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ROCK ISLAND ARGU Associated Press Exclusive Wire HOME EDITION SIXT V-TI 1 1 K D YE All. X( ). 25. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1914. TWELVE PACES. riHCE TWO CENTS. All French Troops Driven oi Men Killed: En and stria r THE Out Germany; ' Many and. An FOES BATTLE r ALL DAY LONG NEAR H AELEN 1 - Wind velocity at 7 a. m., 5 miles per First Bia Struqqle Withiho"r . HIM w,a w" MaS w Preciritation in the Inst 21 hours. Invading Germans On Road to Brussels. i LATTER DRIVEN BACK Column of Five Thousand Con stituted German Strength in Fierce Battle. Brussels, (via London) Aug:. 13. Tte fighting yesterday between the Belgium and Ger man armies in the vicinity of Diest lasted the entire day, con stituting the first considerable battle of the war. It will be known as the battle of Haelen. Shells were still falling at 7:30 in the evening on the roads around Diest. The battle centered around Haelen in the Belgian province of Limburg, extending to Diest in the north of the prov ince of Brabant, after passing around Zeelfcem. At 7 o'clock in the evening all the country between the three towns men tioned had been cleared of Ger; mans except the dead and wounded who thickly strewed the firing zone. Upwards of 200 dead Germans were count ed in a space of 50 yards equare. A church and brewery and some bouses at Haelen were set afire and two bridges over the Denier destroyed by Eelgian en "gineers. Great quantities of booty were collected on the bat tlefield. This was stacked i: front of the town hall of Diest. Many horses were captured. The strength of the German column was about 5,000. Casualties at Haelen. Erus.selp. Aug. 13. According to Le Soir the German casualties yester day in the fighting at Haelen were 1.000 killed and 1,000 wounded. The Belgian casualties arf not precisely known but. it is declared they com prise on'.y a few dead and many wounded. Belgian Official Report. Brussels (via London), Aug. 13. An cEcial com-n'jnicat:on issued today "jnf.rms yesterday's success of the' Belgian trocps over the Germans at , Haelen. I: tas three fifths of the German t'''.- engaged in the encoun ere k:i:-ri or wounded. The Bel E'an cafi'ja'ries were relatively small. French Report of Battle. Par!. Aug. 13. An official comma Nation pubiished here says: A divis ion of Belgan cavalry, supported by ai fcriraie of infantry and by artillery, engaged and defeated near the fortress of Diest, It miles northeast of Louv ato, a division of German cavalry. 'c eupprud by infantry an. I artil lery." The f.g iting was extremely 'Tee, (,n resulted ln the Germans fcnr t.'.rown back toward Hasselt and Et. Trend. Germans New Plan. Brussels, via London. Aug 13. The Cerinaf.g app.-ar to be commencing a frech pi.ase of the war. Their attack tr.rouen entra Belgium having faiied. ''yare entrer.rhing alorig their Maes- lr"'-i'--L.ej;r) front and are employing cun.!jer of peasants on the road 'outh through the provinces of Liege nd Luxemburg, foreshadowing an at tn:pt to force their way to the south tte river Ourthe and towards the Per Meuse I France. Peasants are Alarmed. Brussels, Aug. 13. Peasants report ""at tiie Germans are waving a war '-f extermination. They allege the troops are firing on priests and are killing and wounding people indiscrim inately. Whole villages, according to t-ielr stori.-Hj rp hein? wiped out. Yesterday at Tirlemont the Belgian lancers Iott 2T, men in a clash with "tlans, while the latter loat 250 killed. The lancers were checked by machine 3 THE WEATHER Fcrecast Till 7 P. M. Tomorrow, far Rock Island. Davenport, Molina and Vicinity Probably showers or thunderstorms this afternoon or tonight; Friday gen erally fair; cooler. Highest temperature yesterday. 88; lowest last night, 72; temperature at 7 a. m., 73. Temperature at 3 o'clock p. m., 88. none. Relative humidity at 7 p. m. yester day, 31 per cent; today, 65 per cent. River stage at 7 a, m.. 3.1 feet, a fell of .1 of a foot In the last 24 hours. J. M. SHERIER, Local Forecaster. ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS. Evening stars: Jupiter. Venus, Mars. Morning stars: Saturn, Mercury. Con stellation Coitus seen setting In the southwest about 720 p. m. guns, but the Belgian Infantry stopped the Germans. Belgium Calls More Reserves. Brussels, Aug. 13. It Is annouaoed that the 1914 classes of reservists are soon to be called to the colors. The ministers of war states there has been engagement in Limburg pro vinces in which the Germans were driven back. Again Battle for Forts. Brussels, Aug. 13. The struggle be tween the Belgians and the Germans for the Liege forts recommenced yes terday. The forts are being fired upon and are returning the fire of the Ger mans with vigor. A new German army corps is invest ing Liege. The German advance is being great ly retarded by the Liege fortifications, as they dominate (the routes taken by the Germans and also the intervals between the forts, thereby preventing the passage of artillery and transport wagons. The Germans are erecting fortifica tions in the streets of Liege with a view to resisting a possible Belgian attack on the right fjaak, - The var office announce "thatTltls once more in communication with the J city of Liege, the Germans having re- moved their headquarters to the Col lege of the Sacre Couer, which is strongly barricaded. The Germans, it adds, are accumulating quantities of flour, in case they should find them selves invested instead of being the besiegers. French Town Shelled. Paris. Aug. 13. The bombardment by the Germans of Pont-e-Mousson, In the department of Muerthe and Mo selle, about twenty miles northwest of Nancy, commenced yesterday morn ing. A hundred shells of large cali bre fell in the town, killing or wound ing e number of the inhabitants and demolishing buildings. RUSSIANS TAKE AUSTRIAN TOWN Garrison Defending Sokal Galicia Sustains Heavy Losses in the Assault. in St. Petersburg, Aug. 13. It is semi officially announced that a Russian force has taken the town of Sokal. A.,strian r.aliria hv asKault. Inflictincr heavy casualties on the Austrian gar rison. GERMANS THREATEN TO DECIMATE POLISH TOWN St. Petersburg. Aug. 13. A semi-official statement says ihe German troops Defore Kaltz. Russian Poland, have issued a proclamation stating that every loth inhabitant of Kaliz would be shot in event of further re sistances GOVERNMENT TO CHARTER SIX VESSELS FOR EUROPE Washington. D. C.. Aug. 13. Secre tary McAdoo, Garrison and Daniels have agreed upon an immediate char tering of six vessels to go to Europe ror Americans. They will carry 8,000 at reasonable rates if possible. HONG KONG FURT SHELLS JAP SHIP Shanghai. Aug. 13 The Japanese steamer Sliikoku Mam was seriously damaged today and one of her crew Killed by a cannon shot fired from the British fort at Hongkong while the vessel was entering the harbor. The Shikoku Maru paid no heed to the harbor regulations. Two warning tshois were fired over her bow and when hse did not stop, a third shell .iruck her amidehl. s. A tug aslted '.lie rteamer to berth. SEVERE LOSS IN BATTLE AT iUELHAUSEN Both French and Germans Claim Victory in Strug gle for Alsatian Town. HOSPITALS ARE FULL Swiss, Near Scene of Battle, Declare Facilities Are Ab solutely Inadequate. ' The first dispatch direct from Berlin, uncensored by the au thorities of the nations at war with Germany, was received to day by the Associated Press through the medium of the Golds chmitt wireless company's station at Tuckerton, N. J. The dispatch follows: Berlin (by wireless from Nauen, Germany, to Gold schmitt wireless station, Tuck erton, N. J.) Aug. 13. Ger man troops took 120 French officers and 1,110 French sol diers prisoners in the fighting at Muehlhausen, Alsace. They also captured four French can non. ... Another, thousand French of- fleers and men were taken pris oners in the fighting near Long wy. German soil is now entire ly cleared of French troops. French Claim Victory. London. Aug. 13. A dispatch from the French foreign ministry Issued by the French embassy here today reit erates that French troops behind Muehausen, Alsace, "have not retired but have victoriously resisted an en tire German army corps." The statement of the minister adds, "The Belgian army and forts around Liege are intact and are prepared to resist all attacks. There have been no important -changes in Lorraine and there is no truth in the report that the sixteenth regiment of French infantry was taken prisoners by Germans at Briey, in the department of Meurthe Briey. in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle." - At the end of the communication the French minister says, "France is gratified by the attitude of Ameri cans." Another French Report. Paris, Aug. 13. The following of ficial announcement was issued by the French war department late Wednes day afternoon: "Up to the present hour no encount ers between German and French forces except those of outposts have taken place. "The occupation of Muelhausen was effected by a French brigade of in fantry In order to destroy the German intelligence center In operation in that town. That being accomplished, the brigade was withdrawn, the general ln command considering the position too perilous. "The French brigade was followed by the entire Fourteenth German army corps, which were halted by our principal lines. "Our strategical situation remains I as before, excellent." Many Wounded at Muelhausen. London. Aug. 13. An exchange Tel egraph company's dispatch from Swit zerland, says: "Following the terrible battle at Muelhausen the hospital fa cilities proved absolutely inadequate to care for the almost Incredible num ber of wounded. Hospitals, schools, churches and hotel3 were occupied to their capacity. It was necessary to charter special trains to convey the wounded to Mulhelm, St. Ludwlg and other towns.' The latest estimates place the German losses at from eight to ten thousand. Take French Troops. Berlin, (via London). Aug. 13. The German troops near Muelhausen have captured ten French officers. oOO men, four guns, ten wagons an 1 many rifles. According to the report German ter ritory has been cleared of the Frenclt. It is also stated that at Lagarde the German troops took more than a thou sand prisoners, about or.e-sixth of the two defeated French regiiiients. If it is necessary to make enemies, choose lazy iiru. m-s r 'jATTEB.TIELt CONFEREES PASS ON SHIPPING BILL Washington, D. C, Aug. 13. The house and senate conferees on the emergency shipping bill agreed to recoiumend to congress that foreign built vessels registered under the act be permitted to engage in coastwise trade within two years from its pas sage. Washington, Aug. 13. Agreement was reached last night by senate and house conferees on the emergency ship registry bill and it was brought before the house and senate today for final passage. The conferees rejected the amend ment of Senator Jones authorizing foreign-built ships admitted to American registry to engage in commerce from. points on the Atlantic coast to points on the Pacific coast. This is consid ered coastwise trade, and the Jones amendment would permit such ships to engage in the Hawaiian trade as well. Incorporated in the Jones amend ment wus the proposition of Senators Williams and McCumber that ships from Atlantic or Pacific ports could trada with gulf and great lake ports and ships from the great lakes could trade with the ocean coast ports. This proposition was carried down with re jection of the Jones amendment. The conferees accepted ffie Cum mins amendment, which provides that as to all foreign-built ships purchased under the emergency act during the next year the application for registry must be approved by the secretary of state before the registry is granted. Senator Cummins was Insistent on this proposition as offering a safeguard against foreign complications and charges of violation of neutrality or ssion of unfriendly act. To the same end he insisted on a prolion in the bill requiring ownership of 51 per cent of the vessel by Americans before application for registry is made. Cone Johnson, solicitor of the state department, gave the following con clusions as to the transfer of mer chant ships of a belligerent to a neu tral nation after the outbreak of war. "Merchant ships of a belligerent may be transferred to a neutral after the outbreak of hostilities. "If the sale of the ship Is made In good faith, without defeasance or res ervation of title or interest in the ven dor, without any understanding ex pressed or tacit, that the vessel is to be retransferred after hostilities, and without the indicia or badges of a col lusive or colorable transaction. "But transfer cannot be made of such vessel while in a blockaded port or while ln transit. "The transfer must be allowable un der and in conformity to the munici pal regulations of the country of the neutral purchasers." London Calls for Eggs. New York. Aug. 13 With the sup ply of ergs from Russia shut off, Ion don has tallied New York for eggs. Tomorrow the American liner New York will sail with 3C.000 dozen. Eggs tout here 25 cents a dozen. ' SITTING TIGHT PRESIDENT ACTS ON PRICE RAISING Will Ask New Legislation if Old Laws Do Not Reach Food stuff Speculators. "Washington, D. C, Aug. 13. Presi dent Wilson has directed Attorney General McReynolds to investigate the recent increases in the prices of food stuffs and to take up the question whether any persons responsible can be prosecuted. The president took up the question of increasing prices the first thing to day and was impressed by the pres sure of the situation. He decided le gal action should be taken if possible and if there is no law covering the question that new legislation should be passed. Officials said tho president in many cases considered the increase wholly unjustifiable. .In replying. Secretary McReynolds said: "I have instructed special agents of the department throughout the coun try and district attorneys to ascertain the facts. The department has been for some time investigating prices of foodstuffs." Acting on a suggestion bv Secretary McReynolds, the . presi dent instructed the department of commerce to begin similar investiga tions. New York, Aug. 13. Vigorous and searching inquiries into the causes for the swift risa in food prices were be gun Soday by District Attorney Whit man and a committee of 133 citizens, with George W. Perkins as chairman appointed by Mayor Mitchel. Boston, Mass., Aug. 13. Attorney General Boynton has begun an inves tigation of the increased cost of staple foods in Massachusetts. TWO PEACE TREATIES RATIFIED BY SENATE Washington, D. C, Aug. 13. Secre tary of State Bryan's peace treaties with the Netherlands and Norway were ratified by the senate. They are the first of twenty similar treaties pending. They provide for a commission of inquiry before resort to arms in in ternational disputes which ordinary resources of diplomacy fail to settle. Losses at Pon-a-Mousson. Paris, Aug. 13. An official report of the fighting of French and Ger mans In the vicinity of Pon-a-Mousson says: "Fighting started Aug. 11, con tinued Aug. 12 under thrilling condi tions for the French. Nine German officers and a thousand wounded men fell into French hands as prisoners." Italian Troops Mobiliz:. Geneva. Switzerland, Aug. 13. Italy has mobilized a quarter militor of troops on the Swiss and Austrian fron tiers as a precautionary measure. Dover Hears Cannonading. Dover, (via London) Aug. 13. Heavy cannonading was heard here early this morning, the reports com ing from the northeast. The firing lasted an hour. , w - BROTAL MURDER IN CHICAGO LOOP Chicago, Aug. 13. Edward P. Am ory. secretary of the Western Rail road association, was found dead in a pool of blood in his office in a down town office building late Wednesday. There were two deep cuts In his head. The police believe he was murdered. Books and papers scattered about the room indicated that a struggle had taken place. A. M. Thompson, an employe, was taken tc the police bureau of Identifi cation where an impression of his fin ger tips were taken. Miss Janet Schoben, a stenographer, told the police that she had gone to the office at the usual time yesterday morning but had been unable to enter. She waited until afternoon then left for home. A note in Amory's handwriting was found on his desk. It was scribbled on a piece of yellow scratch paper and was unintelligible to the police. It read: "Libel and scandal, 3 Russels 8888. Will be malice." The police believe the note wat written after Amory had been injured and was his dying effort to identify his murderer. TURKEY MUST EXPLAIN PURCHASE OF CRUISERS Paris. Aug. 13. It is declared here that the alleged purchase by Turkey of the German cruisers Goeben and Breslau. announced at Constantinople, will probably be the subject of a de mand for explanations on the part of France and jihe allies. The cruisers entered the Dardanelles yesterday. MazatLan Merchants Taxed. Mazatlan, Mexico, Aug. 13. In as suming charge of Mazatlan yesterday Governor Rivers of the constitutional ist administration ordered to be re moved from the doors and windows of German stores the signs reading German property under protection of the cruiser Leipsic." The Leipsic is off San Francisco. The governor then levied a forced loan of $100,000 on all foreign merchants. In the three days' fighting which accompanied tne evac uation by the federals the constitu tionalists lost eight hundred killed and wounded. WILL INCREASE REVENUE TAXES Washington, D. C, Aug. 13. Ways and means to supplement the falling customs receipts by other taxes during the European war were discussed by Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, Chairman Simmons of the senate finance committee and Chairman Un derwood of the house ways and means committee. It was determined to draft a bill to raise $100,000,000 by ad ditional internal revenue. BRITISH- GIVE war NOTICE TO AUSTRIA Expect French Fleet to Guard Interests in the Mediterranean Sea. OCEAN TRAFFIC SAFE War Bureau Says Shipping Takes No Chances Anywhere but in the North Sea. London, Aug. 13. The war of the nations of Europe today became fur ther regularized witn the formal dec laration of war on Austria-Hungary of Great Britain. The strength of the British fleet in the Mediterranean is unknown as no movement of warships is made pub-" lie. It is known, however, that France has the bulk of her fleet in the Med iterranean, so no apprehension exists as to the safety of trade routes through that se. Most Sea Routes Safe. The official press bureau here de scribing today the disposition of Brit ish cruisers in the Atlantic and else where expressly urges traders of all nations doing business with Great Britain to send their cargoes confi dently and boldly to sea ln British or neutral ships in all directions ex cept in the North sea where, owing to mines and the probability of naval operations, no guarantee can yet be . given, although- passenger service Is again running. All News From One Side. In the field of land operations little change occurred since yesterday. It must be remembered that all pub lished reports of military operations emanate almost exclusively from the side of the allied French and Bel gian armies. Nothing whatever comes from the German or Austrian side re lating to military movements and only occasionally a brief item describing the result of past engagements is made public from those quarters. Strict censorship over the whole field makes It difficult to estimate the value of news received. Movements in Belgium. The struggle for the possession of the Belgian forts surrounding Liege has recommenced and reports of ar tillery and cavalry engagements are taken as an indication of the possible beginning of 'a great battle on Belgian soil. The bulk of the German force is believed to be concentrated between Liege and the Duchy of Luxemburg. This leads to the conclusion that the German frontier facing Russia is only j lightly guarded, probably by newly or ganized reservists. American Consuls to Act. London, Aug. 13. It is officially an nounced that a state of war has exist ed between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary since midnight. Ameri can consuls throughout the British Isles have been notified to take over the Austrian consulates. French Also Declare War. Paris, Aug. 13. An official declara tion of war by France on Austria-Hungary has been made public. WAR NO BAR TO BIG SHOW San Francisco Says Exposition Will Be Held Next Year. Washington. Aug. 13. The Panama- , Pacific Exposition company has noti- ' fl d Secretary Bryan there would be no postponement of the exposition next year because of the European war or for any ether cause cow fore seen. France has notified the state depart men that she would participate in the exposition. In the face of her war she is going ahead with preparation of. her exhibit, which she promises to have ready for the exposition. BERLINERS OFFER AID " TO STRANDED AMERICANS Berlin. Aug. 13. A meeting of 500 Americans In the capital last night was informed that many German fan?. Hies were ready to ' take stranded Americans into their homes without cost. UNCLE SAM TO CENSOR FRENCH-ENGLISH CABLES Washington, D. C, Aug. 13. It has been decided to impose the same cen sorship on French cud English cables as 1a now imposed upon the German wireless stations at Sayvllle, L. I., aad Tuckerton, N, J, . . .