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Show 17-INCH SIEGE GUIS USEDjlEIlS Have Range of Six Miles and Are Useless After Firing 20 Times. LONDON, Sept. K 4:08 p. m In a dispatch dis-patch from Antwerp, the correspondent of the Evening News says: "According to the German commanding officer from Aerschot, who is now in prison pris-on here, the Germans firmly believe that the Antwerp forts are no match for their 17-Inch siege guns, of which he says they have fifty-one. The range of these guns fs about six miles,and each piece can be fired only twenty times. "While confessing that the Germans are unable to spare enough men to invest Antwerp, this officer ways he believes the slepe guns will enable them to take a couple of the forts, thus giving access to t h e city. As a bom ba rd m e n t won Id be destructive to Antwerp, such action is not contemplated, becau.se Us harbor is too valuable an asset for German v." BORDEAUX, Sept. 14. 4:10 p. m. President Pofncare and King Albert have exchanged congratulatory telegrams. In a message the Belgian monarch said: The great victory attained- by the allies, owing to the courage' and mili- " tary genius of their chiefs, fills us with joy. In sending you the warmest warm-est congratulations, I am interpreting the feeling of the whole Belgian nation. na-tion. We maintain unshaken confidence confi-dence in final success In the struggle. The cruelties from which our people peo-ple are suffering, far from demoralizing demoraliz-ing them, as whs hoped, have only put fresh energy and ardor in our troops. (Signed) ALBERT. To this President Poincare replied: I heartily thank you for your message mes-sage of congratulations for the commanders com-manders and men of Ihe French army. Our troops are proud to right beside the valiant Belgian and British Brit-ish armies for civilization and liberty. When the hour of retributive justice strikes, none will forget what your majesty and the admirable Belgian people 'have done for the triumph of the common cause. ANTWERP, Sept. 14. via London. 3:3S p. m. The Belgian government has appointed ap-pointed a committee, headed by M. Goblet, minister of state, to "refute the German calumnies that the Belgian population popu-lation fs responsible for the aggressions and atrocities committed by German troops." |