic
north of Berlin, but . it appears that
nothing came of these negotiations.
British Ammunition Comlnsr In.
Another curious and timely piece of
evidence is presented in the shape of
an item purporting to be from the
Paris Gil Bias of February 25, 1913.
That paper is said to have published
the following:
"A newspaper of Eastern France has
revealed a highly Interesting piece of
news. In military circles there it is
related that large stocks of British
ammunition have for several weeks
been brought into Maubeuge, near the
northeastern frontier of France, on
the railway line from Paris to Cologne.
The city of Maubeuge Is of great mil
itary importance. It . is designated in
the French general staff's plan of
campaign as the concentration point
for the allied troops which will be
commanded in case of a war by the
English field marshal. Sir John French,
under General Joffre as commander-
in-chief.
Governments Reach Agreement.
It is well known that the British
cannon fire a different projectile from
those of France. The two govern
ments, however, have reached an agree
ment to accumulate on French terri
tory in time or peace the necessary
war supplies of ammunition for the
English artillery."
That Sir Edward Grey, the . British
Foreign Secretary, had substantially
agreed to give France military sup
port In the event of a war with Ger
many Is also regarded in German cir
cles as proved by the notes of the
French and British Foreign Ministers,
which were read in British Parliament
and in the French Embassy about the
middle of August.
Dispatches announcing that Great
Britain had held up neutral Nether
lands ships and taken from them Ger
man reserves and that she had also
taken German mails from neutral ships
have caused much bitter comment in
Germany. In respect to the arrest and
detention of the 400 German reservists
who w-ere on their way home from
New York on the Dutch liner Noordam,
it is asserted here that- Jreat Brit
ain's act is a flagrant violation of the
declaration of London, to which Great
Britain is a party.
Seizure of Mails Denonneed.
In regard to seizure of German mails
it is also contended that this was con
trary to the Hague convention of 1907,
which declares that the mails of bel
ligerent states carried on neutral ves
sels are inviolable.
Still another grievance is that on
August 1, three days before Great
Britain's declaration of war, the Brit
ish authorities at Port Said detained
the German steamer Dufflinger and
removed parts of her machinery so
that she could not proceed, in some
cases, too, the wireless apparatus of
German ships was removed and sent
ashore. All this occurred, German of
ficials point out, contrary to the neu
SHOWING SCENE OF FIGHTING
JTYVERP
tral character of the Sues Canal stipu
lated in treaties, and on which Great
Britain largely based its action in
Panama Canal agreements with the
United States.
FRENCH SAY FRONT HOLDS
(Continued From First Pce.
not previously destroyed at Maubenge,
but the German press reports the
taking of this city, and even indicates
that its governor will . be interned at
Torgau (Prussia).
"The Saxon army has been broken
up and its commander. General Von
mand. The cavalry division of the
same nationality, which had fought in
Lorraine at the opening of the cam
paign and was later sent to Russia,
has shared the downfall of the Aus
trian army and . must have suffered
heavy losses."
Retreat Toward Belgium Asserted.
The Echo de Paris declares that, ac
cording to the latest dispatches re
ceived from Rome, the German army
has begun retreating movements to
ward the Belgian frontier. This, in the
opinion of the paper, would explain the
dimunition in the intensity of the bat
lie recently noted.
The paper declares that it learns on
excellent authority that- the battle on
the Alsne soon will conclude In a fresh
retreat by the Germans in the direction
of the forest of Ardennes, where,
though greatly enfeebled, they will en
trench again.
LONDON, Sept. 20. The following
announcements were made by the of
ficial information bureau today:
"There is no change in the situation
(in France). The weather is bad. Coun
ter attacks delivered yesterday after
noon and during the night were re
pulsed easily with loss to the enemy.
ALLIES PUT OX DEFENSIVE
Germans Plan Attack of Line of
Korts South of Verdun.
BERLIN, Sept. 20. (By wireless via
Say ville. L. I., Sept. 20.) The German
headquarters made the following an
nouncement last midnight:
"The situation on the western front
Is generally unchanged. The Anglo-
French forces have been compelled to
assume the defensive on the whole
line. A decisive assault on the line of
forts south of Verdun is about to be
gin. "The Germans are in contact with
the French along the frontier in Alsace.
"In the east the Germans have de
feated the Fourth Finnish Rifle Bri
gade at Augustow, and forces advanc
ing against Ossomiec have captured
Grajewo and Szouozyw."
Subscriptions to the war loan closed
Saturday. Although full returns have
not been received, it is officially an
nounced that subscriptions to the im
perial bonds of 2,500,000,000 marks
($625,000,000), and to the treasury cer
tificates of more than 1.000,000,000
marks ($250,000,000) are already re
ported. The total is subject- to an in
crease, and hopes are now cherished
that news of decisive results in the
western campaign Will not be long de
ferred: .
Telegrams from Brussels say that
the military governor has announced
by posters placed on walls that Bel
gian flags should be removed from
sight in order to avoid provocation to
the German troops and make impossi
ble any regrettable . incidents. The
order has been explained to the public
by the Mayor of Brussels, who is work
ing in co-operation with the German
civil authorities.
The substance of the first part of the
foregoing dispatch referring to the
situation on the battle line in France
was received earlier in two Berlin
cable dispatches coming by way of
London, and so subjected to censorship.
The fact that the uncensored wireless
dispatch is practically Identical in
wording with the cable messages al
lowing for discrepancies in transla
tion, would seem to indicate that the
censorship in London is being some
what relaxed.
Columbia Extends Road.
ST. HELENS, Or., Sept 20 (Special.)
The strip on the Portland road north
from Scappoose and known as West
Lane has been filled, graded and ma
cadamized for more than a mile. Rock
was hauled from St. Helens by gaso
line truck night and day. It will be
finished this week.
Prison Delegates Appointed.
SALEM, Or., Sept. 20. (Special.)
Governor West today named Rev. A.
A. Moore,, of Salem, and W. G. Mac
Laren. of Portland, delegates to the
convention of the American Prison As
sociation, which will meet in St. Paul
October 3.
BETWEEN GERMANS AND ALLIES
J"
LULL IS REPORTED
France Surmises Enemy Is Be
ginning to Show Fatigue.
BATTLE NOT TO BE FINAL
If Germans Lose, French Territory
Will Be Free Prom Invasion;
ir Allies Do Not Succeed .
They Will Strike Again.
LONDON, Sept. 20. A dispatch to
the Times from Paris says: "The pub
lic was reassured by the announce
ment that the fury of the battle had
been somewhat diminished along the
whole line, as this denoted fatigue on
the part of the Germans. The enemy
made extraordinary preparations well
In advance for their retirement on
their chosen lines, their engineers
having worked at the trenches for 10
days before the opening of the battle.
"But the French entrenchment is also
remarkable. At one point near Sois
ons the French concealed 180 guns of
5 milimeters, which opened fire simul
taneously with tremendous effect. The
feat which attracted most attention
was the construction by the French of
pontoon bridges across the Aisne.
which were several times destroyed by
the German artillery fire. Despite this,
the French got over 20,000 zouaves,
who charged the German lines almost
before the enemy was aware of their
presence.
Third Battle Poanlhle.
"Whatever be the result of the bat
tle, it cannot be final In the sense of
a defeat of the Anglo-French resist
ance, for the allies would retire under
the forts where a third battle would
be fought.
"If the Germans lose the French ter
ritory will be freed from invasion. If
IN FRANCE.
COLOGNE
TODAY
Our Store is Closed
Following a Time Honored
Custom We Are Observing
The Jewish New Year
May This New Year Witness the
Restoration of Universal Peace
Werc&wndisto of cJ Merit
the allies do not score a definite sue-
cess they will bring up fresh troops and
strike again. The impression exists
that the allies are maneuvering and
that the principal offensive is taking
place along their left wing. Recent
official communications indicate prog
ress in that direction. If this suc
ceeded, the enemy will be driven from
the natural positions formed by de
pressions in the plateau above Soissons.
German Position Immensely Strong.
"In abandoning Soissons sthe enemy
have only two roads to the north. One
has too many convolutions which would
expose them to a flank attack,, and the
other, leading to Laon, would be the
natural line of retreat. Craonne. which
the French hold, is a fine strategic po
sition, the .town being on a plateau
above the plains, where Caesar resisted
the Belgians and Napoleon gained a
great victory.
"The salient feature of the struggle
la the immense strength of the Ger
man position between Rheims and the
forest of Argonne, where their fortifi
cations form a sort of Chinese wall.
Strategists declare that the temper
of the Germans evidently has changed
for they now protect themselves elab
orately from the vigor of the French
attacks."
BELGIAN CHARGES GROW
LOUVAIN AFFAIR LAID TO INTOXI
CATED GERMANS.
Many Villages Plundered and Partly
Destroyed and Citizens Shot
Without Trial, Is Resort.
LONDON, Sept. 20. The third sec
tion of the report of the Belgian com
mission appointed to inquire into al
leged breaches ot International law
by the Germans has been received
in London. It follows in part:
"The inhabitants of the town of Lou-
vain took no part in the fighting.
Moreover, the destruction of the town
came at a time when the last Belgian
troops had evacuated the district 11
days before. Witnesses declare that
the first shots were fired by intox
cated German soldiers at their own
officers. Another fact established fol
lows:
"A crowd of from 6000 to 8000 men,
women and children were taken by the
162nd regiment of German infantry, on
August 28, to the Louvain Riding
school, where they spent the ihjfht.
The place of confinement was so smii
that all had to remain standing. The
sufferings were so great that several
children died in their mothers' arms
and a number of women lost their rea
son. "A large number of villages in the
triangle fromed by Vilvorde. Malines
and Louvain has been given over to
Great Northern Railway
Summer Excursions
To the East and Return
Tickets on Sale Daily
to September 30th
Cincinnati
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2 ' -
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70.00
Kew Tnrk .,
Philadelphia
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. St. Joseph. S6U
Corresponding Redactions to Other Points
c-..i m limit Or-r 3ist- StODovers allowed srolns;
and tickets good coins; uno road,
Oriental Limited
Through standard and tourist sleeping cars to Chicago In 7S hours,
making direct connections for all points East. Lnaurpaased dining
car service. Compartment-observation cars. .
n. DICK SO.
C. P. X. -
Telephones
Marshall SOTl
A SCSs
Visit Glacier National Park This Summer
Season June ISth o Kept. 3UU.. Write or sak tor Booklets.
-Of all the scenes beneath the sun you shouldn't miss the grandest
one."
Only
plunder, partly destroyed by fire, and
inhabitants indiscriminately arrested
were shot without trial, to inspire ter
ror and compel migration.
"We are convinced that an interna
tional Inquiry like that conducted In
the Balkans by the Carnegie commis
sion would establish the truth of our
assertions."
Xew Students Welcomed.
OREGON NORMAL SCHOOL. Mon
mouth. Or.. Sept. 20. (Special.) Tho
reception which was given by the for
mer students to the faculty and new
students proved a very successful event.
A receiving line headed by the faculty
extended around the entire floor space
of the gymnasium. A short programme
was rendered, in which Miss Lydla
Brown gave the welcome address and
Miss Gertrude Follow the response in
behalf of the new students. The re
mainder of the evening was spent in
"getting acquainted." after which light
refreshments were served.
At the age of 1U8 John Dryesdale. the
oldest man In West Virginia, haa cut his
third set of teeth and is regaining; his eye-
Fitrht.
The superior
quality of the
Gordon hat is
more apparent
after a season's
wear.
Prove it.
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