The Washington times. [volume], October 10, 1914, HOME EDITION, Image 1

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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EDITION
Weather Forecast:
Unsettled Tonight
Sunday Probably Showers
U3LT?E3? 8318.
WASniSOTOX, SATUltDAY JiTENING, OCTOBER 3 0, 1914.
PKICE ONE CENT.
AISER'S FLAG RAISED ON ANTWERP RUINS;
i
a
ERMANS TRY TO CUT OFF FLEEING ARMY
OTH JIMS Eye- Witness Tells How Living Sea
FOR Dashed Into Breakers of Death As
Germans Hurled Back Russian Lines
IN EDGE
SECOND GAME
I! BIG SERIES
eteran Plank Mack's Hope to
Stop Braves Today, While
Gtallings Is Expected to
Pitch Tyler or James.
Batteries Plank
Itmep and Gowdy.
and Schan?;
By HAL SHERIDAN.
IIBE PARK. Philadelphia. Oct 10.
ne down, and facing one of the most
Jcirrmlned attacks they have faced
lr their man struggles for the highest
baseball honors, the Athletics squared
iiray against the Boston Braves for a
Ise xi nd time this afternoon.
'deal weather again prevailed. The
i dropped almost summer-like heat
Pdown upon the field. The base lines
were to dry impatient gusts of wind
kicked up dust clouds about second
base. At noon the bleachers w ere packed
land presented a symphony in black
By KARL H. VON W1EGAND.
ON THE FIRING LINE, NEAR WIRBALLEN, Russian Poland, Oct. 8, via The
Hague and London. At sundown tonight, after four days of constant lighting, the Ger
man army holds its strategic and strongly intrenched position east of Wirballen. As I
write this in the glare of a screened automobile headlight several hundred yards back from
the German trenches, I can catch the occasional high notes of a soldier chorus. For four
days the singers have lain cramped in these muddy ditches, unable to move or stretch ex
cept under cover of darkness. And still they sing. They believe they are on the eve of
a great victory.
1 reached the battle field of Wirballen shortly before daylight, armed with a pass
issued by the general staff and accompanied by three officers, assigned to "chaperon" me
and furnish technical information. We had traveled three days by automobile and were
within three miles of the right wing of the German position when our machine broke
down and we went ahead on foot.
This eye-witness story of the battle of Wirballen is by
Karl H. Von Wiegand, Berlin correspondent of the United
Press, the first foreign correspondent permitted on the actual
Russo-German firing line during a battle since the outbreak of
the war. It is also the first eye-witness story by an American
correspondent from the Russian front,
Particular significance attaches to the story from the fa'ct
that it came via London by cable and was passed by the British
censor. It is the first important story of German successes to be
passed through London, and indicates that the protests of the
American press have been given heed by the English govern
ment. The United Press has received notice from London that
while Von Wiegand's story was passed by the censor for Amer
ica, its publication in England has been withheld.
Wall of Steel Repulses Great Human Onslaught
Today I saw a wave of Russian flesh and blood dash against a
wall of German steel. The wall stood. The wave broke was shat
tered and hurled back. Rivulets of blood trickled back slowly
in its wake. Broken, bloody bodies, wreckage of thewave,
ri whit tciih ahnnt half. tVi fans '
nus their coats because or the heat, j strewed the breakers. Tonight I know why correspondents are not
Mackmen Appear First. t ted on any of the battle lires. Descriptions-and details of battles
fought in the year of our Lord 1914 don't make nice reading.
I ston players appeared. The Mack-
I rphTstrunCBa. coiimTMcri We struck the firing line at a point near the extreme right of
r- oidring. and the rest were n t)e German position shortly before daylight, and breakfasted with
v rrmng up. I r '
"he Braves dressed at the Phillies' j the officers commanding a field battery.
F rk, and arrived in a body. The bleach- j . ,, .:-
fans gave them a rousing welcome. ! Before the first crimsoning of the east ever)' man was astir.
A hat time but few were in the grand- ... . . , . , .
db. but as crods poured toward the i Fresh supplies of ammunition brought up during the night were oeing
f 1 the indications were for another! .
- throng stowed away in the caissons and cases. Empty shells were being
xpecting that Tler might be Stall-' '
i , s pitching election, the Athletics , thrown back out of the way. An artilleryman with a shovel went
s bed at left-handed shoots during the uuo 3 3
period of batting practice. Later ah0ut throwing loose soil over dark slippery spots about one ot the
v Coombs took the mound. ww o
ptankUainM"hethmeMt guns- l ?aw shovels similarly engaged several times during the day.
.lmc!tsth" pon-s!deWhurfing? SThis ' As daylight came I saw that the guns were on the reverse side of
herPUin ""in 'pia 2s of Moran and j a hill, with their muzzles apparently pointing directly up the ascend-
Baker Poses With Bat. j ,nS sIoPe'
- Athictke wer- not as cam-ra-cnv While I was still marveling at the number of details requiring
:.SehSr,.V! attention in this highly specialized business of man killing, I was
u.minXtdTnTbriiiiantd1 yked out of my reverie by a weird, tooth-edging, spine-chilling
A"T-0TiS,XH " : whistling screech overhead. The fact that the shell was from 500 to
.S-dToSmSnforiua111dho.M"i- 1,000 feet above me and probably another couple of thousand feet
m r Hughl "did" the Srari TTwing beyond, before my ear registered its flight, did not prevent my duck-
l - H-avos, were At butting pr.:' . , , . . rr. , .it. .it.
a.- r h-.i itv rattroii iii- mg my head and giving my officer chaperons the chance to laugh
thnaw Hunk (Jnudv appealed tj .
-... iai.v to the pon-(.i.' ;hat I had resolved not to give them. A good many shells had passed
r; a ii slammed a few tons; flle3 i
if iwa-n. p over mv head before 1 could lose an almost irresistible desire to hug
' fl sroiinrd in inpath fori '
tllf.i .' at Fii h throat nirc i; is tfjp orOUnd.
thr I.r.ive eatchrr. whoe alls
erda 'aru shook th.- pUM.-. ms , por alf an hour the German battery paid no attention to the
i the leilmss t-i thr homo of In- j " j i
'oVri0Vl,b;r..on.h- shells passing overhead and out of range. Finally a soldier with a
kS uferemr,te"rn,T,h"r;e'w 'Vn,' telephone installed on an empty ammunit.on box began talking and
n M,e "hes outsViCcfthth-,'!- copying notes which the commander of the battery scanned hastily.
- l-enter cn losure Th" grand- , . , . , ,- . ,, , iU .. . .
nas rai.idu riinc up. i.ut ih A word of command, a lieutenant galloped along the line giving vaiy-
i ' Rooters, at that urn- li.nl not . . , . ,
ai Dtar.1 wit.i tiioi- bund win. h iing ranges 10 me Qincrem oauery tuninianuerb. me crews ieapcu
s
r n
Tf.-sle at the sllcntM jirovo-
The Times Baseball
Extras First on the
Street and the Best
t-irst on the street by nine min
utes the World's Series
Baseball Extra of The Times
gave Washington its first
story of the Braves-Athletics
clash in Philadelphia yester
day. The final play was
made at 3:58 o'clock. In
less than 7 minutes afterward
the presses of The Times
were turning out thousands
of papers, giving the results
of the game, and every play,
inning by inning. These
were instantly on the street,
and thousands were reading
them in nearly ever section
of the city nine minutes be
fore any other newspaper ex
tra appeared.
tc their positions, and the battery went into action. The firing con
tinued for perhaps fifteen minutes, when there was a halt, more tele
phoning, a new set of ranges for some of the guns, and a resumption
of firing.
POSITION WELL CHOSEN.
The position of the heavy German batten- was well chosen The
mask was idea1 and in the four days' battle the Russians had not suc
ceeded in locating its position. It was only a chance shell or shrapnel
that broke within the danger zone. But aside from watching the Ger
man guns in action there was nothing to sec at this point, as not even
the objective of the fire was visible, so with my officer escort, we
moved up to the crest of the hill, following the line of the field tele
phone to the point from which half a dozen officers were watching the
effect and directing the German fire. Now both the German and
Russian shells were screeching and screaming overhead in a most
uncomfortable, if undangerous; fashion. r"
In the morning sunlight from the summit of the hill, I got my
first view of the fighting that will go down in history as the Battle
of Wirballen.
The line stretched off to the, left as far as the field glasses would
carry, in a great irregular semi-circle, the irregularity being caused
by the efforts of both armies to keep to high ground with their main
lines. As we watched, the entire fire of the Russian artillery seemed
, to be centered on a village situated on a low plain about 2,000 thou
sand yards to the northward of our position. The village already
deserted was being literally flattened under a deluge of iron and
steel. The ruins were in flames. After half an hour the reason for
shelling the deserted village became evident. A general advance
against the German center was launched and the Russians were mak
ing certain that the village, directly '. the line of advance, had not
been occupied by the Get man machine guns during the night.
So far, though I had been witnessing a battle of obviously tre
mendous magnitude, I had not seen the enemy. From our position
slightly in the rear of the German flank, "it was comparatively easy to
trace our own line through the glasses, but the general line of the
Russians was hard to determine, being indicated only by occasional
Hashes of gun-fire. With te start of the Russian attempt on the Ger
man center, however, the entire scene changed.
Yesterday, for the first time since the start of the battle on Sun
day, the Russians attempted to carry ie Ccrman center position by
storm. All Sunday and Monday the opposing artillery had been ham
mering away at the opposing trenches. The marksmanship of the
Russian artillery had been bad. but I was told that a Russian aeroplane
had made a rcconnoissancc of the German position shortly after dawn
yesterday. I saw no machines in flight. Twice, under cover of their
field artillery, the Russian infantry advanced in force yesterday. Twice
they were forced back to their defensive positions. Now they were
to ti 1 again.
RUSSIANS TUMBLE OUT.
The preliminaries were well under way, without my appreciating
thcii significance until one of my officer escorts explained.
At a number of points along their line, observable to us, but
screened from the observation of the German trenches in the center,
the Rusrian infantrv came tumbling out and rushing forward took
; up advanced positions, awaiting the formation of the new and irregular
battle hue. Do.ens of light rapid firers were dragged along b hand.
Other troops the reserves -took up semi-advanced positions. All
the while the Russian shrapnel was raining over the German trenches.
Every move of the enemy was obviously being communicated to
the German center. The German reserve column moved in closer.
1 lie rifle fire from the German trenches practically ceased. The Ger
man officers moved along in the open behind the trenches encourag
ing and stcad mg their men, preparing them for the shock
Finally came the Russian order to advance. At the word, hun
dreds of yards of the Russian fighting line leaped forward, deployed
in open order and came on. One, two, three and in some places four
(('(inlititiril on Sei-ond Pac.)
H
FIGHTING
1FKHLEFI
Battle Continues Satisfactorily
According to French War
Office Report.
ZEPPEUNS AND
EAT
SIEGE
N
E
PARIS. Oct 10 'The battle continues
sat'sfactorily." was the gist of this aft
ernoon's 3 o'clock official communication
Issued by the war office at Bordeaux
and telegraphed to Paris.
The statement declares that the
French have succeeded In repelling vio
lent attacks nt several points on the left
wing.
Engagements on the left battle wing
continue, but there is no general en
gagement, because of the broken na
ture of the ground.
North of the Olse. the statement as
serts, the 1'rench have gained the ad
vantage at several points.
Progress forward is also reported In
the r'glon around St. Mihiel.
Text of Statement.
'V, let of the statement is as
tnllil.s.
"Te battle continues satisfactorily
We ae maintained our positions alt
along the line In the face of vigorous
attack l' the enemy, pal tieul.irly on
tin let "in the region of Armonticres,
t'assel. and l.a. B.isset
North of the Oise. we have gained
sceial advantageous positions. .Fullest
utilization, of i-.nalry is impossible be
cause of t lie rough nature of the
ground.
"iitui-ip wns Htm esterday but
no details if th city s occupation arc
available
"(in our usht. in the region of St
Mihiel. i h.ic made progress.
' Sevt-re nslitin is in piogie&s on
llir cTt I'riis.-finn frontier. In which
thr Un sun Torrex have had a measure
of succi'.ss Tlit- i.old I.ck
"The investment of i'rzeiu.sl is In
pn-giess. and ihe Russian" have cap
tun il one n' the principal forts, their
position being favoiable
FORTSifpE CITY
Surrender Comes Af terThree Days'of Horror,
With Flames Spreading Through Bel
gian Seaport, and Irresistible Attacks
Continuing Day and Night News Held
Back by Censor.
LONDON, Oct. 10. Antwerp has fallen. All that
was left of the beautiful temporary capital of Belgium is
held by the Kaiser's victorious legions.
Two-thirds of the city is in flames or wrecked by the
terrific fife of shells which the German batteries have
poured in on its bulidings.
Her gallant defenders after evacuating the doomed
city, now facesthe possibility of being cut off from escape
to the west. A large force of Germans js.repoited to have
crossed the Scheldt river at Termonde and to be advancing
in a northeasterly direction toward St. Nicholas.
If this movement is successful in cutting off the re
treat to the west, the Bleigans face the alternative of giv
ing battle in the open to superior numbers or of being in
terned in Holland if they flee across the Dutch frontier, but
a few miles distant.
News of the surrender of Antwerp was held up for
many hours by the rigid censorship. Yesterday morning
at o'clock the white flag was hosted on the tower of the
great Cathedral of Notre Dame. Almost immediately the
frightful din of the besiegers' guns died down.
Accompanied by Alderman Louis Franck, Burgomas
ter De Vos went to the Berschem gate. There they met
General Von Veseler, commander of the German forces,
and made unconditional surrender.
FORTS CRUMBLE BEFORE GREAT GUNS.
HNY
BOHR
PORTUGALTOFIGHT
AMSTERDAM, Oct. to. On author
ity of a semi-official news bureau, it.
is announced from Berlin today that'
Germany is momentarily expecting a
formal declaration of war by Portugal
apainst Germany. '
PAPAL SECRETARY OF iflUSSIAANNOUNCES
SIHnpilHl RAIL CENTER TAKEN
'Cardinal Ferrata Victim of
! Apendicitis. Complicated by
! Peritonitis.
Get The Times Baseball Extra
The T..:.js,as usual, will give you the first detailed slor todn ol the second game of the world's series.
Immediately after the last man is out The Time:- forms will he iushed to the presses and in a very few
minutes you can read all about the game, play b play, written by the greatest experts of America.
If you want it first and best get The Times
The regular five-thirty edition will be issued after the Extra
I'O.MK. Oet iv (nt Jinnl Pumenlro
Ki'irat.'i papal sei rela of slate, dieil
this afternoon follow iiii; an altatk ol
.ippendit it s compile ited liy ieritnll's
Ills ieiiiuv.il from the ih erful oillivj
of .einiarv of stile will tempoiaril.v
halt the efforts looking to peaceful set
tlrmerit of t!:e vvai. which the cardinal
hnd begun, in ting umlei orders of I'ope
flencdiet
t'nidlnal I'enata wat one of the most
strlklnc llgures in the Roman curia
Thirl vears ao I'ope .ei XIII in
pieseiiting him to the French .unbass.i
doi at Koine, said
! am sendins the hest I h.iv. Mmi
slgnor rciiuta. as nuditm 01 the Paris
nunciature."
Me was slxt-sl yeais of age. an
Italian, and had heM numerous. Im
portant offices
Hotel Harrington, nth & E Sts. Serves
Special Table d Hote iJinner for .'1 Sun
da js from 1 to 8 p m Uootl food, gnod
music, delightful environment AdvL
PETROGRAD, Oct. to. The war of-
ficc this afternoon announced the cap-'
ture ot Marggrabowa, heralding it as
an important victory for the Russian,
forces.
M.-.r?crabowa or Oletzko is an im-!
por'ant railway junction ten miles tn
iide the East Prussian border, twenty
miles west of Suwalki.
IN CONGRESS TODAY.
SKXATK
Met at 11.
Alaska ioal land leasing hill fnl hack
to conference.
War tax hill to h dk-'ussed c&vv.im
ousSy 'iilMl passed
MOl'SK
.Met ai noon
Resumed debate on I'l llippine indepen
dence bil1 . ,
Utiles iVnin Htee met ai .' .o o clock to
ronsidei . otlon relief legislation
Arcade Auditorium Dancing. All the
Latest dances taught Col 3705. Advt.
Xext to Par's, the most strongly for
tified city in the world. Antwerp fell
before the power of the German slegs
guns. Its forts crumbled as did thosa
of IJcge and Namur until only heaps of
toncretc and steel remain One by ono
the fortifications were demolished, the
tlrst. second, and third Tnes failing- be
fore a tremendous tire, until, with two
thirds of the city ruined, the white flag
was hoisted on the tower of the Ca
thedral of Notre Dame. German firing
reased. and the victorious forces march
ej -nto the c ty.
.Military experts had agreed that Ant
wrrn could withstand the most terrific
s.ege for a minimum of six weeks, but
tbe- great fortifications and the city U
se'f crumbled before the German artU
lerv tire, while steadily advancing In-t-
ntry and bomb dropping aircraft made
t ai inferno of death and devastat'on
In Just three days after the German ar
tillerv tiro began, thj ciy. a shattered
ndn strewn with the corpses of It
brave defenders, who literally faced a
thousand deiths unflinching, was sur
rendered Greatest Horror of War.
The wai his piled horr.ir upon horror
of ruin and death' In Belgl'im. but it ttu
well j.uther tieated reports of tho fall
Antverp :.'e to he taken in full meas
ure a;, the truth, this brisf. out terrUdo
action will stand out in alstorv as tho
r.test !iror of warfare of all times.
The -vreek of the city ir. v hlch ."0".0"
pcrois had gnrhered as they fled be
fore the German Invasion, could not be
more icinpUte had it been razed by an
earthqfakt.
The siege of the city began at 9
o'clock 'i dncMlay night, prompt to
tne minute as promised by the Ger
man iiinniinder At that hour tho tre
mendous tiiege guns, with a caliper oi
l$S-inehes. belched forth their nrst Are.
lust tweve hours before, notice had
been .-erved of the intended bombard
ment, villi i warning that non-combat-u
-l s-ould lea "o.
1 ne lrst lire was dirtied toward Vie
fcoutl'trn portion of the city, where It
was cei.u-ied for an hour. Llttlo dam
ag" .vas done and the firing was no
s2vei U 10 o'clock It ceased. It was
not renew id until midnight. This two
hour tesplte was in the nature o a
l.tit, and what proved to be a dire
warning. At midnight a bombardment
of terrlf ing proportions was begun. Ef
foits of the great siego uns centerf-A
on Che outer circle of forts. Smalkc
&
j