A brilliant victory

Germans put to flight

The Empire roused

Argus office: Sunday morning.

In view of possible news of grave importance, it has been deemed necessary to publish War editions today so that the public may be informed at the earliest possible moment of an events.

Suspense is hard to bear and it is understandable, except in very special circumstances to hold back even bad news, while good news is too invaluable on many grounds to withhold, even for an hour.

The most satisfactory news received today, as far as Great Britain is concerned, is the statement issued by the Admiralty that the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand have, with splendid patriotism, placed their resources at the disposal of the mother country.

In addition to placing the services of two of her cruisers at the service of the Admiralty, for the protection of merchant ships and liners crossing the Atlantic, Canada is to raise an expeditionary force of 20,000 men to be sent to the United Kingdom and such further members as may be required.

Australia has offered an equal number of men as an expeditionary force in addition to placing the Commonwealth navy at the disposal of the Admiralty, while New Zealand has placed its naval force under the control of the Admiralty and will despatch 8,000 men.

The whole of the expense is to be deployed by the governments concerned.

There is a conflict of statements as to the position at Liege.

Early this morning there were messages suggesting that the town of Liege had been occupied by German troops and with this may be connected to the story of a German flanking movement.

This would be not particularly surprising and it’s possibility was mentioned in the newspaper on Friday.

The telegram in question was to the effect that no good purpose could be served by the continued occupation of the town itself by the Belgian forces, with the real object of the defence having been achieved.

Two, however, can play the flanking game, and it may be true that the Belgian cavalry have cut off the retreat of the German forces before the forts, the Germans thus being between two fires.

The slaughter among the German troops has undoubtedly been enormous and the accuracy has been established in so much of the news given, that evidence may safely be given relating to the surprises of a division of German cavalry which was almost annihilated by the Belgians and to the surrender of seven German regiments.

Interest is now centred on the advance of the French army, and a message to hand in the early hours of this morning states that the French troops yesterday crossed the Alsatian border and fought a hard but successful battle with German forces in the region.

Altkirch was taken and the enemy further pursued.

The inhabitants are delighted at the victory of the French troops and are pulling up border posts as evidence of their jubilation.

Already in France there are visions of Alsace Lorraine being once more an integral part of the country.