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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a54437 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #56316 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56316) diff --git a/old/56316-8.txt b/old/56316-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 924ef0f..0000000 --- a/old/56316-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4288 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Campaign Round Liege, by J. M. Kennedy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Campaign Round Liege - -Author: J. M. Kennedy - -Release Date: January 5, 2018 [EBook #56316] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIEGE *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was created from images of public domain material -made available by the University of Toronto Libraries -(http://link.library.utoronto.ca/booksonline/).) - - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - The Daily Telegraph - WAR BOOKS - - THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIÈGE - - - - -The Daily Telegraph - -WAR BOOKS - -CLOTH 1/- NET. - - - VOL. I. (_3rd Enormous Edition._) - _HOW THE WAR BEGAN_ - - _By W.L. COURTNEY, LL.D., and J.M. KENNEDY_ - - Is Britain's justification before the Bar of History. - - - VOL. II. - _THE FLEETS AT WAR_ - - _By ARCHIBALD HURD_, - - The key book to the understanding of the NAVAL situation - - - VOL. III. - _THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN_ - - _By GEORGE HOOPER_ - - The key book to the MILITARY situation. - - - VOL. IV. - _THE CAMPAIGN ROUND - LIEGE_ - - ¶ Describes in wonderful detail the heroic defence of Liege, and shows - how the gallant army of Belgium has upset and altered the whole plan - of advance as devised by the Kaiser and his War Council. - - - - - THE CAMPAIGN - ROUND LIÈGE - - BY - J.M. KENNEDY - - WITH AN INTRODUCTION - BY - W.L. COURTNEY, LL.D. - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO - MCMXIV - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - INTRODUCTION 7 - - I. OUTBREAK OF WAR--INVASION OF BELGIUM - AND LUXEMBURG--THE FIRST - FIGHTING AT LIÈGE 29 - - II. FRENCH JOIN BELGIANS--DETAILS OF - THE BATTLES--GERMAN SPY SYSTEM--RAIDS - BY UHLANS 51 - - III. PRELIMINARY ATROCITIES--BRAVERY OF - THE BELGIANS--BATTLE OF HAELEN-DIEST 75 - - IV. LIFE AT BRUSSELS--FRENCH ADVANCE--CAPITAL - REMOVED TO ANTWERP 94 - - V. PREPARATIONS AT NAMUR--SCENES AT - LIÈGE--GERMANS PRESSING FORWARD--OCCUPATION - OF BRUSSELS 111 - - VI. BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION--THEIR - "CUSTOMARY COOLNESS"--ZEPPELIN - AT ANTWERP--GERMAN ATROCITIES--LORD - KITCHENER'S SPEECH 134 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -"To attack always, to attack everywhere, and to overlap in the attack" -is the essential principle of German military training. This is the -principle which is acted upon when hostilities definitely open and the -diplomatist retires into the background. There is only one means by -which it can be carried into effect, and that is to have overwhelming -numbers of men ready to pour into the field and bear down opposing -forces by sheer weight. At Liège, at Namur, at Charleroi, or in the -Vosges, the mowing down of the invading hosts by rifle or cannon must -have seemed to the defensive troops as wearying and useless a task as -cutting off the heads of a hydra; for two German soldiers appeared to -rise out of the ground for every single one that fell. - -This was one great advantage with which the German army entered upon -the war. For years past strategic railways have been under construction -on the Belgian border--railways designed, not for the conveyance of -goods or passenger traffic (for there was none), but for the conveyance -of German troops from Cologne and other places to north-east France -through Belgium and Luxemburg. The plans of the German General Staff -were admirably conceived. One observer compared the advance of the -invading army to a human tidal wave spreading through the valley of -the Meuse. True, there were one or two small hitches. It was clear -from the stories told by the prisoners taken by the Belgians at Liège -that the German commissariat was unexpectedly defective. Again, -insufficient preparations had been made for besieging Liège itself, and -it was not for some days that it was found possible to bring up the -great siege guns which should have been there from the very beginning. -These faults, however, were not the result of negligence so much as -of conceit and of too great a belief in the invulnerability of the -German arms. According to a message quoted in the present volume, the -Kaiser waved his hand through the air and said: "I will go through -Belgium like that." He did not; and the delay consequent upon the -stubborn defence of Liège interfered with the German plans at the -outset and gave the French time to complete their mobilisation. The -effects of this delay are, indeed, incalculable, especially in view -of the unexpected rapidity of the Russian mobilisation, and General -Rennenkaempf's advance through East Prussia. Still, once the Germans -realised that they had to meet resistance in Belgium it must be -acknowledged that they took immediate steps to break it down. Large -siege guns were hurried to the front, with the result, so far as can be -ascertained from the meagre news which is allowed to pass the Censors -on both sides of the Channel, that four of the strongest forts at Namur -fell after a three days' siege. Nothing, at first, seemed to be able -to stop, or even to check, the advance of 2,000,000 Teutons. - -Although only a few details have been allowed to leak out, the -admitted facts all go to show that the German onslaught on France -through Belgium has been successful, but delayed. It is said that the -invaders expected to be in Paris within two weeks of crossing the -frontier, after which they expected to be able to turn the bulk of -their mighty army towards Russia before the Tsar's forces could be -properly mobilised--before, at any rate, they could take the field -and begin their advance into East Prussia. To this extent the plan -has miscarried, thanks to the gallant resistance of Liège. Unless the -Germans were in full possession of the railways at Liège and Namur an -entry into France would have been dangerous, since the free passage of -reinforcements could not be guaranteed. As it was, the Russians were -in possession of Eydkuhnen before the Germans were in possession of -Liège; and the German advance on Namur coincided in point of time with -the Russian advance on Insterburg. - -While the German plans have miscarried to this extent, it would be -foolish not to realise that they have succeeded in other respects. A -glance at the map will show this; for if the official communiqués tell -us little else they tell us, at least, what the approximate position of -the armies was at given dates. On August 15th and 16th, for instance, -and even, we may assume, on the 17th, the German army stretched in an -irregular line from Maastricht to Alt Breisach, through Huy, Arlon, -Longwy, and Metz. The southern portion of it, composed chiefly of -Bavarians, lay from Château Salins to Strassburg, and thence to the end -of the long line in the neighbourhood of Alt Breisach. The French army -lay opposite in a nearly parallel line. French regiments had reached -and reinforced the Belgian lines at Malines and Louvain, and the main -body of the French army was spread out along a front of nearly three -hundred miles from Tirlemont to Mülhausen, via Namur, Mézières, Verdun, -Sarreburg, Cirey, and Colmar. - -As the Germans had opened their southern campaign by invading French -territory at Cirey and Longwy, the position of the French army at this -time makes it clear that General Joffre had taken the offensive. The -Germans had been driven back over their original lines; Alsace had been -invaded by the French; Altkirch and Mülhausen had been captured, and -even Strassburg was menaced. This right wing of the French forces--the -wing which had been thrust forward into Alsace--was based, of course, -on the impregnable fortresses of Belfort and Epinal. As the subsequent -developments showed, this invasion of Alsace was a strategic error, and -this was acknowledged almost in so many words before a week had passed. - -Why, at this early stage, a forward move was made in this direction -was never explained. There were critics who not unreasonably called -it "fancy work." Certainly, it was to be expected that the Germans -would advance from their southern base of Strassburg, and their -central base of Metz; but the really serious work of the campaign, -as everybody expected, was to be in the north-east. The advance into -Alsace gave General Joffre an opportunity of issuing a proclamation to -the Alsatians which, in view of their treatment by the Germans for more -than a generation, naturally rejoiced them. But it was an advance which -had to be paid for in another direction, when the main body of the -German army began to make its way across the Upper Meuse. - -If the position of the German troops has been traced as indicated, -the line will be almost straight, except towards the south, where the -Germans have had to give way before the French in Alsace. A day or -two later, however, the line will be anything but straight. By the -20th, although there is still fighting at Liège, and Brussels has not -yet been occupied, there is a distinct German advance towards the -north-west. The invaders have pushed on to Malines and Louvain, and, in -the centre, they menace Namur. They have also brought up large forces -to Givet, Dinant, and Sedan. They are cut down by the thousand; their -dead fill the trenches; the defenders wonder how the officers can -possibly induce their men to advance in such close formation, since -they are certain to be annihilated. There is a reason, nevertheless, -and a good one; for the time being there is no limit to the number of -men who can be brought forward to take the places of those that fall. -The result is a slow German advance, and everywhere the Allies, though -stubbornly contesting every inch of the ground, slowly retire. - -By the 22nd there is a further decided change. Brussels has been -occupied, and the German forces are converging on Charleroi in, so far -as we know, six or seven parallel columns. From Enghien, from Hal, from -Nivelles, from La Hulpe, from Wavre, and from Jodoigne, the Kaiser's -troops make their way into the country lying between Namur and Mons. We -do not know, at this time, precisely where the British troops are, nor -are we at liberty to guess the strength of the French in this district. -We are soon to know, however. A battle rages for three or four days at -Charleroi; the French retire in good order; and two thousand British -casualties are reported. Our troops and the French troops have behaved -with the utmost gallantry; but, so far as we can ascertain, they have -been outnumbered by two to one--perhaps in an even greater proportion. -Set the minute hand of a clock at eleven, and the hour hand at five. -That will, roughly, indicate the position of the German army (with the -Belgian, British, and French troops in an almost parallel line) about -August 17th to 19th. Then bend the minute hand of the clock to nine. -That will convey a correct impression of the broad sweep made by the -northern wing of the German army within four or five days; and it must -be acknowledged, unfortunately, that it swept the Allies in front of it. - -The result of the first stages of the Charleroi fighting made one -or two things evident. In the first place, it was then known that -the strength of the opposing German armies had been considerably -under-estimated; they had succeeded in bringing up very strong -reinforcements, with field guns and adequate munitions, through Liège. -Secondly, it was seen that the French had not advanced northwards -in sufficiently strong force. General Joffre had concentrated on -Alsace and the Ardennes, rather than on the Namur front. The official -statement published in Paris shows the French position at the -commencement of the battle: - - An army starting from Northern Woevre and proceeding towards - Neufchateau is attacking the German forces which have marched through - the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg on the right bank of the Semois, and are - going in a westerly direction. - - Another army, which had started from the region of Sedan, is crossing - the Ardennes, and is attacking the German forces which are marching - between the Lesse and the Meuse. - - A third army, from the region of Chimay, has begun an attack on the - German right between the Sambre and the Meuse. This army is supported - by the English army, proceeding from the Mons region. - -In this statement, as Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett remarked at the time, -several very important facts stood forth clearly: - - (1) The French armies had never held the line of the Meuse and of the - Sambre in any strength. - - (2) The German armies, before the commencement of the fighting at - Charleroi, were in possession of the country contained within the - triangle, of which Namur is the apex, between the Sambre and the - Meuse. - - (3) Before some of its forts fell, Namur must have been entirely - isolated, and attacked not only from the north but also from the - south; and the French armies were not in a position to reinforce the - garrison unless they sent forward some detachments before the Germans - crossed the Sambre. - - (4) In the fighting between August 18th and 22nd or 23rd it was - the French armies who attacked and not the German--except in the - neighbourhood of Mons. - -Reference has been made to the triangle of which Namur is the apex. -This, it was generally believed by the military critics, was the angle -which the French were ready to occupy, if they had not, indeed, already -occupied it, before the fighting at Charleroi began. The discovery that -this triangle was really in possession of the Germans came as a shock. -Exaggerated hopes gave way to exaggerated fears; and it was even held -that the Germans had a reasonable chance of breaking through the French -lines in the north and advancing on Paris before the Russians could -advance much further into Germany. - -It is to be presumed that these fears are exaggerated, and that General -Joffre can shift his men from Alsace to the north. One gathered that -eighteen German army corps had advanced through Belgium, and that only -three or four had been left to watch over Alsace-Lorraine. It would -be unwise to hazard any conjecture as to the strength of the French; -but if it were said that the proportions were just the reverse the -statement might not be far out. At any rate, the fact remains that -at the time of writing the French advance has been entirely checked; -and the Allies are now on the defensive. If General Joffre had chosen -to remain on the defensive from the first instead of advancing into -Alsace; or, on the other hand, if he had considerably strengthened his -force in the north and advanced in that direction with the object of -establishing himself at Namur, the position would have been totally -different. The numbers of the opposing forces would, at least, have -been better proportioned, and the "human tidal wave" could have been -held back. - -There is, of course, another side to the story. Although the Allies -had to retire, the retirement was carried out in good order. German -prisoners bore flattering testimony to the accuracy of the British -firing, and it was admitted that the invaders had lost very heavily--so -heavily, in fact, that they could not proceed with their advance for a -day or two. Furthermore, there was no particular reason why, at this -stage, the Allies should have wished to assume the offensive at all. -They were not driven out of their original defensive positions; they -merely failed, by their forward movement, to dislodge the Germans, -who were greatly superior to them in numbers. The net result of the -fighting was that the Allies had simply to abandon their offensive--an -offensive which does not appear to have been included in their original -plans. In the official statement already quoted there was a passage -saying: "On the orders of General Joffre our troops and the British -troops took up positions on the covering line, which they would not -have left had not the admirable Belgian effort enabled them to enter -Belgium." Commenting on this, Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett said: - - The only deduction one can draw from this is that these operations - were never included in the pre-arranged plan of campaign, and that - they were only undertaken on the supposition that Namur, isolated and - surrounded by the enemy, would be able to offer the same prolonged - resistance as Liège, which would give the Allies time to advance in - strength and occupy the triangle formed by the junction of the Sambre - and the Meuse. The unexpected fall of this fortress at the very apex - has now forced General Joffre to fall back on his original line of - defence along the French frontier. - -As will be seen from telegrams quoted in the course of the following -pages, German cavalrymen made a series of raids through northern -Belgium, and took possession of Ghent and Bruges, even penetrating as -far as Ostend. These raids, similar to many others in the central and -southern parts of the country, were carried out--the Germans admitted -it officially--with the aim of terrorising the civilian population. It -appears to be a German belief--quite erroneous!--that when the civilian -population is terrified by raids of this nature it brings pressure to -bear on the Government to "stop the war." On August 26th, in order to -check further German advances of this kind along the coast, a large -force of British marines took possession of Ostend. - -As moral effects count for as much in war as the effects of accurate -marksmanship or the "pounding" of siege guns, it should be stated -that the Belgian resistance did more than delay the German advance. -It had an effect which, in this war, was of even greater importance. -For forty years all Europe had been brought up to believe in the -invulnerability of the German army. The mere threat of German -intervention was enough to turn the scales in favour of any proposals -which were being urged by German diplomats. It almost became an -accepted axiom of diplomacy and war that the Germans would always win -and that their opponents would always lose. Certainly the Germans, -and above all the Prussians, lost no opportunity of impressing this -fact upon the world at large. To a supreme belief in themselves they -added a disdainful arrogance of the rest of mankind which was, for an -extraordinarily long period, found effective and impressive. - - * * * * * - -The atmosphere which this attitude brought about, the atmosphere of -terror which had enveloped Europe for so many years, was swept away, -once and for all, by the Belgian army at Liège. Such was the awesome -feeling inspired by the mere name of Germany that we should have hardly -been surprised to see the Belgians turn tail and throw down their arms -without firing a shot. What did happen we all know. The forts, which -the Germans expected to capture in a few hours, were still holding out -after twelve days. In the field, small forces of Belgians time and -again cut up forces of Germans out-numbering them by three or four to -one. In some outpost engagements, on a scale which would have entitled -them to be called battles a century or so ago, the invaders were beaten -back time after time--cavalry, infantry, and artillery were equally -ineffective against the Belgian arms. It was only by sheer weight of -numbers that the Belgians were forced back into Antwerp, and even then -they preserved their ranks intact and were ready, after a few days' -rest, for a further onslaught. - -The importance of this great moral change should be emphasised. -The German army will never again represent invulnerability; it will -stand rather for pure savagery. Reference has already been made to -the raids undertaken by German cavalry for the purpose of terrorising -the civilian population. As the telegrams in this volume will show, -intimidation did not stop at mere raids, fuss, and noise. Inoffensive -civilians were shot on the slightest provocation; houses were looted; -villages burned; women and even young girls outraged; boys battered -to death with the butts of rifles--and all this was done, not because -the men got out of hand and "saw red"; but systematically, because the -invaders wished to terrorise the civil population. When this statement -was first made it seemed incredible--the methods of the Huns or the -Tartars in the twentieth century. Some refutation, some attempt at -refutation, from the German side was awaited. It did not come. Instead -there came an admission of the truth of the allegations which had been -accumulating for several days. - -After the outbreak of war it was customary for the German "wireless" -stations to send out war "news" at Nauen or Norddeich. This was picked -up by the Marconi Company and given out to the English Press. The -"news" was usually exaggerated and in many cases utterly mendacious. -But hidden away at the end of a batch of these messages which reached -London on August 27th was to be found an appalling paragraph, which, in -the course of a very few lines, admitted publicly and officially the -terrible charges of barbaric savagery that during the preceding days -had compelled the Belgian Government to appeal to the judgment of the -civilised world. - -Special stress must be laid on the official character of this -confession, because it is notorious that nothing can be transmitted -from the German wireless stations under war conditions without the -express sanction and approval of the Berlin Government. - -The statement in question is as follows: - - The distribution of arms and ammunition among the civil population of - Belgium had been carried out on systematic lines, and the authorities - enraged the public against Germany by assiduously circulating false - reports. They were under the impression that, with the aid of the - French, they would be able to drive the Germans out of Belgium in two - days. The only means of preventing surprise attacks from the civil - population has been to interfere with unrelenting severity and to - create examples, which by their "frightfulness" would be a warning - to the whole country. The increased war contribution levied on the - Province of Liège has also had an excellent effect. - -Could a confession be more frank or candid? Could any statement nerve -us, as we have never been nerved before, to resist the menace of -Prussian militarism to the uttermost? - - - - -CHAPTER I - -Outbreak of War--Invasion of Belgium and Luxemburg--The First Fighting -at Liège - - -In the first volume of this series, "How the War Began," the causes -leading up to the great conflict were dealt with in detail. It may be -briefly recalled that on Thursday, July 23rd, the Austro-Hungarian -ultimatum was sent to Servia, the Belgrade authorities being allowed -only forty-eight hours in which to reply. The next day saw the holding -of a Cabinet Council in Russia. On July 25th the Austrian Minister left -Belgrade because the reply handed to him by the Servian Cabinet was -deemed unsatisfactory. Sir Edward Grey, on Monday, July 27th, announced -his plan for a "Four-Power Conference"--Germany, France, Italy, and -ourselves--a plan which had to be abandoned owing to the hostility -of Germany. On July 28th, Austria-Hungary declared war on Servia; -a partial Russian mobilisation was ordered on the 30th; Germany -mobilised on the 31st. - -It became evident at once that it was the aim of the German General -Staff to cripple the French army immediately, so that the German -soldiers, who were concentrated on the French and Belgium frontiers, -could be hurried back to East Prussia to meet the Russian forces -later on. Before any definite declaration of war had been made, -indeed, either against France or Russia, German patrols invaded French -territory on the night of July 31st, seized several locomotives, and -cut the telegraph and telephone wires. This may be regarded as the -first act of war, though the French outposts were withdrawn in order -that they might not come into actual conflict with the invaders just -then. - -So serious had the international situation become, that the smaller -countries began to make preparations lest their territory should be -violated. On Friday, July 31st, the Belgian Government ordered a -partial, and the Dutch Government, a complete mobilisation; and before -the week-end had passed practically all Belgium was in arms. The -Stavelot-Malmedy route near the German frontier was strengthened by -advance cavalry outposts; dirigibles were got in readiness; the Meuse -strongholds were fully garrisoned, and barbed wire fences were erected -everywhere. On August 2nd, without having yet declared war, Germany -invaded the independent state of Luxemburg, the neutrality of which -had been guaranteed by the Treaty of London of 1867, by Great Britain, -Austria-Hungary, France, Prussia, Russia, Italy, Holland, and Belgium. - -The German soldiers arrived at the station of Luxemburg during the -night, seized the station and the Government offices, and held the -bridges on the Trèves and Trois Vierges lines, so as to ensure the -passage of military trains across the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duchess -was rudely treated by the German officers, and imprisoned in her -palace; and the invaders positively refused to withdraw. It was -admitted a day or two afterwards by the Imperial Chancellor, speaking -in the Reichstag, that the violation of neutral territory was wrong, -but that the Germans were determined, in his now famous phrase, to -"hack their way through." - -At the same time the German army penetrated French territory at two -points, namely, Longwy and Cirey-les-Forges. - -It was stated on August 2nd that the number of Germans who had crossed -the Grand Duchy was about 100,000, and that they were concentrating -in Belgian territory in the neighbourhood of Liège. Strong guards -were posted round the railway lines. On Sunday, too, a despatch from -Luxemburg announced that the Luxemburg Minister of State had received, -through the German Minister there, a telegram from the Imperial -Chancellor stating that the military measures taken by the Germans in -Luxemburg did not constitute a hostile act against the Grand Duchy. -They were simply measures taken to protect the working of the railways -connected with the German system against a possible attack by French -troops. Luxemburg would be completely indemnified for any damage that -might be done to the lines. - -[Illustration] - -Although Germany formally declared war on Russia on July 31st, no -great military efforts were made in the east. On the other hand, the -movements already made against France were followed up with energy, -in spite of the fact that diplomatic relations had not actually been -severed. What the next German step was may be seen from the following -brief statement, which was made by Sir Edward Grey in the House of -Commons on the evening of August 3rd: - - Germany sent yesterday evening at seven o'clock a Note proposing to - Belgium friendly neutrality covering a free passage through Belgian - territory, and promising the maintenance of the independence of the - kingdom and possessions at the conclusion of peace, and threatening in - the case of refusal to treat Belgium as an enemy. - -A time limit of twelve hours was fixed for reply. - - Belgium answered that an attack on their neutrality would be a - flagrant violation of the rights of nations and that to accept the - German proposal would sacrifice the honour of a nation conscious - of its duty. Belgium is firmly resolved to repel aggression by all - possible means. - -King George at once signed the Proclamation ordering the mobilisation -of the entire British army and embodying the Territorials. This cynical -disregard of a Treaty to which Germany had affixed her signature could -be redressed in only one way. While the British Expeditionary Force was -being prepared, however, the Germans were making haste to secure their -positions in Belgium and on the French frontier, and their movements -were reported from the outset by the special correspondents of _The -Daily Telegraph_. On August 4th, by order of the Belgian General -Staff, the railway bridges at Lavaux and Bastogne were destroyed, so as -to delay the Germans if they advanced through Luxemburg: everywhere the -conditions in Belgium were those of war. Civilians in all directions -took refuge in the towns, and the roads were blocked by wagons and -ploughs. On the Luxemburg frontier many German patrols and posts were -seen. The Germans occupied the whole of the province, with the object -of facilitating the concentration of their army. - -A correspondent, returning from Longwy, the great natural fortress -which forms the advance guard of the French covering troops, found it -necessary, owing to military obstacles, to perform some part of the -journey on foot. The roads were barred by sentries and posts at all -points. The officers of the garrison asked him to assure the English -that the morale of the army was superb. Certainly, the correspondent -added, he had never seen French soldiers so calm, cool, and confident. - -On the same day the Germans entered Belgium at three points--Dolhain, -Francorchamps, and Stavelot; and other forces advanced from Luxemburg -in the direction of Longwy, Villerupt, and Thionville. In the evening -Belgium was declared to be in a state of war with Germany. The German -raids, following upon the insolent demand that German troops should be -allowed to march through the country, had caused an intense feeling of -indignation throughout Belgium. - -At the Brussels recruiting station men of all ages literally fought to -enlist and get rifles. There was wild patriotic enthusiasm and no sign -of fear. - -At an extraordinary sitting of Parliament many members appeared in -military uniform, ready to start for the front. - -The King delivered the following speech to the deputies: - - Never since 1830 has a graver hour sounded for Belgium. The strength - of our right and the need of Europe for our autonomous existence - make us still hope that the dreaded events will not occur. If it is - necessary for us to resist an invasion of our soil, however, that duty - will find us armed and ready to make the greatest sacrifices. Our - young men have already come forward to defend the Fatherland in danger. - - One duty alone is imposed upon us, namely, the maintenance of a - stubborn resistance, courage, and union. Our bravery is proved by our - faultless mobilisation and by the multitude of voluntary engagements. - This is the moment for action. I have called you together to-day - in order to allow the Chambers to participate in the enthusiasm of - the country. You will know how to adopt with urgency all necessary - measures. Are you decided to maintain inviolate the sacred patrimony - of our ancestors? - - No one will fail in his duty, and the army is capable of performing - its task. The Government and I are fully confident. The Government is - aware of its responsibilities, and will carry them out to the end to - guard the supreme welfare of the country. If a stranger should violate - our territory he will find all the Belgians gathered round their - Sovereign, who will never betray his constitutional oath. I have faith - in our destinies. A country which defends itself wins the respect of - everyone, and cannot perish. - - God will be with us. - -Deafening cheers welcomed the announcement that M. Vandervelde, the -leader of the Socialists, had been nominated as Minister of State, to -show that men of all parties were now united for the defence of the -flag. The King's speech, appealing to the devotion of the whole nation, -and expressing confidence in the fate of a neutral and peaceful -country which had been so unlawfully attacked, caused an indescribable -outburst of loyal and brave assent. All bills regulating a moratorium -and the recall of more army drafts were voted without a minute's -discussion. - -While the King and Queen left the Palace amid wonderful ovations, -emotion increased when the Premier, M. de Broqueville, announced that -Belgian territory had already been invaded by Germans, and when he read -the recent Germano-Belgian diplomatic notes, threatening Belgium with -Germany's dire vengeance for defending her neutrality. - -The King started for the front at once. - -On August 5th, Dr. E.J. Dillon, one of _The Daily Telegraph's_ special -correspondents, wired: - - I received information this morning that British troops had landed and - were on their way to the frontier to defend Belgian neutrality. I at - once drove out to Laeken, through which suburb they must pass. There - I learned that the news was premature. French regiments are alleged - to have arrived at Namur. Others are marching into Belgium. It is - reported here that the German troops, when entering Belgian territory, - were fired upon from houses in Visé, whereupon they decimated the - population, sparing neither age nor sex. - - All these reports must be received with circumspection. I myself, - however, have witnessed scenes of poignant grief, the actors in which - were relatives of the people in Visé, who had heard the narrative and - believed it. The authorities naturally keep such things dark in order - not to frighten the population, which is incensed against the Germans. - - Belgium is beset with German spies, who even now continue their - work, with marvellous deliberation and courage. Wireless telegraphic - apparatus is alleged by the authorities to be still employed by the - German agents, some of whom have been arrested. The population of both - Brussels and Antwerp are excited against the Germans. The authorities - are now effectually protecting the shops. Twenty-five thousand - Germans, many occupying influential positions, reside in Antwerp, - and the public desires their expulsion in the interests of defence. - Belgians have been expelled from Germany and forbidden during the - railway journey to look out of the windows or speak any language but - German. - - This morning a German eagle-shaped aeroplane was hovering over Liège - city. A Belgian aviator rose higher, and descended heavily upon - the German craft, cutting it in two. The Belgian is said to be but - slightly wounded. As his name is not given the narrative is open to - doubt. - - An eye-witness of the combat at Visé affirms that a squadron of - Prussian cavalry moved towards Visé Bridge, in which the Belgians had - made a breach sixty mètres wide. The Belgians, hidden among the broken - piers, opened a cross-fire, almost annihilating them. At the same time - shots were fired from the houses on the right bank of Visé, which was - already occupied by the Germans. It was then that the indiscriminate - massacre of the inhabitants by the German soldiers began. They also - fired upon the Red Cross ambulance. - -The latest news received from the front on the same day stated that -under the protection of the long range guns of the fortress of Liège -the Belgian troops were putting up a fine defence against the German -invaders. They inflicted great losses on the enemy, whose attempts to -cross the River Meuse by means of a pontoon bridge had failed. This, -it was stated, would compel the Germans to cross the Meuse on foot at -the Dutch frontier. The attitude of the Dutch towards them was not yet -known. - -Official news received at Brussels stated that a fierce fight had -occurred at Liège. The present situation was understood to be very -favourable for the Belgians, who had victoriously repulsed all the -German attacks. The Germans, who endeavoured to pass through the spaces -between the forts, were driven back by a mixed brigade. - -It was said that not a single one who passed the intervals returned. -The German shells were unable to pierce the defences. German aeroplanes -showed themselves much inferior to the Belgian. None of the Belgian -aeroplanes sustained any accident, but several of the German did so. - -It was confirmed that the Germans behaved disgracefully at Visé. They -shot many civilians, expelling the remainder of the inhabitants and -giving the town to the flames. - - * * * * * - -The _Rotterdamsche Courant_ in a leading article said that Holland -had read with satisfaction Sir Edward Grey's statement that it -was obligatory on the Great Powers to maintain the neutrality of -the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Holland also observed with -satisfaction that Germany was avoiding the Dutch frontier. - -The engagement referred to above was generally known as the first -battle of Liège. Subsequent particulars of it showed that the Belgian -forces captured seven guns, and that 8,000 of the invaders were killed -and wounded. On Wednesday, August 5th, in an encounter between the -Vesdre and the Meuse Rivers a single Belgian squadron annihilated six -German squadrons. The Seventh German Corps suffered enormous loss, 800 -prisoners being brought into Brussels. The encounter began in the early -morning, and lasted till five in the afternoon. - -Germans, with the Seventh Army Corps supported by a large mass of -cavalry, began a violent attack against the south-eastern section of -the Liège stronghold, not engaging the forts with their artillery, but -trying to reach the interior of the stronghold through the intervals. - -The ground was mined in several places, and all the battalions were -destroyed. The German loss was enormous. That of the Belgians was very -much less. - -Early on Wednesday morning, by force of numbers, the German advance -guard succeeded in entering Liège. Fighting went on in the street for a -time. - -In view of the strength of the fortifications at Liège, the strategic -position of the town, and the fact that the main body of the Belgian -army was concentrated there, it became evident that the invaders could -not advance without either "containing" Liège--_i.e._, surrounding -the place with a large body of troops, and, as it were, imprisoning -the garrison without making any attempt at capture--or reducing -the fortresses to such an extent as to drive the main body of the -Belgian army before it. The latter plan was adopted and was eventually -successful; but not before the heroic garrison, though greatly -outnumbered, had succeeded in delaying the German advance for nine or -ten days. As time was an essential factor in the German programme, it -is difficult for us to over-estimate the advantage which thus accrued -to the defenders of Western Europe. - -The town of Liège stands on the Meuse, close to the point where the -hills on its left bank come to an end, and near the spot where the -valleys of the Vesdre and Ourthe on the other side afford routes -for roads and railways, east to Verviers and southwards towards the -Ardennes. The main stream divides the far-extending city into an older -town, wherein is situated the citadel and most of the public buildings, -and a newer suburb containing the manufacturing establishments and -dwellings of the artisans. The most noteworthy buildings are the -magnificent church of St. Jacques, dating from the eleventh century, -the handsome Académie des Beaux Arts, the Theatre Royal, built upon -the model of the Odéon at Paris, the Palais de Justice, and Town Hall. -Liège owes much of its prosperity to the fact that it is the centre of -a rich coal district, some of the mines actually extending under the -houses and streets. - -Iron industries and coal increased its population from 113,000 in -1873 to 169,000 in 1910. The iron manufacturers are chiefly concerned -with the production of cannon and those implements of war for which -the adjoining township of Seraing is especially famous. The textile -industry also employs thousands of workers, while paper, oil, tobacco, -leather, gold and silver ware, bicycles, watches, and light machinery -of all kinds are manufactured in the busy quarters. Known to the -Germans as Lüttich, the city is the capital of the Walloons, a race -who have been described as "marked by an indefatigable industry and -a fierce and implacable spirit of hostility towards those who have -attempted to infringe their privileges." Since its foundation the town -has been the scene of endless fighting. Charles of Burgundy sacked it -in 1468, and put thousands of its brave inhabitants to death. It was -stormed by Maximillian I. in 1649; three times by the French between -1675 and 1691; and was captured by Marlborough in 1702. In the wars of -1792-94 French and Austrians fought repeatedly for its possession, -the height of Robermont outside the defences being the spot where the -Prince of Coburg was defeated by Marshal Jourdan on September 19th, -1794, in the last battle fought by the Austrians on Belgian soil. The -citadel, 500 feet above the sea level, whence the approach of the -Germans was anxiously watched, commands a view over the whole of the -city and the populous and industrious valleys of the Meuse, while -in the South can be seen from its summit the peaks of the Ardennes -and northward the Petersburg near Maastricht and the broad plains of -Limburg. - -Hardly had the siege begun in earnest when a small body of Uhlans, who -had been directed by spies to the headquarters of General Leman, the -Belgian commander, made a determined attempt to assassinate him by -forcing their way into his office and shooting at him with revolvers. -One of the General's brother officers lifted him up bodily, carried him -to the yard at the back of the house, and dropped him over the wall -into the yard alongside. This promptness, in the momentary confusion, -was believed to have saved General Leman's life. Two Belgian gendarmes -and an officer were killed; but the other Belgians present shot dead -the Uhlans who had made the daring raid. There were eight of them in -all--two officers and six men. - -In a despatch sent off in the evening of August 6th Dr. E.J. Dillon -briefly summed up the early fighting. The invading army, he stated, at -first expected a mere nominal resistance. Disappointed, they despatched -forces to the north and south-east of Liège, where are the forts of -Barchon, north of Evegnée, of Fléron and Chaud-fontaine to the east, -and of Embourg and Boncelles to the south. The attacks proceeded at -various points along this front. - -The position at Liège was defended by forts and also by field works, -trenches, barbed-wire entanglement, and mines, with artillery served by -mobile troops, under improvised cover, who occupied the spaces between -the forts, but hidden behind them so that the Germans who endeavoured -to pass through these spaces in order to surround the forts were unable -to determine the position of the field works and direct their artillery -fire against them. This piece of strategy proved fatal to the enemy's -troops, who were exposed to artillery fire from the forts, and cut -down piecemeal by the defenders within the spaces. The country was -favourable to the invaders, owing to the ravines, woods, and winding -roads, which enabled them to advance under natural cover. Despite this -advantage, the Belgians, who displayed genuine heroism, drove them back -with slaughter, but not without themselves making heavy sacrifices, -which they did with a degree of valour that commanded universal -admiration. The Russian Tsar sent his hearty congratulations. - -During the night of Wednesday--Thursday, a tremendous assault was -undertaken by the Germans, in which the entire Seventh Army Corps took -part. The Belgians manfully held their positions, while the whole -country around, illumined by dazzling searchlights, quaked as if shaken -by a seismic convulsion. The grey light of morning revealed hundreds of -German corpses and also the advance of the German forces against Fort -Barchon. The Belgians having formed a mixed brigade of two regiments, -proceeded to effect a daring counter-attack from the heights of Wandre. -Their advance was as irresistible as an oceanic tide. The Germans stood -a few minutes awaiting the onset, and then fled panic-stricken. The -Seventh Corps was broken, and a few hours later 5,000 fugitives passed -by Maastricht, where they were received, fed, and, curiously enough, -sent to Aix-la-Chapelle. - -On the south the spaces between the forts of Embourg were the objective -of a resolute attack. The invaders advancing within three hundred yards -of the Garde Civique were first deprived of their colonel, whom a -soldier shot dead, and were then literally mown down like grass by the -scythe. - -Meanwhile the German artillery fire was concentrated upon the Château -of Langres, opposite Fort Embourg. Under cover of a heavy artillery -fire a body of German troops surrounded the Château when suddenly a -grey cloud with flame arose, followed by a terrific explosion. The -Belgians having mined the Château had blown it up, and many Germans -with it. - -The upshot of this brilliant stand made by the Belgians was the -maintenance of all the forts, the capture of numerous prisoners and -seven guns, the death of 800 and the disablement of thousands of the -enemy, and the defeat of the two crack corps of Brandenburg. - -After this defeat the Germans sent a parlementaire to demand the -surrender of Liège, threatening an attack by a Zeppelin airship as -the alternative. General Leman's refusal was speedily followed by an -advance executed by the Tenth Army Corps. It was repulsed. - -[Illustration] - -The Belgian War Office stated that the German invaders, having -already lost about 25,000 men, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, -requested the Belgian authorities to grant a twenty-four hours' -armistice. This was refused. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -French join Belgians--Details of the Battles--German Spy System--Raids -by Uhlans - - -French outposts effected a junction with the Belgians on the 7th. -Before they could offer effective assistance, however, the first -battle had already taken place. The Germans, profiting from their -previous experience of the Belgian forces, had this time taken greater -precautions and brought up more men. A _Daily Telegraph_ correspondent -said that he could clearly see from the hill the Germans in little -boats and others building a pontoon over the Meuse south of Visé. The -horses were swum across. The crossing was carried out in half a dozen -places with great regularity. The Germans did not seem much concerned -at the fire of the Belgian forts. The Belgian troops were spread out -over the rising ground. Fire from a German mitrailleuse kept the -Belgians at a distance, and slowly the whole hillside became covered -with German soldiers, who drove the Belgians before them. - -Near Visé an automobile arrived with five Belgian civilian guards. They -alighted from the car and advanced on foot. A German patrol called on -them to halt, and instantly the Belgians fled. Four escaped; one fell -wounded. As they passed him the Germans said that when they came back -they would kill him. - -By five o'clock a large force of Germans had crossed the Meuse and -commenced to march south on Liège. The Belgians tried to harass the -Germans by firing into the progressing columns. At last the Belgians -ceased firing and retired. From the houses along the road the people -took to flight in despair. - -In the village of Eben people were calm, looking with astonishment at -the tremendous body of troops passing along the route. They were not -molested at all as the Germans progressed towards Liège along both -banks of the Meuse. - -With characteristic optimism Germans said: "In two days we will have -Liège, and within a week we will be before Paris." The Germans did not -seem to have any idea, in fact, that in front of Liège they might have -an encounter with the French Army. - -An incident was reported which showed how little the German soldier -knew about the war in which he was engaged. Amongst the wounded in -Maastricht was a young German of eighteen who believed that he had been -fighting the French. Great was his surprise when he was told he had -been fighting the Belgians. "The Belgians!" he said, "but we have no -quarrel with the Belgians!" He was under the impression that he had a -French bullet in him. - -Already the advance guard was fighting near Liège, and the Germans -agreed that they had lost heavily. They said, "Cost what it may, we -will take Liège." Fort Pontisse, near Liège, was heavily attacked. - -Some of the wounded Germans received bullets in the back in the -encounter at Visé. It was believed that, by mistake, one body of -Germans fired into another. Twenty-six were killed and wounded. Small -wonder that the feelings of the people were filled with anguish at -Maastricht, as at all hours of the day motor ambulances came in from -the battlefield. The seriously wounded were brought to Maastricht, -where there were surgeons. The less seriously wounded were taken to -Eysden. - -A Dutch lady with two children took to flight from Visé on hearing -that the Germans were approaching. She was stopped by a body of -Germans, who compelled her to go with them to Visé and afterwards -show where they could get provisions. Finally she was escorted to the -frontier. - -In a later telegram the same correspondent said: - - I have just returned from the frontier village of Mesch, where I saw - the most magnificent and impressive sight of a vast German army. From - the hill on which I was standing I could see the German troops come - up before me, artillery, cavalry, infantry, and all, while behind the - hill I could hear the boom of gun fire. - - As the Holsteiner Dragoons passed I could see on their colour the - date 1871. Then I saw fifteen farmers with bent heads led forth as - prisoners. Their crime was that they had defended their homes. - - Then an aeroplane flies overhead. Is it German or Belgian? Will it - drop bombs? It passes on. And then I am approached by German soldiers, - who point revolvers at me, and order me to retire, for in my eagerness - I had stepped beyond the Dutch frontier post. - -In a still later message he writes: - - The Belgians have destroyed several bridges on the light railway from - Tongeren to Bilsen. - -Several important despatches appeared on Monday, August 10th, giving -particulars of the movements of troops during Saturday and Sunday. -There were no movements by the Germans for three days. Beyond the range -of the forts' fire they rested, recovering strength. The threatened -attack along the river Ourthe was suspended. These facts, in the view -of the Belgian General Staff, denoted insufficient preparations and -showed that the German concentration had not been fully carried out. -The situation, in their opinion, gave every assurance that merited -punishment would follow the invasion. - -Liège was invested by the Germans on Sunday night, but this was -expected, and was regarded as unimportant. The forts were known to be -ready for further and prolonged resistance, while the foe's stock of -projectiles was evidently short. The Belgian field forces, apart from -the Liège garrison, were massing in the right directions. The portion -of Belgian Luxemburg invaded by the Germans was being cleared of them -by the advancing French troops, who marched forward with the greatest -speed and energy and got good assistance from a division of Belgian -cavalry. - -Many trains conveyed more French troops to the front via Brussels. - -King Albert reviewed and congratulated the triumphant Third Division, -which had been keeping the foe at bay at Liège. - -Liège city possessed an old disused fortress, which the Belgians blew -up to prevent the Germans from availing themselves of it. - -It was reported, and afterwards confirmed, that many Bavarians were -deserting or refusing service, the idea of fighting peaceful Belgium, -whose Queen is a beloved Bavarian princess, being very unpopular. - -A Belgian who passed through Rotterdam on Saturday evening said: "I -left Liège on Saturday morning, and then the town was still defending -itself valiantly. Not one of the forts was then in the hands of the -Germans. An armistice of three hours was agreed upon to bury the dead, -who lay all around." - -The man, who was evidently highly wrought up after the terrible -experience of the siege, declined to say more. The German prisoners -captured had very few cartridges, from which it was assumed that the -Germans had some difficulty in bringing up ammunition and supplies. - -How deadly a task the Germans had undertaken in rebuilding the bridge -over the Meuse was illustrated by the following telegram sent by the -_Rotterdamsche Courant's_ correspondent at Maastricht on Saturday -afternoon: - - The pontoon bridge built by the Germans was shot away, so that further - troops cannot cross. The 90th and 25th German Regiments, which - supported the bridge-builders, were mown down by the quick-firing - guns. A wounded Belgian was asked how the Germans had fared. He - replied in one word, "Annihilated." Those of the wounded who can be - transported by rail are to be brought from the hospitals at Maastricht - to Alkmaar. - -The gallant defence offered by the Belgian garrison was not to pass -without suitable recognition. On August 7th, the French President, M. -Poincaré, despatched the following telegram from the Elysée to the King -of the Belgians: - - I am happy to announce to your Majesty that the Government of the - Republic has just decorated with the Legion of Honour the gallant town - of Liège. It wishes thus to honour the courageous defenders of the - place and the whole Belgian army, with which since this morning the - French army has been shedding its blood on the battlefield. - -In the view of a very high military authority, the severe check -inflicted by the Belgian garrison of Liège on the German VII. Army -Corps was of cardinal importance. The German General Staff made no -secret of the fact that they looked forward to an easy task in marching -through Belgium. An officer in the German War Office recently stated -that they counted on the benevolent neutrality of Belgium at worst; -and, more probably, the King of the Belgians would range himself on the -German side. - -Some time ago a military mission, at the Kaiser's invitation, attended -manoeuvres of special importance near Berlin. In conversation with the -senior British officer present the Kaiser said: "I shall sweep through -Belgium thus"--and waved his arm in the air. - -The authority alluded to expressed the opinion that the line of the -Meuse could now be held, but that the crucial trial of strength would -occur when the main bodies of the two field armies met in the open. - -What was of no less interest, as showing the elaborate methods adopted -by the Germans for years beforehand, was Dr. E.J. Dillon's account of -the Germans in Belgium before and after the outbreak of war. Dr. Dillon -telegraphed from Brussels on Sunday, August 9th: - - It is a noteworthy fact that during the fierce fighting of the past - few days a disproportionately large number of officers as compared - with privates were disabled owing to their distinctive uniforms, and - among the officers were a disproportionately large percentage of - surgeons, whose uniform is still more conspicuous. The War Minister's - attention is being drawn to the advisability of rendering the outward - marks of rank differences less noticeable at a distance. - - The Belgian Government has decided not to proceed to the expulsion - of Germans en masse, although the country is infested by spies and - agents, who make desperate efforts to reveal and frustrate the plans - of the military authorities. In the German Consulate and the German - school wireless telegraphy apparatus were discovered. At Antwerp, - where the Germans had for years wielded paramount influence, many of - them repaid the hospitality shown them with perfidious hostility. - - Two sons of the principal German firm in Antwerp, which has been - established for over twenty years there, have been arrested on a - charge of treason. Even the School of Aviation had trusted a caretaker - of German nationality, who has occupied this and similar posts for - eighteen years, and was discovered on Friday working the wireless - telegraph apparatus. He was arrested, tried, and condemned. - - Nowhere in Belgium were the Germans more at home than in Antwerp; - nowhere have they proved such relentless enemies to their hosts. When - quitting the city on Friday some of them exclaimed, "We are going now, - but we will return shortly escorted by troops." The bitterness against - Germany in Antwerp is intense, but there and throughout Belgium the - German prisoners and wounded are treated with the utmost consideration. - -The Germans, who were hospitably received in Holland, fed, and sent -home, were not, as the Belgian Press believed, soldiers, but fugitive -civilians. Holland has scrupulously discharged her duties as a neutral -State. - -The Flemish population of Belgium is making heroic sacrifices for the -struggle, which has only been begun. The smiling suburbs of Antwerp, -with their gardens, lawns, thickets, and luxurious villas, are being -disfigured beyond recognition in order to meet the requirements of the -military strategists, and the owners look on with grim approval at the -destruction of their cherished property. - -The narrative of how the neutrality of Luxemburg was violated is -interesting. On Sunday morning while I was painfully travelling through -Bavaria towards the Rhine the population of Luxemburg awakened to find -all the ways of communication in German hands. Everywhere detachments -of German soldiers were stationed, but what most astonished the -simple-minded citizens was this--that the detachments were commanded -by the employés of commercial and industrial firms established in -Luxemburg who two days previously had been at their offices as usual. - -Now, attired in military uniform, they were at the head of bodies of -German troops, leading them through the streets, directing them to -places where perquisitions might be made or arrests effected, and -giving them the benefit of their admirable knowledge of the town and -people. - -This they did with noteworthy results. Thus they denounced some 200 -Alsatians who had not served in the German army, and who naturally -reckoned on a safe asylum in neutral Luxemburg. These unfortunate -men were roused from their sleep and spirited away, their appeal for -humanitarian treatment being answered by violence or threats. - -A German major who was first to cross the Adolf Bridge found his way -barred by the Cabinet Minister M. Eyschen, who, having arrived in a -motor, turned the car lengthwise across the bridge. Taking out a copy -of the Berlin Treaty, he showed it to the German officer, who remarked, -"I am acquainted with it, but have orders which I must execute." -Immediately afterwards the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide drove up in an -automobile, which she also turned lengthwise across the bridge, saying -that the neutrality of Luxemburg must be respected, and that she would -telegraph to the Kaiser, whereupon the major curtly answered, "You had -better go home quietly." - -The commander of the Luxemburg army, Vandyck, came up just then and -remonstrated with the German officer, who retorted, "If these are not -your methods they are ours," and, putting a revolver to his head, -cried, "Clear out!" - -Soon afterwards the work of military destruction began, villas and -farmhouses being demolished, and thickets cut down for strategic -purposes. Terror reigns throughout Luxemburg since then. A farmer -with provisions, being stopped and his wagons seized, grumbled. He -was arrested, taken before a Court-martial, and has not been heard of -since. From Luxemburg to Rodange the fields are devastated, houses -razed to the ground, trenches dug, and whoever casts a glance at these -is arrested as a spy. In a word, the population of the Grand Duchy is -learning the meaning of the words "reign of terror." - -Military experts here hold that some days must elapse before important -aggressive operations are resumed by the German army. They explain the -miscalculation of the invaders as follows: - - Germany secretly moved forward about 900,000 men towards the - Franco-Belgian and Russian frontiers during the week ending August - 2nd, with the object of being able to surprise and overpower the - resisting forces at the very outset of the war. - - In order to accomplish this stroke, which would have had an immense - effect upon the morale of the troops, the men were despatched without - adequate provisions or ammunition, on the assumption that they would - find the former in the conquered districts, and could await the - latter from their own trains of supplies, which would follow shortly - afterwards. The reception at Liège upset this reckoning, and explains - why the prisoners complained of hunger. - - These unexpected reverses, which have given time for the junction of - the French and Belgian forces, will now necessitate the definitive - concentration of the German army, which includes the second line of - another million men, and this operation is at present in full swing. - It involves the mobilisation of the Landsturm, or Territorial army, - and according to trustworthy private advices received here, the - officer commanding the Cologne military district has already called - all the men of the Landsturm to arms. - - In other words, a tremendous effort will shortly be put forth to burst - through the Franco-Belgian barriers of the forts and men, and inundate - France with German soldiers. - - In view of this mighty tide of armed men and the relatively narrow - area through which they must force a passage, it is nowise impossible - that they may at the last moment choose a route northwards of Visé, - and violate Dutch territory. This eventuality should be borne well in - mind by those interested in preparing for it. - - One of the curious methods of warfare employed by the Germans is the - despatch of Uhlans in groups of six and eight, who ride for miles in - advance of the army, enter undefended towns and villages, announce the - arrival of the bulk of the troops, and return. It is amazing how far - ahead of the army they advance. - - On Friday evening they entered Arlon, and were received in silence, - but when leaving they heard the report of a revolver in the principal - café. Then, turning sharply, they discharged their firearms at the - house, and one rushed with pointed lance against a woman sitting at a - window. She was wounded mortally. - - The municipal authorities, fearing further reprisals, drove out in a - motor, with a white flag, found the commanding officer, and tendered - their excuses, promising to punish the person guilty of firing. - - The organisation of the German espionage was elaborate beyond belief. - Large German commercial firms established for many years in Belgium - prospered under conditions which rendered competition by Belgians - hopeless. They entertained intimate relations with all classes of the - population, subscribed handsomely to local charities, wielded great - influence in municipal affairs, and were conversant with everything - which the German Government was concerned to know. - - The secret of their prosperity was a munificent State subvention from - the Berlin Government. Each German subject who was in the secret - service of the Government had his own work to execute. At Cambria, it - is affirmed, a German firm was charged with the work of having the - bridge blown up. A Belgian servant discovered and denounced the plot. - The authorities shadowed a German merchant day and night, and when - at last he drew near the bridge with the requisite explosives the - sentinel rushed upon him with the bayonet. - - The German military captain Erchard was arrested at Ostend on - suspicion. On his person was found a sum of 4,000 francs and a written - order, "Remain Ostend observant," also the key to a cipher with which - he corresponded with the German staff. After his arrest a letter to - him was intercepted from a Belgian offering him important information - concerning the plans of national defence. The writer of the letter has - also been apprehended. In the ancient synagogue of Antwerp, now used - only as a magazine, 3,000 German rifles, carefully wrapped and packed - in cases, have been discovered. - -For a day or two the main interest shifted from Liège to Alsace, as on -Sunday, August 9th, a French force advanced into Alsace and occupied -Mülhausen. The men were greeted with unbounded enthusiasm by the -inhabitants; but strategic considerations necessitated the evacuation -of the town shortly afterwards. Another wing of the French army, -however, advanced at the same time into Belgium, and there were several -cavalry encounters, of minor importance, on the banks of the Meuse. - -Mr. Granville Fortescue, who, as the special representative of _The -Daily Telegraph_, had spent the first two days of the siege in the city -of Liège, caught the last train from the besieged city and sent his -telegram dated Liège, August 6th, from Brussels. He said: - - Last night and early this morning the Germans attacked this city in - force. About 11.30 p.m., on hearing heavy cannonading, I crossed the - river by the bridge Fragnée, and took position on the heights to the - south of the city. It was full moon. - - The German attack was directed against the forts at Fléron, Embourg, - and Boncelles. The artillery practice was perfect. Shell after shell - was exploded fairly on the ramparts of the forts. The return fire of - the Belgians I could not judge for effectiveness, as the German gun - positions were admirably concealed. The rough nature of the country - and the darkness favoured the attackers. In my opinion no siege guns - were in action. The Germans used a high explosive shell that burst - with extraordinary vividness. - - About three a.m. infantry fire broke out in the woods west of the - River Ourthe, between Embourg and Boncelles. It was impossible to - distinguish anything except the flashes of the rifles. About this time - I heard infantry fire in the west. The country in the vicinity of the - forts has not been cleared, and evidently only hastily fortified. - - The Belgian infantry, 9th and 14th Line Regiments, held the country - between the forts Fléron, Embourg, and Boncelles. The 9th Regiment - bore the brunt of the attack, which was repulsed along the line. - - With the first rays of daylight, about four a.m., I was able to make - out the troops of the German line of battle. - - They were fighting in close order. I could not believe I was watching - the first line, as this seemed to me to be a return to old-fashioned - tactics. But there could be no doubt as to their formation. The - engagement attained its fiercest stage about five a.m. About this - time the fort at Fléron was silenced. I was afterwards told that the - German fire had smashed much of the machinery of the disappearing gun - carriages. - - Small parties of German cavalry could be seen in the intervals between - the infantry battalions. But there was no attempt at a cavalry attack. - - Towards eight o'clock there was a lull in the attack. The accidental - nature of the country to the south favoured the concealment of the - Germans. I would not attempt to estimate closely their force at - this point. It might have been a division. They were occupying the - intervals between the fortresses, and had as their objective the - bridges south of the city. - - The attack was checked all along the line. Battalion after battalion - was thrown back by the Belgians, whose 9th Regiment of the Line fought - like demons. - - My own adventures were many and varied. The most stirring was when I - was held up by a lancer, who kept his revolver pointed at the pit of - my stomach while I explained that I was not a German. Four times I was - arrested and brought before the authorities. When I got back into the - town the crowd that swarmed on the streets would one minute surround - me and threaten me as a German, and the next loudly acclaim me as the - first of the arriving English. - - That was the question in every mouth. "When would the English come?" - The whereabouts of the French was another topic eagerly discussed by - the mob. - - Panic-stricken refugees came hurrying in during the morning, and - continued throughout the day to flood the city. Wherever they could - find listeners, which was easy, they would tell the story of their - night's experiences. One woman with her two daughters had spent the - whole night in the cellar of their home. A shell had exploded in the - kitchen. Had any of her family been injured? someone asked. - - "Yes, monsieur, the poor cat was dead." A stout gentleman, with a - pointed grey beard was inconsolable because his "collection of little - birds" had been left behind at the mercy of the Germans. - - This influx of frightened outsiders had a very baleful effect on the - people of Liège itself. Naturally the discussion of the number of - killed and wounded on both sides was the principal topic. - - Motors carrying wounded soon began to arrive. These stopped before - the hotels or establishments which had been turned into improvised - hospitals. "Fifteen beds ready," "Ten beds for wounded here," were - signs posted on the doors of many houses. - - The news was soon current in the city that the fighting had ceased for - the moment. There was to be a conference with the Germans. - - The Palace of Liège was now the centre of attraction. "The Germans - demanded the immediate surrender of the forts and the city." "The - Belgians had asked for twenty-four hours in which to consider this - proposal." "The Germans refused, and threatened to bombard the city at - once." These and a dozen other rumours ran through the crowds. - - Suddenly a loud explosion set every heart thumping. "Had the - bombardment commenced?" "No, the Belgian engineers had blown up the - arches of the bridge." - - But as the afternoon wore on it became known that the Belgian - commanders had refused to give up the city. The bombardment was to - begin at six p.m. That was the last word I got. - - The last train out of the city was crowded with refugees fleeing with - such little property as they could gather together. The scenes were - pitiful in the extreme when the train pulled out. Never can one forget - the expression of those left behind. - - And the scenes in the train! - - I carried a woman who must have been between eighty-five and ninety - years old up the step of the vehicle and to a rude bench in a - third-class carriage. A Sister of Mercy was her only attendant. Before - we were half-way to Brussels a priest had given her extreme unction. - Opposite me sits a man with four five-week old puppies and the mother - in his lap. In the next car are herded a score of German prisoners. - The helmets covered with cloth. The insignia gone. - - In order to understand the attack which the Belgians so gallantly - repulsed during the early hours of the morning it is necessary to have - some idea of the country south of Liège. - - The most remarkable feature of the terrain is the sharp rise of the - hills south of the River Meuse. From the flat banks of the stream the - land rises at an angle of fifteen degrees until it reaches 300 feet. - These figures are my estimation. The country is wooded and rough. - - From a military point of view the section to the south and west of - where the River Ourthe joins the Meuse is extremely important. In the - first place, the Meuse is crossed here by two bridges, one railway - and the other a splendid masonry road bridge built to commemorate the - Liège Exposition. This latter is called sometimes the Pont de Fragnée - and sometimes the Exposition Bridge. The Pont du Val-Benoit is the - name of the railway bridge. The Exposition Bridge has been mined ready - for destruction. I could not get a chance to examine the railway - bridge. The railways from Hervé and Verviers enter the city over this - crossing. As it is certain that the main German force is coming over - these lines of communication, the capture of the bridges must be their - first object. - - The angle between the Rivers Ourthe and Meuse is a flat plain. Besides - the railway junction, the angle is occupied by the electric lighting - plant, a smelting works, and a gun and small arms factory. These were - all in full blast during the day. A coal mine was also being operated. - - In addition to these plants, whose value to an invading army is beyond - estimation, a force holding the hills to the south would have the city - at its mercy. Again, there is another railway running to Namur. So if - the Germans are to get anywhere near their second objective this line - of communication must be taken. - - Nothing could be superior to the resistance put up by the Belgian - army to the attacks made between Embourg and Boncelles. The 9th and - 14th Regiments of the Line not only checked the advancing Germans, - but actually threw them back. The Belgians were greatly helped by the - fact that the enemy advanced in close order. Battalion after battalion - of Germans were thrown into the fight in solid formation. It is small - wonder that they were decimated. However, the estimated number of - killed and wounded on their side is certainly exaggerated. Rumour puts - it at 25,000. At the assault of Port Arthur where I saw the Japanese - swarm up the forts at Ban Ju San, and where there were 400 pieces of - artillery in action, the losses from August 16th to the 21st totalled - 16,000 on the Japanese side. While the Belgians have inflicted the - severest kind of repulse, yet I cannot believe that the enemy's - casualties reach the figures given. Still, they have been heavy enough - to make them ask for an armistice of twenty-four hours. - - The Belgian troops engaged are the 3rd Division and 15th Mixed - Brigade. The Germans are reported as the 7th, 9th, and 10th Corps - under General von Emmich. The detachments of Germans captured which - I have seen have all been cavalry. They are mostly boys of from - eighteen to twenty-four years old. Their grey uniforms are stripped of - all insignia, and they have covered their helmets with grey drill. - In justice to the attacking force, I must say that their artillery - practice was excellent. This fact only adds to the credit of the - Belgian defence. - - In all honour to the work done by the army, the spirit of the citizens - of Liège also merits the highest praise. It takes courage to sit - still under a bombardment. And this is what the civilians have had - to do. Their courage was also tested to the utmost by the stories of - murder and rapine told by the panic-stricken refugees coming in from - the outlying towns. Fortunately, so far, the German shells have done - little harm to the city proper. Yet it seems contrary to the spirit - of our boasted civilisation that the rules of war permit an enemy to - drop projectiles among women and children. Liège is a fortified town, - and under this classification it is liable to artillery attack without - notice. - -In a subsequent despatch Mr. Fortescue emphasised the fact that the -dogged resistance of the Belgians had been of the highest military -importance for two reasons: in the first place, it had given France -time to complete her mobilisation; and, in the second, it had given the -British army time to mobilise and to begin its landing on the Continent. - -At noon on August 11th, the Press Bureau issued a statement showing, -_inter alia_, the disposition of the German forces at Liège, so far -as they were known. The statement said that about two German cavalry -divisions were reported in the neighbourhood of Tongres; three German -corps were still opposite Liège; other German troops were reported to -be entrenching the line of the River Aisne. - -The large German force was moving through Luxemburg, and the advanced -troops were now on the Belgian frontier. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -Preliminary Atrocities--Bravery of the Belgians--Battle of Haelen-Diest - - -At this stage of the fighting numerous circumstantial stories of German -atrocities began to filter through, though for various reasons large -portions of them were deleted by the Censors. They were generally -summed up in an official statement by the Belgian Government which is -quoted in a subsequent chapter. Dr. Dillon, telegraphing on August -11th, asserted that it was still impossible to throw any light -upon the military operations, which might culminate on Thursday or -Friday in a terrific collision between the forces of disruption and -those of civilisation. Never before, not even during the Japanese -campaign against Russia, had the movements of an army been shrouded -in such impenetrable mystery. Considering the number, audacity, and -ingenuity of the German agents still in Belgium, these precautions -were indispensable. Anyhow, the War Office, the only source of -intelligence, contented itself with a brief assurance that the news was -satisfactory, or that there was no news of importance to communicate. -Concrete facts were learnt mostly from Paris or Holland. - -Another fact which was beginning to dawn upon the public was that -the heroic resistance of the Belgian army had been offered hitherto -to covering troops only, and that the enemy's losses did not exceed -5,000, although three German army corps had been thoroughly beaten. -It was believed in Brussels that the hostile main armies would be -ready any time after Wednesday night, August 12th. On the 11th several -detachments of German covering troops were sent forward to the Belgian -advanced posts as feelers. The Belgians when possible concealed -themselves in thickets or in fields, and captured a considerable number -of the invaders. - -One Belgian lancer, named Bogaerts, deserves especial mention. His -habit was to sally forth alone, lance in poise, and dash forward -against the Uhlans, one of whom he generally killed or wounded, -whereupon the remainder gave themselves up. In this way he took -fourteen prisoners, wounded several Uhlans, and killed three, without -suffering the slightest injury. - -Encounters became frequent in the district stretching from Liège to -Tongres, Hannut, and Tirlemont, whither two divisions succeeded in -penetrating on the 11th. - -Already the airships of the different combatants were floating -gracefully into the visual range of the Brussels population, but at -such a height that one could only conjecture the nationality of each; -and the authorities warned the public neither to fear nor attack the -Uhlans. - -Anxiety respecting Holland's neutrality was not yet wholly dispelled. -Nobody doubted the firm resolve of the Dutch Government to maintain -its right to hold aloof from the war, but certain misgivings were -entertained as to the adequacy of the troops stationed in the district -where the violation of territory by the Germans was most probable. Some -months previously Dutch Limburg, possessing only a few squadrons of -cavalry, was practically defenceless. Since then a number of infantry -battalions were stationed along the frontier from Maastricht to Venloo, -together with several companies of the local Landwehr. If, as many -military men believed, these troops were the only obstacle to a German -advance in Holland, they constituted an inducement rather than a -deterrent, it was thought. - -German spies and secret agents were still numerous and audacious. -Ten days before the declaration of war all trees near the sources of -water in the forest of Soignes, outside Brussels, had notices posted -up in German, with the words, "Potable water." The Mayor of Brussels -had these placards removed, but they were afterwards found posted up -anew. On August 12th when a representative of _The Daily Telegraph_ was -leaving the American Legation, he saw two municipal guards arresting a -lady, whom they politely conducted to the police-station. His chauffeur -cried, "That's no lady. He is a German spy." A couple of men hearing -this rushed up and attempted to maltreat the prisoner, but the guards -protected their charge effectually. At the station the prisoner, who -looked quite collected, was found to be a male German agent possessed -of apparatus for cutting telegraph wires and also of compromising -documents. Belgian treatment of Germans, said the correspondent, -whether civilians or prisoners, erred on side of humanitarianism if it -erred at all. - -On the night of August 12th the Press Bureau stated: - - Of the twenty-six German army corps the bulk have now been definitely - located, and it is evident that the mass of the German troops are - concentrated between Liège and Luxemburg. - - The number known to be on the Western side proves that in the Eastern - theatre of war the frontier, as far as Germany is concerned, is - comparatively lightly guarded, unless by reserve troops. - -At this time, beyond some unimportant outpost fighting near Liège, the -position in Belgium was quiet. "A sense of stagnation," as Dr. Dillon -expressed it, was creeping over the public. Of the troops massing -behind the various cavalry covers, of the enemy's numbers, whereabouts, -and plans, nobody but the General Staff knew anything. The vaguest of -conjectures were the sole substitute for knowledge. Some held that the -Germans, disheartened by their failure to traverse Belgium in three -days and by the severe defeat of three army corps, were preparing for -the defensive. This view, taken in official circles, was borne out by -the circumstance that they were entrenching themselves on the River -Ourthe, employing the peasants to make routes in the south of the -province of Liège and in Luxemburg, bringing up fresh troops for the -reinforcement of the line Maestricht-Liège, and withdrawing most of -their covering cavalry regiments. - -[Illustration] - -Passing from the region of conjecture to that of fact, it was soon -learnt that the enemy's cavalry which advanced on Monday into Belgium -to see how the land lay threw out feelers from Hannut and Saint Trond -towards Tirlemont, Hougaerde, and Jodoigne. They came with artillery -and machine guns, occupied Landen, Neerwinden, Pellaines, and other -places, burning houses and hayricks as they passed. A regiment of -Belgian lancers met them at Dormael, where a sharp encounter gave a -momentary advantage to the defenders, whom the German artillery, which -was opened shortly afterwards, forced to retire. - -The Germans then proceeded to shoot seven inmates of the houses on an -unproved charge of firing. They also burned the houses of the village -of Orsmael, and shot three brothers, peasants, on a like allegation. - -Universal execration followed the German troops in Belgium, where all -observers were unanimous in accusing them of cruelty towards civilians, -unwarranted by the attitude of the population and forbidden by the -rules of war. Wherever they tarried peaceful inhabitants were shot -down on charges which were emphatically denied by their neighbours. At -Dormael a Uhlan, seeing a priest go forward to administer the last -sacraments to the agonising wounded, cut him down as if he too were a -combatant. - -Having compelled the Belgian lancers to retire from Dormael, the German -cavalry advanced in the direction of Tirlemont to the number of about -2,000. Arriving at Bost, which is a mile from Tirlemont, they found -their further advance barred by Belgian infantry, whereupon they fell -back upon Saint Trond and Waremme. - -The Belgian troops did not begin the pursuit of the enemy's cavalry -until August 11th, when they drove it beyond Waremme. - -Liège became a new centre of an artillery action, both offensive -and defensive. The Germans pounded away at the forts, their shells -exploding on the cupolas and around these, while the forts responded -with vigour unimpaired. Meanwhile the invaders began to construct a -pontoon over the Meuse at Lixhe, for troops and trains of ammunition -and provisions. It was believed that they were also preparing to cross -the river above Liège, for they were forwarding heavy war material in -the direction of Engis. - -Meanwhile, the French cavalry showed themselves to the population of -Brussels, who gave them a warm ovation. - -The second general engagement in the struggle for the possession of -the Liège forts took place on Wednesday, August 12th, and lasted until -the early morning of the 13th. The Germans attempted a "reconnaissance -in force," and attacked the Belgian army at two points. - -Again, however, the Belgian soldier proved more than a match for the -most highly trained troops of the Kaiser. The reconnaissance in force -failed utterly. Two of their finest cavalry divisions and two regiments -of Jaegers suffered heavy losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners. - -The attack was made at two points, one to the north of Namur and the -other near Diest, which is a railway junction. About ten in the morning -cavalry patrols reported the advance of the enemy towards Haelen, a -village about three miles south of Diest. At the head of the force rode -the famous 17th Dragoons; behind them marched a regiment of Jaegers -with a battery of artillery and machine-guns. Belgian carbineers -awaited them at Zelck and succeeded in checking the advance until they -could retire on Haelen, which was formerly a fortress. - -With reckless courage the Dragoons galloped into what was an armed cul -de sac. In front of them was a battery on the mound of the fort, and -the road was trenched and barricaded. The Belgians opened fire from -buildings which had been loopholed to meet an attack from that quarter. -Under cover of artillery fire and aided by machine-guns the cavalry -attempted to carry the position by assault. It was an enterprise that -did more credit to the courage than to the judgment of the German -soldier. - - * * * * * - -Mr. William Maxwell, who communicated these facts, added: - - At manoeuvres in Germany some years ago I remember the Kaiser asking - Sir Ian Hamilton what he thought of the infantry formation. Sir Ian - ventured to suggest that the formation was too dense. Whereupon the - Emperor rebuked him with these words: "Half of those men would be - killed, but we can afford to lose them." The cavalry seem to act on - this principle. Without a pause they rode upon the barricade, which - they attempted to leap. I counted seven dead horses close to the - barricade, while others lay writhing a hundred yards off, bearing - testimony to the bravery of two-score men who now lie side by side - awaiting burial. So stout was the resistance of the 700 Belgians - who held this position against a division of cavalry and a regiment - of infantry that the enemy soon found it prudent to withdraw. Not - allowed to retire unmolested, though pursuit beyond Zelck would have - been folly, they left behind about forty dead, many wounded, and 300 - prisoners. - -It was remarkable, according to the accounts of eye-witnesses, how -readily some of these brave men surrendered. One Belgian officer -captured three officers. The first question they asked was, "What is -England doing?" They were evidently ignorant that England had declared -war. Their second question was, "What of our fleet?" The wounded were -treated not only with skill and kindness, but even luxury. - -The object of this raid was to feel the nature and strength of the -opposing force, and, if possible, to capture points on the railway as -well as to threaten the capital in order to strike terror--a phrase so -often on the lips of their War Lord--into the heart of the people. - -A more detailed version of the Haelen-Diest fight on the road to -Louvain says that the encounter lasted all day. The Germans were -supported by a battery of artillery. The Belgian field forces fought -desperately, and Lieutenant Van Doren even enlisted the Diest fire -brigade against the enemy, whose loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners -was comparatively heavy. - -Many of the prisoners were fainting, and the horses were dying from -hunger. The German attacking party had probably been detached from the -Liège right wing for an audacious raid on Louvain and Brussels. - -Further details about the Haelen-Diest combat showed that the German -losses must have approached 3,000. - -The action, when the German mitrailleuses (machine-guns) were captured, -took place north of Eghezée, on the road from Liège to Namur. Of -course, the main German forces continued to be arrested before Liège, -but they sent forth detachments in every direction to make believe that -they had carried everything before them in their rear and to create -popular panics. Each of these detachments was gradually beaten in its -turn, and this slowly weakened the large forces intended for the great -general battle, and estimated at about seven army corps, or about -250,000 men. - -The following official statement was issued at Brussels on Thursday, -August 13th: - - The victory gained by the Belgian troops yesterday is now officially - confirmed. The Belgian troops engaged were only one cavalry division - and a brigade of all arms. The German losses were very heavy, and it - is believed that about three-fifths of the enemy engaged was put out - of action. The Belgian losses were relatively slight, only a few men - being killed. - - The Belgian cavalry division this morning took up the offensive - against yesterday's defeated troops, in order, it is believed, to pick - up the dead and wounded and to collect the abandoned war material. No - German surprise is expected. - - Another encounter took place this morning in the south with the German - troops reported yesterday to be marching towards Eghezée. These - were attacked by our troops and repulsed with very heavy losses. We - captured a number of machine guns mounted on motor-cars. - - There is no reason to fear any German cavalry movement on Brussels - from the south, all roads to the capital being guarded by the army and - by the Garde Civique. - -The military situation at the time was summed up as follows by Mr. E. -Ashmead-Bartlett, _The Daily Telegraph's_ military expert: - - Every single account of conversations with wounded German soldiers - or prisoners serves to show that the rank and file of the German - army have not the smallest idea for what they are fighting, and that - all profess not to have the smallest desire to invade either France - or Belgium. In the war of 1870, the situations were reversed. Every - German knew that the future of his country as a world Power depended - on victory, and all marched to the front with a determination to - conquer or to die. The French, on the other hand, had no idea for what - they were fighting, and their purely professional army left for the - war amidst vague cries of "À Berlin!" buoyed up by no moral principle. - These factors must bear a very far-reaching effect on the eventual - outcome of the campaign. - - In a recent journey through France, I noticed nothing so remarkable - as the intense seriousness of the people. Frenchmen will tell you - there has been nothing like it since the Revolutionary wars, prior - to the Napoleonic epoch, when the levée en masse crushed the invader - at Valmy and Jemappes. The French have entered into this struggle - through no love of fighting, but because they know their existence as - an independent nation is at stake. One other fact must also be noted - before the chances of the opposing armies are examined. In 1870 the - French regular army, which should have had a peace strength of 400,000 - men, only numbered 270,000, whereas the Germans, at the very start of - the campaign, stood at a total war strength of over 1,200,000 men. - - This inequality no longer exists. On paper Germany has a considerable - superiority of numbers, namely twenty-five army corps against - twenty-one, and her reserves are probably more numerous and better - organised than those of the French. On the other hand, she is, - according to the most reliable information, keeping four corps on the - Russian frontier, and, therefore, the numbers available against France - should certainly not show any superiority, and will probably show - an inferiority when the Belgian and British armies are united along - the line of the Meuse. For years German strategists have reckoned on - having to fight both France and Russia at the same time, and they have - professed themselves as being confident of undertaking such a gigantic - task. Four corps especially trained under Von der Goltz to fight in - more open formations were to hold the Russians, whilst the remaining - twenty-one were to be flung with such rapidity against France as to - obtain a decisive success before Russian intervention could make - itself seriously felt. - - It is one thing to have twenty-one army corps ready to invade France, - and quite another to find a suitable front on which to deploy them for - such an invasion. All the time-honoured old routes for the invasion - of France are practically closed to modern armies by the chain of - fortresses which the French have constructed, and, vice versa, the old - roads to Germany are closed to a French invasion. Therefore, French, - German, and Belgian strategists have long recognised that the only - route by which a modern German army could invade France and march on - Paris would be via Belgium, and that declarations of neutrality would - count but little in the strategic scale. It was to resist such a - menace that the Belgians constructed two fortified camps at Liège and - Namur. The old routes of 1870 present too many formidable obstacles to - be overcome. A direct advance into France from Alsace would have found - itself faced by the fortified front Belfort-Epinal-Toul, and Verdun, - four formidable fortified camps, supported by forts on the heights - overlooking the Moselle and Meuse. - - There are only two routes by which this line can be passed. That by - way of Charmes, between Epinal and Toul, protected by the fort of - Manonvillers, which would enable the Germans to enter Haut Marne and - to gain the valley of the Seine, and the road to Paris via Bar-le-Duc, - St. Dizier, and Troyes. This is the theatre of war of 1814, and also - the road used by the Crown Prince after Froeschwiller, in 1870. But an - invading army would have to take or mask all these entrenched camps, - which would take a very long time, or else have his communications - continually threatened. - - The other road is that by Dun-Stenay, north of Verdun, passing through - the defiles of Côtes-de-Meuse and the forest of Argonne to the open - country round Valmy. But this country is extremely difficult for - military operations on a large scale. It was used by the Duke of - Brunswick in 1792. - - The Germans confidently expected to overrun the whole of Belgium and - to gain the French frontier before a single French corps could be - concentrated to offer any serious resistance. They reckoned on two - factors which have turned out the reverse of what they hoped. They - relied on a partial break-down in the French mobilisation, especially - on the railway lines. In this supposition they have been completely - mistaken. Nothing so far has been so remarkable as the smooth working - of the railway service, and, consequently, the rapid concentration of - the French armies. The second factor on which the Germans relied was - the readiness of the Belgians to see their country overrun by a swarm - of invaders or else their inability to resist such an invasion. The - quickest route into Belgium is to cross the Meuse at Liège, and from - there to march south by the left bank along the Mons-Charleroi road, - and to gain the French frontier between Maubeuge and Valenciennes. Of - recent years the Germans have made every preparation for such a move. - They have organised depôts for troops and collected large masses of - stores, and have quadrupled lines at Aix-la-Chapelle, Malmedy, St. - Vith, Bitburg, and Trèves. They can thus rapidly concentrate immense - numbers of troops from Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Coblenz in front of - Liège. - - But the stubborn and unexpected defence of Liège has thrown all - their plans for a direct advance into Belgium via the Liège-Namur - line out of gear, and, to judge from the meagre reports which are - coming through slowly, they have entrenched that line strongly, and - are holding it on the left bank of the Meuse with the two corps - which were so roughly handled while the bulk of their forces are - preparing to cross the Belgian frontier further north on the line - Maestricht-Roermonde, and to march on Brussels through the Duchy of - Limburg. We read of constant cavalry engagements in this district and - of partial defeats of the German troops, but these stories must not - be taken too seriously, as the German cavalry is merely being used as - a screen to cover the concentration of immense masses of infantry who - will soon be making their presence felt. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -Life at Brussels--French Advance--Capital removed to Antwerp - - -A striking description of life in and around Brussels at this time is -given by Dr. Dillon: - - Brussels is herself again. The delirious excitement which during the - first days of mobilisation displayed itself in acts of frenzy has - subsided. The inhabitants have adjusted themselves to the wearisome - suspense and unpleasant surprises of a state of war. Shops that were - shuttered a few days ago are open and doing a brisk business once - more. The cafés are thronged inside and out. The boulevards are bright - with streams of many-coloured humanity. The newspapers which dish up - the same stories day after day are grabbed at by citizens eager to - obtain the first news of the military movements. - - The only striking differences one discerns between this and normal - times affect the lives of the well-to-do classes. All the theatres, - cinematographs, and other places of amusement are closed. Some of - the principal hotels are turned into temporary hospitals. Public - conveyances, whether cabs or taxis, can hardly be said to exist. - Certain sorts of food which were formerly exported, such as peaches, - grapes, and chickens, have hardly any market and are being sold at - half prices. Flowers are withering on their stalks for lack of buyers. - Artisans, such as electricians and plumbers, have vanished. - -Notwithstanding these changes, added Dr. Dillon, the links with the -cheerful life of a month ago had not yet been severed. The people of -Brussels were still blithesome and self-confident, buoyed up by the -sense of security imparted by the heroic conduct of their defenders and -the consciousness of a right cause. As yet the unquiet temper of war -had nowhere manifested itself, yet maimed warriors, homeless families, -destitute women, orphaned children, claimed and received attention, and -reminded the observer all too suggestively of the harvest of misery yet -to be garnered in. - -A couple of hours' drive out of the town took one to a world of grim -realities and sinister contrasts. Over the country between Tirlemont -and Saint Trond, but yesterday full of tame beauty, rich in cornfields -and carefully tended gardens, the withering breath of the ruthless -Moloch had already fitfully passed. As the traveller moved along the -dusty road, catching a glimpse of an occasional farmhouse quivering in -the distance through the heat of the August day, he might well feel -beset by the vague dangers that might at any moment have started into -concrete shape and ended his hopes and cares for all time. - -As one approached the village of Orsmael at this time unmistakable -tokens of desolation thrust themselves on the view. At first shattered -panes of glass, then domestic utensils flung among the cabbages of the -gardens or before the wrenched doors, greybeards with shrivelled faces -moaning under the trees, women trembling and wailing plaintively, and -still beholding as a mirage the scenes of horror which upset their -mental balance. Here a couple of children prattling in subdued tones, -there a mother leading three orphaned little girls from the still -smoking ruins of their house into the wide world, and everywhere the -loathsome soilure and squalor of war. - -Inhuman hate appeared to possess those Prussian invaders, whom terror -drove and terror alone could curb. Belgians who dealt with them at -close quarters, as at Dormael, declared that these Uhlans fought with -the bitterness of personal fury, and, not content with killing those -who manfully resisted them in fight, assassinated numbers who had laid -down their weapons and held their hands up. Many of the corpses have -their hands raised and their elbows on a level with the shoulders. The -wounds of these brave defenders are horrible, having been inflicted -with weapons fired at a distance of a couple of inches from the mouth -or breast. - -Some Uhlans met a Belgian chemist who was riding a bicycle near -Jodoigne. Arresting him they inquired their way to the town hall, -placing the muzzles of revolvers to his head while they listened. He -gave them the required information and was allowed to pass on, but -before he had gone ten yards they sent three bullets into his back. - -On Friday afternoon, August 14th, the Press Bureau issued the following -statement, summing up the position in Northern Belgium: - - (1) After a successful resistance of five days at the passes of Sainte - Marie aux Mines and Le Bonhomme, the French troops have occupied the - region of the Saale Pass, which commands the valley of the Burche, an - affluent of the Rhine. - - (2) At Saale numerous desertions from the German troops are notified. - The French have taken many prisoners, and have captured some - machine-guns. - - (3) It is now confirmed that in Belgium the Belgians were successful - in an engagement which took place on August 12th between their troops - and six regiments of German cavalry, supported by 2,500 infantry, - machine-guns and artillery. The enemy was completely disorganised; the - six cavalry regiments suffered great losses, and the Belgians pursued - the infantry which gave way. - - (4) This (Friday) morning, towards Eghezée, sixteen kilomètres to - the north of Namur, a mixed detachment from the garrison surprised - some German cavalry regiments in camp, threw them into confusion and - forced them back towards the east, after taking numerous prisoners - and capturing cannon and machine-guns. To the south of the Meuse the - German cavalry avoids contact with the French. - - (5) The news of fighting about Haelen yesterday is confirmed. The - Germans were driven back eastwards, and there is now no German cavalry - between Hasselt and Ramillies. - - (6) Liège forts are reported to be still holding out, and to have - plenty of supplies. - - (7) German cavalry patrols are now reported north of Montmedy. - - (8) General Joffre, by virtue of the powers conferred on him by the - Ministry of War (decision of August 8th, 1914), has made Lieutenant - Bruyant, of the Dragoons, a Knight of the Legion of Honour. "This - officer," it is stated in the text of his appointment, "accompanied by - seven horsemen, did not hesitate to charge a platoon of some thirty - Uhlans: he killed the officer in charge of them with his own hand, and - routed the German platoon, inflicting severe losses upon it." - - (9) The Commander-in-Chief has conferred the first war medal of the - campaign on Escoffier, Corporal of Dragoons, for having charged with - the greatest courage and received several wounds. - - (10) Belgian cyclists and cavalry from Namur surprised yesterday a - force of German cavalry, accompanied by artillery and machine-guns, - and compelled them to retire. The Germans lost a field gun and several - machine-guns. - -The French army was meanwhile making good progress, and on the night of -the 14th it was officially announced by the War Ministry in Paris that -the French were entering Belgium through Charleroi and were proceeding -in the direction of Gembloux, some thirty miles to the north-east. - -Reports were current on Friday evening that the German attack had been -renewed, but these were afterwards seen to be baseless. The German -forces around Liège were content to remain on the defensive for a -time; and even towards the south, in the Vosges, the French troops -were slowly driving the invaders before them. At Liège itself several -bodies of the enemy had taken up their position in the town, but the -forts were still intact. An observer of the scene at this juncture -commented on the changed physiognomy of that once gay capital of the -Walloon country. Some 30,000 of the inhabitants had fled from the place -in terror when the enemy's guns began to shower shells upon the forts -from Fléron. The remainder buried themselves in cellars and underground -passages, scores huddling together without food, drink, or other of -life's necessaries. The city bore marks of havoc everywhere. Gaping -bridges, half-demolished houses, many without doors, which had been -taken off their hinges and cast into the courtyard or the roadside, -fallen roofs, smouldering ruins, told their dismal tale. - -There was not a street in which shells had not fallen. The very -asphalt was ploughed up in places like a cornfield at sowing time. -Hurriedly-made graves with their soft mounds protruded in unexpected -places. During the day the Germans were everywhere in evidence: they -patrolled the principal thoroughfares, stood at the barricades which -they had raised at all the approaches to the town, or crept up towards -the forts with remarkable recklessness. Nine of them on bicycles rode -to within 300 mètres of the forts one morning; eight returned unharmed, -only one paying for the pleasant sense of daring adventure with his -life. The inhabitants were cowed by recent deterrent examples and by -the terrors hanging over them. - -At nightfall the city assumed the aspect of a churchyard. The silence -was soul-curdling, yet the hearts of the inhabitants beat quicker and -louder when that silence was broken by the heavy tread of the Prussian -patrols or the rending thunder of heavy guns. All the doors still -extant had to be kept wide open. Early in the morning when the bakers -removed their bread from the ovens, German guards, posted wherever -victuals are to be had, were in the habit of pouncing down on the -entire output of the bakeries, for which they sometimes paid; but the -ill-starred inhabitants had no share. The soldiers made their own -coffee and soup in great motor cauldrons, from which it was poured into -metal porringers that they carry with them. They now wore reformed -field uniforms, rendering them hardly distinguishable from a distance, -just as their airships were so re-painted as to resemble the grey of -cloudland. - -At Haelen and Diest, the scene of Wednesday's engagement, one drew -nearer to the ghastly realities of war. The struggle waxed desperate, -man meeting man, striking, thrusting, and wrestling in the final fight -for life or death. Here the once peaceful country-side was utterly -transformed. In the background heaps of ruins that so lately were -farmhouses still emitted pungent smoke. Between the leafy trees one saw -the charred rents in the dwellings still erect, animals erring hither -and thither, barricades hastily erected of dead horses, their horrible -wounds gaping and spreading the mephitic reek of death, and along the -carriage-road on either side freshly-made ridges which hid the German -dead. - -The serious attention of the civilised world was at this juncture -once again directed to the inhuman methods of warfare practised by -the German soldiery in Belgium, else, it was declared, the campaign -would assume a character of fiendish savagery unmatched in the annals -of war. "Unless some real respect be shown to the usages received -by civilised nations," said one observer, "both sides will end by -making no prisoners. If even a tithe of the narratives now passing -from mouth to mouth about the atrocities committed by the invaders be -well founded--and they are vouched for by credible and level-headed -clergymen, mayors, and foreigners who feel no personal animus against -the Germans--the soldiery of the Fatherland have outrun the Hercules -pillars of inhumanity." - -Another report stated that the Germans in Liège were trying to -fraternise with the Belgians, and that German military bands played -daily in the two Belgian cafés. - -About the middle of August a Belgian who had a relative at Port Talbot, -Cardiff, wrote: - - Every day brings to light new acts of heroism displayed by the plucky - little Belgians, whilst several more no doubt have been accomplished, - of which we shall never hear. Their heroes are either too silent or - for ever silent. Lupin, a boy of eighteen, a corporal in the regiment - of Major Jeanne, who himself was nearly killed during the battle of - Liège, has died, a great hero in the eyes of his whole regiment. - - One of his comrades who has known Lupin for years tells this pathetic - story, which Major Jeanne has himself brought to light. "We were - on the right bank of the river Meuse at Bellaire, which is not far - above Jupille, and we were in close touch with a German battery. - The musketry on both sides was terrible. I was stretched out flat, - continuously loading and shooting, and could feel my gun getting hot. - Bullets were flattening their noses in front of me, raising clouds of - sand and dust. My mouth, eyes, and ears were full of powder. Corpses - were heaped round me, their faces black with powder, and stamped - with the horrible grimace of death; their hands, with swollen veins, - gripping their deadly Mausers. Yes, war is magnificently terrible. - - "All at once the Germans adopted new tactics, and I must give them - credit for being a cute lot. They seemed to withdraw from their - position, and we could distinctly notice their ranks splitting as if - in great confusion, but it was only to bring to the front some more - artillery which had been rushing from behind. The move was smartly - executed, the ranks closed again, and for a time they seemed as if - they were going to have the advantage over us. - - "But now young Lupin had seen his chance looming, and what he did - altogether changed the face of things. 'Leave them to me now,' was - what someone heard him say, and like a flash the boy dashed off under - cover of a ditch on the left. Only a few of us had seen it, but - Major Jeanne knew his corporal of eighteen, and knew he was up to - something grand. Watching him, he shouted, 'Go for them! Get at those - square-heads with your bullets. Fire!' - - "In the meantime Lupin had managed to get to the left of the German - battery, and at 300 mètres distance he sheltered behind a wall. - He took aim at the battery in enfilade, and under the fire of his - Mauser brought down in quick succession the chief officer, the - under-officers, and the artillerymen. This time real confusion took - place at the German battery, which was nearly silenced, the Germans, - thinking that a whole platoon was now attacking them from behind the - wall, directed their last piece of artillery on the wall, and with a - terrific crash the wall came down, burying the brave Corporal Lupin. - The boy's bravery had weakened the German position, and it did not - take us long to scatter them, and put another victory on our list." - -On Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th, there was little definite -news from any part of the theatre of war. There was some fighting in -the south undoubtedly, and a French force defeated a strong body of -Bavarians, capturing 500 prisoners. At Dinant, in Belgium, there was -another stiff engagement, but no details of it came to hand for a -few days. An authoritative report was given out at Brussels to the -effect that the Germans had lost more than 25,000 killed, wounded, -and prisoners at Liège--more than half an army corps. These losses, -of course, would have been reckoned as trivial if the Germans had -succeeded in their original design of executing a "military promenade" -through Belgian territory. Apart from the scarcity of food, already -referred to, the besieging forces at Liège suffered from lack of -horses, and cavalry reconnaissances were gradually becoming impossible. - -On Monday, August 17th, it was officially announced that the British -Expeditionary Force had been safely landed on French soil; and it was -at the same time stated that the French army had scored some successes -in Upper Alsace. The movement of this wing of General Joffre's army -appeared to extend from the Swiss frontier at Altkirch, near Mülhausen, -as far away as Château Salins, a distance of eighty miles. Its object, -which was afterwards frustrated by a strong German advance, was to -isolate and "contain" the great fortresses of Metz and Strassburg. The -two official notices issued by the War Ministry in Paris describe these -operations: - - Sunday Midnight [_i.e._, August 16th]. - - The forward movement has been developed along the whole front from - Réchicourt to Sainte Marie-aux-Mines. In the Vosges we have carried - Sainte Marie-aux-Mines and made progress towards Sainte Blaise. - - The French troops which occupied the Donon yesterday have advanced. In - the valley of Schirmeck especially their progress has been extremely - rapid. We have taken 1,000 prisoners, in addition to the 500 captured - yesterday. Large quantities of equipment have been abandoned by the - enemy. - - In this district, as at Sainte Marie, we have captured guns of large - calibre, field-guns, and ammunition. - - In the region Blamont--Cirey we have gained the heights of Lorquin, - and in doing so have taken the convoy of a division of German cavalry, - consisting of nineteen motor wagons. - - In the attack on Dinant the enemy's forces consisted of the Cavalry - Division of the Guard and the First Division of Cavalry, supported - by infantry from several battalions and some companies with maxims. - When these forces appeared on the left bank the French troops attacked - them. This attack, delivered with magnificent dash, soon drove the - enemy back, and they recrossed the Meuse in great disorder. Many were - unable to regain the bridge, and fell into the river, which at this - point has steep banks and flows swiftly. Numbers of the enemy were - drowned. - - Taking advantage of this disorder, one of our Chasseur cavalry - regiments crossed the river after the Germans and pursued them for - several kilomètres. Several hundred horses belonging to the Uhlans - were captured and subsequently passed to the rear for remount - purposes. In this pursuit the French regiment put to flight forces of - the enemy considerably superior to itself in numbers. - - Monday (11 a.m.) [_i.e._, August 17th]. - - Our advance continues to develop. Our troops have carried the heights - to the north of the frontier, and their lines pass Breschwiller, - Lorquin, Azaudange, Marsal. - - In the Donon region we occupy Schirmeck, 7-1/2 miles beyond Saales. - - The number of field-guns taken by us at this point is not four, as - was stated yesterday, but twelve, as well as twelve limbers and eight - maxims. Our cavalry has pushed forward as far as Lutzelhausen and - Muhlbach. - - Further to the south we have occupied Ville, to the east of the Pass - of Urbans, on the road to Schlestadt. Thann, Cernay, and Dannemarie - are occupied. - - At Blamont, a village from which the Germans have just been driven - by our troops, they had, without reason or provocation, put to death - three persons, of whom one was a young girl and another an old man of - eighty-six, whose name was M. Barthélemy, and who was an ex-Mayor of - the village. - -On Monday, August 17th, the Queen of the Belgians and the Ministers for -War, Finance, and Foreign Affairs retired from Brussels to Antwerp with -the Ministers of France and Russia, who left French interests in the -hands of the Spanish Legation. - -It was officially stated that this was according to long pre-arranged -and Constitutional arrangements, and not because the military situation -was disquieting. The families of the withdrawing Ministers remained in -Brussels, which was protected by over 20,000 Civic Guards, entrenched -behind barbed-wire fences, making the capital quite safe against -surprise attack. - -This move was really made because the Germans had managed to bring -up heavy siege guns; and, although the forts were still holding out, -arrangements were gradually being made to "contain" them and to advance -on the capital with the main army. The Belgian Government afterwards -decided not to attempt to defend Brussels, and the barricades which had -been erected were dismantled and the barbed-wire fences taken down. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -Preparations at Namur--Scenes at Liège--Germans Pressing -Forward--Occupation of Brussels - - -In the meantime the second stronghold of the Belgian army, Namur, was -prepared for the onslaught of the enemy. On August 13th Mr. Granville -Fortescue, who had arrived there, noted that the city exhibited all -the grim circumstances of a siege except the actual falling of shells -within its boundaries. When he arrived at the station he followed the -crowd, which was herded into a corner until each passenger had been -examined. One could not move without a "laissez-passer." Soldiers -patrolled the streets, and every few hundred yards pedestrians were -halted and made to show their papers. Barricades commanded all the main -avenues into the city. They had been made by dragging enormous goods -vans across the street and turning the van into a sort of blockhouse. -The sides were pierced for rifle fire, and sand bags were piled -breast-high inside. - -[Illustration] - -Defences of sand bags and earth were built at either side of the van. - - * * * * * - -Suddenly the whirl of an aeroplane sounds overhead. Then we hear a -scattered volley. The aeroplane is German, and the garrison are trying -to pot it, despite the fact that it must be 2,000 feet up. They are -striking in appearance, these German aeroplanes. Once seen it is easy -afterwards to distinguish them. Seen from directly below, it is best -described as scarab shaped--what I should imagine a giant scarab would -look like on the wing. The whole machine is white, except for a panel -of sky blue painted across the centre of each wing. The engine of the -German machine makes a louder noise than either the French or Belgian. -The aeroplane we were watching circled above the forts and remained in -this vicinity about half an hour. Then it turned about and disappeared -to the east. - - * * * * * - -The Kaiser, with three of his sons, left Berlin on August 17th for -Mayence, about 100 miles to the north of Strassburg; but he did not -venture upon Belgian soil. - - * * * * * - -An English officer who returned to England from Brussels at this time -had had the most interesting experience, and, it should be added, -privilege, of chatting with one of the heroic defenders of Liège, a -Belgian officer. To a representative of _The Daily Telegraph_ he said: - - I never had any doubt that the Belgians were plucky fellows. The - defence of Liège shows them in heroic light. - - One of them, in the course of a casual conversation, which would not - have given you any idea that he, or any of his colleagues, had taken - part in anything extraordinary, said: "Some of us late arrivals only - managed to get to our posts when the German attack began. It was - night-time. We replied sharply with our guns. Until the dawn came we - had no very distinct idea of what our practice was. Then we noticed - heaps of slain Germans in a semi-circle at the foot of our fort. The - German guns must have been much less successful, because they rarely - hit us that night. They did better at daybreak. We did better still. - - "As line after line of the German infantry advanced, we simply mowed - them down. It was terribly easy, monsieur, and I turned to a brother - officer of mine more than once and said, 'Voilà! They are coming on - again, in a dense, close formation! They must be mad!' They made no - attempt at deploying, but came on, line after line, almost shoulder - to shoulder, until, as we shot them down, the fallen were heaped one - on top of the other, in an awful barricade of dead and wounded men - that threatened to mask our guns and cause us trouble. I thought of - Napoleon's saying--if he said it, monsieur; and I doubt it, for he - had no care of human life!--'C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la - guerre!' No, it was slaughter--just slaughter! - - "So high became the barricade of the dead and wounded that we did - not know whether to fire through it or to go out and clear openings - with our hands. We would have liked to extricate some of the wounded - from the dead, but we dared not. A stiff wind carried away the smoke - of the guns quickly, and we could see some of the wounded men trying - to release themselves from their terrible position. I will confess I - crossed myself, and could have wished that the smoke had remained! - - "But, would you believe it, this veritable wall of dead and dying - actually enabled these wonderful Germans to creep closer, and actually - charge up the glacis? Of course, they got no farther than half way, - for our maxims and rifles swept them back. Of course, we had our own - losses, but they were slight compared with the carnage inflicted upon - our enemies." - -The English officer added: - - "There is, as you know, quite a large colony of English people in - Brussels, and also in Bruges. They have their English club and tennis - courts. Many of these Britishers have their own houses, and live in - Belgium for three or six months every year. When the war broke out - all but those owning, or renting, property were advised to leave the - country, which they did. Many English householders in Belgium also - closed their residences and left for England. - - "The Belgians were at first extremely dubious of our intention to send - troops to Belgium to support them, and night after night, at a certain - well-known seaside resort, they crowded about the British Consulate - for news. When it was definitely known that the British Expeditionary - Force had started Belgian men and women asked for the Union Jack to - be brought out by the Consul, and when this was done they filed past, - kissing it. I saw this with my own eyes." - -On the 18th it became evident that the German forces had gathered -on the line Maastricht-Liège and were about to make an attempt to -penetrate the allied armies facing them. There was no serious fighting -on this date, but German cavalry were seen in the direction of Antwerp. - -The long-expected battle appeared to have begun on the 19th -(Wednesday), and Tirlemont, a town some twenty-three miles from -Brussels, on the railway to Liège, was said to be its centre. Refugees -hurried into Brussels from Aerschot and Diest, and hundreds of -civilians from Tirlemont also made for the capital. - -Saarburg was occupied by the French on the same day. - - * * * * * - -The great German advance on Belgium was begun on Friday, August -21st, in a line extending from Dinant, a town to the south of -Namur, as far as a point opposite Antwerp. About noon Brussels was -reached and occupied. The following account of the position of the -Belgian Government was issued officially just before the capital was -transferred to Antwerp: - - At the present moment the general situation in the Belgian theatre of - war may be described as follows: After having lost a great deal of - time, a large number of men, and a great quantity of material, the - Prussian army has managed to gain ground on both banks of the Meuse up - to a line where it is in contact with the allied armies. The German - troops on the north side of the Meuse belong to various corps, whose - operations have been principally directed against Liège, and who in - the course of time have become available in other directions. There - is also a strong force of cavalry, by means of which the Germans have - been able to make a great show by extending to the north and south. - - In the south they came into collision with our troops and the French - troops, and were repulsed. In the north, on the other hand, they found - an open road, and small portions of them managed to make dashes far - afield. In a word, the Germans have taken the measure of our position, - but that they should have lost a fortnight in attaining this result is - all to the honour of our arms. That may have incalculable consequences - for the issues of the operations. The normal development of the - latter, according to the plan concerted between the allies, may lead - to the carrying out of "manoeuvres," that is to say, to changes of - position in order to effect a change in the general situation. - - We are on the outside wing, where these manoeuvres are nearly always - necessitated, either for the direct or indirect protection of the - flank. Our army, therefore, must necessarily modify its original - positions, and thus carry out completely the first task devolving - upon it, which consists in gaining time. There is, consequently, no - ground for anxiety if the army makes a movement in such and such a - direction, and armchair strategists need not occupy themselves with - the arrangements made, but should realise that our army now belongs to - a co-ordinated whole, and remember that the strategic conditions have - entirely changed since close contact has been established with our - allies on our right. - - The object of the operations as at present going on is not to cover - such and such a district or such and such a town, which has now become - a matter of only secondary importance. The pursuit of the aim assigned - to the Belgian troops in the general plan of campaign preponderates - over everything. This object cannot be revealed, and the most - well-informed persons are unable to discover it in view of the veil of - obscurity which is rightly being spread over all the news allowed to - come through regarding the operations. - - Fighting is going on along the whole front from Bale to Diest. The - closer the contact comes between the two armies and the closer - one gets to a decisive action, the more one must expect to see an - advantage gained at one point while ground is lost at another. That - is only to be expected in the case of battles taking place over such - immense fronts as those occupied by the great armies of modern times. - - To sum up, one may say that what is going on at our gates is not the - only thing to be thought of. A strategic movement conceived with a - well-defined object is not necessarily a retreat. The fighting which - has taken place at the front during the last few days has resulted in - making the enemy more circumspect and in delaying his forward march - to the great advantage of the whole scheme of operations. There is - no reason at the present time for letting oneself be hung up, thus - playing into the hands of the Germans. That is the motive of the - movements now being carried out. We are not beaten, far from it, but - are making arrangements for beating the enemy in the best possible - conditions. The public should, in this matter, place all trust in the - commander of the army, and should remain calm and confident. - - The outcome of the struggle does not appear doubtful. Meanwhile the - newspapers should abstain from mentioning movements of troops, as - secrecy is essential for the success of the operations. - -The exodus from Brussels was vividly described in a telegram from Mr. -A.J. Rorke, the correspondent of the Central News Agency. He wired, -under date of August 20th: - - I left Brussels at three o'clock this morning, with the Germans at its - very gates. - - All through the evening, following the evacuation of Tirlemont, - Louvain, and neighbouring villages, there had been coming into the - city from all the roads leading into it one unending procession of - old men, women, children, and wounded soldiers retreating before the - advance of the Uhlan vanguard. - - They came into the centre of the city, clamouring at the Gare du Nord - for tickets to the coast, but the trains were all reserved for the - hosts of wounded brought in by motor-ambulances and carts from the - firing-line. - - Most of the men had been wounded in the head and face, disproving the - repeated stories that the Germans were bad marksmen and aimed low. - - As a matter of fact, practically all the men wounded in yesterday's - battle were hit high, proving that the Germans, infantrymen and - cavalrymen, are firing from the hip. - - Later came the news that there would probably be no more trains out - of Brussels, so the more timid of the population began to prepare - hurriedly for departure. - - A dramatic moment in the history of Europe occurred when the Civic - Guard, unwillingly, and only on instructions from the Executive - Government at Antwerp, abandoned their defensive on the outskirts of - the city, and in the forest around the town, and marched into Brussels. - - They were ordered to Ghent, and singing, with unbroken spirit, the - "Marseillaise," the strains of which rose over the murmurs of a - panic-stricken population, they entered the railroad station. - - And so Brussels, undefended, evacuated by its troops unwillingly, - though their going really showed a finer spirit of patriotism than - death on a battlefield, awaited the arrival of the "modern Huns." - - Just before I left early this morning a rumour, which at that hour I - was unable to confirm, spread through the city that the French had - arrived, and that the Turcos were actually in action with the Germans - on the Louvain road. - - These facts must stand out in the battle of yesterday. - - One long line of burning villages marked the German advance, and three - regiments of Belgian troops are no more. They are, I hear, the First - Regiment of Guides and the Third and Ninth Regiments of the Line. - - A weeping woman whom I took into my automobile drew from her breast, - on the road to Ghent, a blue cap with a yellow facing, upon which was - the figure "3." - - "Voilà une casquette d'un de nos braves petits soldats," she said to - me, "mais il n'y a plus du Troisième." - -As Mr. William Maxwell pointed out, the real capital of Belgium, in the -military sense, had always been Antwerp, not Brussels; and Napoleon -himself gave one of his generals to understand, in explicit terms, -that there could be no glory in entering the undefended capital of an -enemy's country. "Most of the country the Germans have overrun up to -the present," said Mr. Maxwell, "has not been seriously contested, -for it does not enter into the Allies' plan of action." Antwerp, as -an important Belgian official explained, was provisioned for an -indefinite period; it could be supplied with stores of every kind from -the sea; and it was calculated that the forts would be able to hold out -for at least a year. In these circumstances the Belgian army entrenched -there would always be a menace to the right wing of the Germans, who -would be obliged to detach a large part of their forces to prevent an -attack from that direction. - -Great indignation was aroused all over Europe when it became known that -the Germans had imposed a war levy on Brussels of no less a sum than -£8,000,000, the alternative being the sacking of the city, with all its -priceless art treasures. A levy of £2,000,000 had already been imposed -on the province of Liège. - -The Germans made their official entry into Brussels at two o'clock in -the afternoon of Friday, August 21st. To the eternal credit of the -people it must be said that they betrayed not the slightest sign of -panic, but faced their painful uncertainty with dignity and courage. - -The Civil Guard, of whom 20,000 were in Brussels, were uniformed men, -and may be compared to our old volunteers. They had made preparations -to resist the capture of the city, and had covered the approaches with -trenches and barbed wire entanglements. But Brussels is not a fortified -place, and armed opposition would have involved severe penalties. The -Guard, therefore, withdrew from the capital soon after midnight. They -retired with the honours of war, singing songs of victory. - -For some days the citizens had recognised the possibility of having the -Germans for their uninvited guests, and when Louvain was abandoned they -accepted the inevitable. The spirit they manifested was reflected in a -dignified and courageous proclamation by their burgomeister. - -At six o'clock in the morning the enemy's cavalry appeared at -Tervueren, a distant suburb of the capital. From that hour every door -was closed, and every window was darkened with shutter or blind. From -the outskirts people began to flock into the heart of the city, yet -there was no panic-fear. At nine o'clock the capital was surrounded, -but no entry was made until after two o'clock. The occupation proceeded -with method. Railway stations and telegraph and telephone offices were -taken over, and sentries were posted on all the main roads. The city, -which was crowded twelve hours before, looked like a deserted place. - -Pushing on from Brussels the same evening, the Germans took possession -of the undefended cities of Ghent and Bruges, and advance brigades of -cavalry made their appearance at Ostend, which was occupied shortly -afterwards. This advance--of no military importance, and savouring -of what is colloquially known as window-dressing--was more than -compensated for by a series of French successes in Alsace-Lorraine. -General Joffre's forces drove the Germans out of several of the smaller -towns, captured many hundreds of prisoners, and took ninety-one guns -from the enemy. - -Coincidentally with the arrival of the Germans in Brussels, it was -announced that this country would lend our Belgian allies the sum of -£10,000,000 in recognition of their splendid services at the beginning -of the war. - -The first complete account of the fighting at Dinant a few days -previously was given in a special message from Mr. Granville Fortescue. -Writing from Dinant on August 15th, Mr. Fortescue said: - - A considerable force of German light infantry, supported by mountain - batteries, to-day made a determined attack on this town. The fight - lasted from daylight till dark. Although the Germans had some success - in the morning, the arrival of French reinforcements compelled them to - evacuate the excellent positions they had taken. - - The first shell just missed the clock above the railroad station, - which marked ten minutes past six, and fell through the roof. It did - little damage beyond shattering numerous windows. The railroad station - is directly opposite my hotel. The second shell tore through the - chimney of the hotel. The kitchen was filled with bits of bricks and - mortar. The breakfast coffee was spoiled. - - Captain X., who was here on a special mission, made his escape in a - motor, accompanied by a squad of khaki-clad couriers on motor-cycles. - The guests of the hotel scuttled to the cellars. - - It was nearly seven o'clock before the infantry began firing in - earnest. The only French troops in the town were some of a regiment of - the line. The French had no artillery when the action opened. - - The position was in a certain state of defence, which might have been - improved. However, the streets were barricaded and a field of wire - entanglements stretched across the bridge, which was also commanded by - a mitrailleuse. - - Dinant lies in a well, one might say, on both banks of the Meuse. High - limestone cliffs tower above the town. On the east bank these are - steep, and are crowned by an ancient fort known as the citadel. The - fort dominates the whole adjacent country. On the west bank of the - Meuse the town scrambles up a hillside, covered with trees. - - When the engagement opened I joined Commandant A. and Lieutenant B., - who were in charge of the detachment defending the bridge. - - At this time the Germans were making a strong effort to capture the - citadel. It was held by a small French force, perhaps one company. - - The cliffs resounded with the rifle and gun fire. The din and the - falling shells drove the population en masse to the "caves." - - Members of the Volunteer Hospital Corps, however, hurried along on - their bicycles searching the streets for wounded. - - The German mountain batteries fired with accuracy, although the small - projectiles had little effect. I picked up the fuse of one shell, a - Dapp, cut at 4,000 mètres. - - About ten o'clock the Germans held the crest of the cliffs across the - river, and soon took the citadel. They sent down a veritable hail of - lead on the defenders. Behind the cover of the bridge abutments the - French reply gallantly. Thus the fight goes on for an hour. One hears - nothing save the irregular explosions of rifles, the machine-like - sputterings of the mitrailleuse, punctuated by the shock of shell - fire. It rains, but this in no way halts the firing. About thirty - wounded are brought in when the French troops change position to - the high ground back of the town. A sudden increase in the volume of - sound tells me that the wished-for reinforcements have arrived. Soon - a half-company of a regiment crowd into the hotel, expecting to find - there a good field of fire. They bring with them a dozen frightened - women who have been hiding in the station. - - About noon the firing slackens, and the rain ceases. A few limping - figures in blue coats and red trousers stagger into the hotel. A - doctor stationed here gives them first-aid attention. While the lull - continues a woman crosses to the pillar-box and drops in a postcard. - - About one I return to my post of observation. The German flag has - been hoisted over the citadel. This is a signal for renewed firing. - The sight of the hated flag seems to rouse the French troops to fury. - About 2 p.m. I hear for the first time the welcome sound of French - field artillery. One of the first shots cuts the German flag across. - Two French batteries have arrived, and they hail projectiles into the - citadel with extraordinary accuracy. Another line regiment arrives - to reinforce the troops here, and under a smothering fire I see the - heads of the Germans that dotted the ramparts of the fort begin to - disappear. At this time I also hear heavy firing in the south-east. - About ten minutes before six I cannot distinguish a German on the - ramparts. The only firing is some scattered shooting from the French - side. A cheer greets the coming of another new regiment, and soon the - French troops are back in the positions they held in the morning. - - But the road back of the bridge is dotted with the dead. They lie in - all sorts of contorted positions. Their blue coats are splashed with - red, their red trousers are stained a deeper crimson. - - And the cheers of the troops who have just arrived die down as they - pass this grim testimony of what war means. - - As it was the intention of the French to hold the Dinant bridge at - all hazards, their strongest force was placed behind the abutment - wings of this bridge. These are limestone block walls, about three - feet high, and offer good cover. But this cover would have been - vastly improved if the walls had been capped with sandbags. There was - plenty of time to have so improved this defence. Again, the field of - fire before this position was poor. But the gravest mistake was the - neglect to construct protected approaches to the advanced position. - Reinforcements had to be rushed across an open field of fire, where - they suffered unnecessary casualties. And when the French line of - defence had to be changed, and the troops withdrawn to a higher - position behind the town, they suffered heavily because they must - pass along a road swept by the German fire. All of which should have - been provided against. This is not written in a spirit of criticism, - but simply to call attention to certain mistakes that will, in the - future, surely be corrected. - - The French are under a severe handicap in the matter of uniform. It is - over a dozen years since the Boer War, and certainly they should have - discarded the blue coat and red trousers for a more neutral colour. - They have covered the red crown of their caps with blue. This is to - prevent their being discovered by aeroplane scouts. But the flamboyant - uniform of the line regiments makes a fair mark, as far as the modern - rifle is effective. In groups they are all the gunner asks for a - target. - - On the other hand, the Germans have adopted a grey-green colour that - is almost invisible. Yesterday, with a first-class glass, I had - difficulty in locating individuals. - - What I have written applies with more force to the Belgian troops. - These soldiers are as conspicuous as claret stains on a new tablecloth. - - On my way here I passed some four or five regiments of infantry. - Though the men are young, they are going into this war with a - seriousness unusual in the French. Of course, the Gallic temperament - is not changed. They still show their "esprit" and their gaiety is - not altogether extinguished. Perhaps the solemnity I have alluded to - is more noticed among the officers than the men. They are as grave as - schoolmasters. All of which is a good sign. - - I have been particularly struck by the professional atmosphere of the - artillery officers. It needs but a glance of the eye to be sure that - this arm will perform splendid service under their direction. - -The Germans had so many men massed in the occupied portions of Belgium -by this time that temporary checks did not stem what one correspondent -aptly described as a tidal wave of troops sweeping irresistibly through -the valley of the Meuse. Japan, who had sent Germany an ultimatum -with regard to Kiao-Chau, declared war on receiving no reply by the -stipulated time; but, it is unnecessary to add, this fact had no -influence on the operations of the German troops in Belgium. Telegrams -sent off on Sunday stated that a big battle was developing in the -neighbourhood of Charleroi--Mons, and that the Germans in order to -ensure the uninterrupted and safe passage of their army, had occupied -all the villages between Louvain and Alost. The Liège forts, it was -officially announced, were still holding out, but the Germans had -"contained" them by a large force of soldiers. Attention was rather -concentrated on the forts at Namur, to subdue which the Germans had -advanced their heavy siege guns. It was said on Monday, August 24th, -that "Namur had fallen," but no confirmation of this statement could be -obtained, and it was generally taken as meaning that the invaders had -managed to enter the town, but that the forts were still holding out. -An official message from Brussels on the following Wednesday evening -said that Namur had not yet fallen. - -In the meantime refugees were hurrying from Ostend, to which city -both Belgian and German wounded were being brought. The cross-Channel -steamers were crowded, and Belgian refugees who had come away from -Brussels and Tirlemont made their appearance in London. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -British Troops in Action--Their "Customary Coolness"--Zeppelin at -Antwerp--German Atrocities--Lord Kitchener's Speech - - -The British Expeditionary Force was engaged in the battle at Mons, and -it was subsequently stated that the soldiers had been fighting for -thirty-six hours on end. A short statement by the Press Bureau was -more usefully expanded into the following account, which was issued by -the French Embassy and summed up the situation as it existed on Monday -night, August 24th: - - On the west of the Meuse the English army, which was on our left, has - been attacked by the Germans. Its behaviour under fire was admirable, - and it resisted the enemy with its customary coolness. - - The French army which operated in this region attacked. Our army - corps, with the African troops in the first line, carried forward by - their over-eagerness, were received with a very murderous fire. They - did not fall back, but later by a counter-attack by the Prussian Guard - they were compelled to retire. They did so only after having inflicted - enormous loss on the enemy. The flower of the Prussian Guard suffered - very severely. - - On the east of the Meuse our troops advanced across very difficult - ground. They met with a vigorous attack as they left the woods, and - were compelled to retire after fierce fighting on the south of the - Semoy. - - At the order of General Joffre, our troops and the English troops - have taken up their position on the covering line, which they would - not have quitted had not the splendid courage of the Belgian army - permitted us to enter Belgium. The covering line is intact. Our - cavalry has not suffered. Our artillery has proved its superiority. - Our officers and our soldiers are in splendid physical and moral - condition. - - As a result of the orders given, the struggle will change its - aspect for several days. The French army will for a time remain - on the defensive. When the proper moment comes, as chosen by the - Commander-in-Chief, it will resume a vigorous offensive. - - Our losses are severe. It will be premature to estimate them or to - estimate those of the German army, which, however, has suffered - so severely as to be compelled to halt in its counter-attack and - establish itself in new positions. - -The communiqué then proceeds to deal with the situation in regard to -Lorraine. It says: - - Yesterday we four times counter-attacked from the positions we occupy - on the north of Nancy, and we inflicted very severe losses on the - Germans. - - Generally speaking, we retain full liberty to use our railway system, - and every sea is open for our re-provisioning. Our operations - have permitted Russia to enter into action and to reach the heart - of Eastern Prussia. It is, of course, regrettable that, owing to - difficulties in execution which could not have been foreseen, our plan - of attack has not achieved its object. Had it done so it would have - shortened the war, but in any case our defence remains intact in face - of an already weakened enemy. - - All Frenchmen will deplore the momentary abandonment of the portions - of annexed territory which we had already occupied. On the other - hand, certain portions of the national territory must, unfortunately, - suffer from the events of which they will be the theatre. The trial is - inevitable, but will be temporary. - - Thus, some detachments of German cavalry, belonging to an independent - division operating on the extreme right, have penetrated into the - Roubaix--Tourcoing district, which is defended only by Territorial - forces. The courage of our brave people will support this trial with - unshaken faith in our final success, which is beyond doubt. - - In telling the country the whole truth, the Government and the - military authorities afford it the strongest possible proof of their - absolute confidence in a victory, which depends only on our tenacity - and perseverance. - -A thrilling description of the behaviour of the British troops at Mons -was given by Mr. A.J. Rorke, the correspondent of the Central News -Agency, who wired from Paris on Monday night: - - Graphic stories of how the British troops at Mons fought during the - two days in which they bore the brunt of the main German advance - reached Paris in the early hours of this morning, when officers - arriving from the front reported at the War Office, and, in subsequent - conversation with their closest personal friends, told of the - wonderful coolness and daring of our men. The shooting of our infantry - on the firing fine, they said, was wonderful. Every time a German's - head showed above the trenches and every time the German infantry - attempted to rush a position there came a withering rifle fire from - the khaki-clad forms lying in extending formation along a big battle - front. - - The firing was not the usual firing of nervous men, shooting without - aiming and sometimes without rhyme or reason, as is so often the case - in warfare. It was rather the calm, calculated riflemanship of the men - one sees on the Stickledown range firing with all the artificial aids - permitted to the match rifle expert whose one concern is prize money. - - When quick action was necessary the firing and the action of the men - was only that of prize riflemen firing at a disappearing target. There - was no excitement, no nervousness; just cool, methodical efficiency. - If the British lost heavily heaven only knows what the Germans must - have lost, because, as one of their wounded officers (whom the British - took prisoner) remarked, "We had never expected anything like it; it - was staggering." - - The British troops went to their positions silently but happily. There - was no singing, because that was forbidden, but as the khaki-clad - columns deployed and began to crawl to the trenches there were various - sallies of humour in the different dialects of English, Irish, and - Scottish counties. The Yorkshireman, for instance, would draw a - comparison between the men they were going to fight and certain dogs - that won't fight which the Yorkshire collier has not time to waste - upon at the pit-head; the Cockney soldier was there with his sallies - about "Uncle Bill," and every Irishman who went into the firing line - wished he had the money to buy a little Irish horse, so that he could - have a slap at the Uhlans. - - And the cavalry! Officers coming from the front declare that our - cavalrymen charged the much-vaunted German horsemen as Berserks might - have done. When they got into action with tunics open, and sometimes - without tunics at all, they flung themselves at the German horsemen in - a manner which surprised even their own officers, who had themselves - expected great things of them. The Uhlans, whose name and fearful fame - had spread terror among the Belgian peasants and the frontier villages - of France, were just the sort of men the British troopers were waiting - for. The Britishers, mostly Londoners, who, as Wellington said, make - the best cavalry soldiers in the world, were dying to have a cut at - them; and when they got into clinches the Uhlans had the surprise of - their lives. - - From the scene of battle, the point of interest in the European war - drama, as far as England is concerned, shifted in the small hours of - this morning to the railway station at X, where officers and men of - the Army Service Corps awaited the arrival of the wounded--the British - wounded from the firing line. Everything was perfectly organised; - there was no theatrical display; the officers and men of the British - army waited silently and calmly for the toll of war, which they had - been advised was on its way. - - The station at the time was crowded with Americans coming to England - from Paris after their release from Switzerland, and cheer after - cheer, in which the French in the station joined, echoed under the - arched roof. Britishers who were there felt very proud of their Empire - and their soldiers at that moment. The men who were waiting for the - wounded had not been in the first line of battle it was true--that was - not their job--but their work was probably the greatest of all. It was - for them to watch and wait, while every fibre of their inmost being - thrilled to the note of war; and yet to restrain their desires while - they practised that which the Iron Duke called the wonderful "two - o'clock in the morning" courage. So they waited in a draughty station - for their comrades, thrown back temporarily from the scene of action, - to fit them to return, if possible, immediately. - - While the crowd waited for the wounded, train after train rolled - slowly through carrying more of "our boys" to the active front. They - were sleeping in horse trucks alongside their equine friends; they - were sleeping in cattle wagons; yet they stood up when the cheering - reached their ears, looking fresh, fit, clean, and healthily British - from their service caps to their puttee straps. All young, all - full-blooded, all British; happy and eager to get at grips in what - is to them a holy war. And then, at the end, as the boat-train was - creeping out in the early morning, the wounded arrived. - - It was my privilege to witness, on the road between Boulogne and - Paris last Saturday, a scene as picturesque and deeply inspiring as a - page from Froissart. The two English Cardinals, Cardinal-Archbishop - Bourne and the Cardinal Abbot Gasquet, famed as an historian, had - left London to journey to the Conclave at Rome. On the line the train - in which they travelled was stopped, and by a curious chance a train - in which a regiment including in its ranks a large number of Irish - Catholics--these men, like the Plantagenets of old, wearing a sprig of - green in their head-dress--was drawn up for a moment alongside. - - The Cardinals, who, under their cassocks, wore the red of their - rank, stepped into the corridor, and, leaning out of a window, said - together, "May God bless you, my children." - - In an instant every Catholic soldier in the open trucks of the troop - train dropped to his knees to receive the Cardinals' blessing. It - appears, maybe, a simple affair, but in its spontaneity and sincerity, - its mingling of the spiritual with the grimly material, it was - eloquent and moving beyond the comprehension of those who only read - what others saw. - -On August 25th the Germans made a raid by Zeppelin airship on Antwerp -and dropped several bombs on the palace, the St. Elizabeth Hospital, -and other public buildings. Twelve persons were blown to pieces in -different parts of the city, and shots aimed at the airship proved -ineffectual. The same evening the Belgian Government gave out the -following official statement regarding the shocking atrocities -committed by the invading forces in various parts of the occupied -territory: - - In spite of solemn assurances of goodwill and long-standing treaty - obligations, Germany has made a sudden savage and utterly unwarranted - attack on Belgium. - - However sorely pressed she may be, Belgium will never fight unfairly - and never stoop to infringe the laws and customs of legitimate - warfare. She is putting up a brave fight against overwhelming odds, - she may be beaten, she may be crushed, but, to quote our noble King's - words, "she will never be enslaved." - - When German troops invaded our country, the Belgian Government issued - public statements which were placarded in every town, village, and - hamlet, warning all civilians to abstain scrupulously from hostile - acts against the enemy's troops. The Belgian Press daily published - similar notices broadcast through the land. Nevertheless, the German - authorities have issued lately statements containing grave imputations - against the attitude of the Belgian civilian population, threatening - us at the same time with dire reprisals. These imputations are - contrary to the real facts of the case, and as to threats of further - vengeance, no menace of odious reprisals on the part of the German - troops will deter the Belgian Government from protesting before the - civilised world against the fearful and atrocious crimes committed - wilfully and deliberately by the invading hosts against helpless - non-combatants, old men, women, and children. - -Long is the list of outrages committed by the German troops, and -appalling the details of atrocities, as vouched for by the Committee -of Inquiry recently formed by the Belgian Minister of Justice and -presided over by him. This committee comprises the highest judicial and -university authorities of Belgium, such as Chief Justice Van Iseghem, -Judge Nys, Professors Cottier, Wodon, etc. - -The following instances and particulars have been established by -careful investigations based in each case on the evidence of reliable -eye-witnesses: - -German cavalry occupying the village of Linsmeau were attacked by -some Belgian infantry and two gendarmes. A German officer was killed -by our troops during the fight and subsequently buried at the request -of the Belgian officer in command. No one of the civilian population -took part in the fighting at Linsmeau. Nevertheless, the village was -invaded at dusk on August 10th by a strong force of German cavalry, -artillery, and machine guns. In spite of the formal assurances given -by the Burgomaster of Linsmeau that none of the peasants had taken -part in the previous fight, two farms and six outlying houses were -destroyed by gun-fire and burnt. All the male inhabitants were then -compelled to come forward and hand over whatever arms they possessed. -No recently discharged firearms were found. Nevertheless, the invaders -divided these peasants into three groups, those in one group were bound -and eleven of them placed in a ditch, where they were afterwards found -dead, their skulls fractured by the butts of German rifles. - -During the night of August 10th, German cavalry entered Velm in great -numbers. The inhabitants were asleep. The Germans, without provocation, -fired on M. Deglimme-Gevers' house, broke into it, destroyed furniture, -looted money, burnt barns, hay and corn stacks, farm implements, -six oxen, and the contents of the farmyard. They carried off Madame -Deglimme, half-naked, to a place two miles away. She was then let go, -and was fired upon as she fled, without being hit. Her husband was -carried away in another direction, and fired upon. He is dying. The -same troops sacked and burned the house of a railway watchman. - -Farmer Jef Dierick, of Neerhespen, bears witness to the following acts -of cruelty committed by German cavalry at Orsmael and Neerhespen on -August 10th, 11th, and 12th: - -An old man of the latter village had his arm sliced in three -longitudinal cuts; he was then hanged head downwards and burned alive. -Young girls have been maltreated, and little children outraged at -Orsmael, where several inhabitants suffered mutilations too horrible -to describe. A Belgian soldier belonging to a battalion of cyclist -carabineers, who had been wounded and made prisoner, was hanged, whilst -another, who was tending his comrade, was bound to a telegraph pole on -the St. Trond road and shot. - -On Wednesday, August 12th, after an engagement at Haelen, Commandant -Van Damme, so severely wounded that he was lying prone on his back, was -finally murdered by German infantrymen firing their revolvers into his -mouth. - -On August 9th, at Orsmael, the Germans picked up Commandant Knapen, -very seriously wounded, propped him up against a tree, and shot him. -Finally they hacked his corpse with swords. - -In different places, notably at Hollogne sur Geer, Barchon, Pontisse, -Haelen, and Zelck, German troops have fired on doctors, ambulance -bearers, ambulances, and ambulance wagons carrying a Red Cross. - -At Boncelles a body of German troops marched into battle carrying a -Belgian flag. - -On Thursday, August 6th, before a fort at Liège, German soldiers -continued to fire on a party of Belgian soldiers (who were unarmed, and -had been surrounded while digging a trench) after these had hoisted the -white flag. - -On the same day, at Vottem, near the fort of Loncin, a group of German -infantry hoisted the white flag. When Belgian soldiers approached to -take them prisoners the Germans suddenly opened fire on them at close -range. - -Harrowing reports of German savagery at Aerschot have reached the -Belgian Government at Antwerp from official local sources. Thus on -Tuesday, August 18th, the Belgian troops occupying a position in front -of Aerschot received orders to retire without engaging the enemy. A -small force was left behind to cover the retreat. This force resisted -valiantly against overwhelming German forces, and inflicted serious -losses on them. Meanwhile practically the whole civilian population of -Aerschot, terrorised by the atrocities committed by the Germans in the -neighbouring villages, had fled from the town. - -Next day, Wednesday, August 19th, German troops entered Aerschot -without a shot having been fired from the town and without any -resistance whatever having been made. The few inhabitants that remained -had closed their doors and windows in compliance with the general -orders issued by the Belgian Government. Nevertheless the Germans -broke into the houses and told the inhabitants to quit. - -In one single street the first six male inhabitants who crossed their -thresholds were seized and shot at once under the very eyes of their -wives and children. The German troops then retired for the day, only to -return in greater numbers on the next day, Thursday, August 20th. - -They then compelled the inhabitants to leave their houses and marched -them to a place 200 yards from the town. There, without more ado, they -shot M. Thielmans, the Burgomaster, his fifteen-year-old son, the clerk -of the Local Judicial Board, and ten prominent citizens. They then set -fire to the town and destroyed it. - -The following statement was made by Commandant Georges Gilson, of the -9th Infantry of the Line, now lying in hospital at Antwerp: - - I was told to cover the retreat of our troops in front of Aerschot. - During the action fought there on Wednesday, August 19th, between six - and eight o'clock in the morning, suddenly I saw on the high road, - between the German and Belgian forces, which were fighting at close - range, a group of four women, with babies in their arms, and two - little girls clinging to their skirts. Our men stopped firing till - the women got through our lines, but the German machine guns went - on firing all the time, and one of the women was wounded in the arm. - These women could not have got through the neighbouring German lines - and been on the high road unless with the consent of the enemy. - - All the evidence and circumstances seem to point to the fact that - those women had been deliberately pushed forward by the Germans to act - as a shield for their advance guard, and in the hope that the Belgians - would cease firing for fear of killing the women and children. - -This statement was made and duly certified in the Antwerp Hospital on -August 22nd by Commandant Gilson, in the presence of the Chevalier -Ernst N. Bunswyck, Chief Secretary to the Belgian Minister of Justice, -and M. de Cartier de Marchienne, Belgian Minister to China. - -Further German atrocities are continuously being brought to notice -and made the subject of official and expert inquiry by the proper -authorities. - - * * * * * - -In issuing the above statements to the English Press, the only comment -the Press Bureau could offer was that these atrocities appeared to -be committed in villages and throughout the country side with the -deliberate intention of terrorising the people, and so making it -unnecessary to leave troops in occupation of small places or to protect -lines of communication. In large places like Brussels, where the -diplomatic representatives of neutral Powers are eye-witnesses, there -appeared to have been no excesses. - -When Parliament met on August 25th, after a short adjournment, Lord -Kitchener, Minister for War, gave the following account of the -situation in the House of Lords: - - As this is the first time that I have had the honour of addressing - your lordships, I must ask for the indulgence of the House. In the - first place I desire to make a personal statement. Noble lords on both - sides of the House doubtless know that, while associating myself in - the fullest degree for the prosecution of the war with my colleagues - in His Majesty's Government, my position on this Bench does not in any - way imply that I belong to any political party, for as a soldier I - have no politics. - - Another point is that my occupation of the post of Secretary of State - for War is a temporary one. The terms of my service are the same as - those under which some of the finest portions of our manhood, now so - willingly stepping forward to join the colours, are engaging. That is - to say for the war; or if it lasts longer, then for three years. - - It has been asked why the latter limit has been fixed. It is because - should this disastrous war be prolonged--and no one can foretell with - any certainty its duration--then, after three years' war, there will - be others, fresh and fully prepared, to take our places and see this - matter through. - - The very serious conflict in which we are now engaged on the Continent - has been none of our seeking. It will undoubtedly strain the resources - of our Empire and entail considerable sacrifices on our people. These - will be willingly borne for our honour and the preservation of our - position in the world, and will be shared by our dominions beyond the - seas, now sending contingents and assistance of every kind to help the - Mother Country in this struggle. - - If I am unable, owing to military consideration for the best interests - of the allied armies in the field, to speak with much detail on - the present situation of our army on the Continent, I am sure your - lordships will pardon me for the necessary restraint which is imposed - upon me. - - The Expeditionary Force has taken the field on the French north-west - frontier, and has advanced to the neighbourhood of Mons, in Belgium. - Our troops have already been for thirty-six hours in contact with - a superior force of German invaders. During that time they have - maintained the traditions of British soldiers, and have behaved with - the utmost gallantry. The movements which they have been called upon - to execute have been those which demand the greatest steadiness in the - soldiers, and skill in their commanders. Sir John French telegraphed - to me at midnight, as follows: - - "In spite of hard marching and fighting, the British force is in the - best of spirits." - -I replied: - - "Congratulate troops on their splendid work. We are all proud of them." - -As your lordships are aware, European fighting causes greater -casualties than the campaigns in which we are generally engaged in -other parts of the world. The nation will, I am sure, be fully prepared -to meet whatever losses and sacrifices we may have to make in this -war. Sir John French, without having been able to verify the numbers, -estimates the loss since the commencement of active operations at -rather more than 2,000 men _hors-de-combat_. - -As to the work of the last few weeks, I have to remark that when war -was declared, mobilisation took place without any hitch whatever, and -our Expeditionary Force proved itself wholly efficient, well equipped, -and immediately ready to take the field. - -The Press and the public have, in their respective spheres, lent -invaluable aid to the Government in preserving a discreet silence, -which the exigencies of the situation obviously demanded, and I -gladly take this opportunity of bearing testimony to the value of -their co-operation. The hands of the military authorities were also -strengthened by the readiness with which the civilian community faced -and accepted the novel situation created by the issue of requisitions -for horses, transport, supplies and billets. - -The railway companies, in the all-important matter of the transport -facilities, have more than justified the complete confidence reposed in -them by the War Office, all grades of railway services having laboured -with untiring energy and patience. And it is well to repeat that the -conveyance of our troops across the Channel was accomplished, thanks to -the cordial co-operation of the Admiralty, with perfect smoothness and -without any untoward incident whatever. - -We know how deeply the French people appreciate the value of the prompt -assistance we have been able to afford them at the very outset of the -war, and it is obvious that not only the moral but the material support -our troops are now rendering must prove to be a factor of high military -significance in restricting the sphere and determining the duration of -hostilities. - -Had the conditions of strategy permitted, everyone in this country -would have rejoiced to see us ranged alongside the gallant Belgian -army in that superb struggle against desperate odds which has just -been witnessed. But, although this privilege was perforce denied to -us, Belgium knows of our sympathy with her in her sufferings, of our -indignation at the blows which have been inflicted on her, and also of -our resolution to make sure that in the end her sacrifices will not -have been unavailing. - -While other countries engaged in this war have under a system of -compulsory service brought their full resources of men into the field, -we, under our national system, have not done so, and can, therefore, -still point to a vast reserve drawn from the resources both of the -Mother Country and of the British Dominions across the Seas. - -The response which has already been made by the great Dominions, -abundantly proves that we did not look in vain to these sources -of military strength, and while India, Canada, Australia, and New -Zealand are all sending us powerful contingents, in this country the -Territorials are replying with loyalty to the stern call of duty which -has come to them with such exceptional force. - -Over seventy battalions have, with fine patriotism, already -volunteered for service abroad, and when trained and organised in the -larger formations, will be able to take their places in the line. - -The 100,000 recruits for which, in the first place, it has been thought -necessary to call, have been already practically secured. This force -will be trained and organised in divisions similar to those which are -now serving on the Continent. - -Behind these we have our Reserves. The Special Reserve and the National -Reserve have each their own part to play in the organisation of our -national defence. - -The Empires with whom we are at war have called to the colours -almost their entire male population. The principle we, on our part, -shall observe, is this, that while their maximum force undergoes a -constant diminution, the reinforcements we prepare shall steadily and -increasingly flow out, until we have an army in the field which in -numbers, not less than in quality, will not be unworthy of the power -and responsibilities of the British Empire. - -I cannot, at this stage, say what will be the limits of the forces -required, or what measures may eventually become necessary to supply -and maintain them. The scale of the Field Army which we are now calling -into being is large and may rise in the course of the next six or -seven months to a total of thirty divisions continually maintained in -the field. But if the war should be protracted, and if its fortunes -should be varied or adverse, exertions and sacrifices beyond any which -have been demanded will be required from the whole nation and Empire, -and where they are required we are sure they will not be denied to the -extreme needs of the State by Parliament or the people. - - - - -THE CASE FOR BELGIUM - - -It has been sought in the preceding chapters to give as detailed a -description as the information at our disposal will allow of the -fighting in the North--_i.e._ the struggle for Liège and Namur, and -the subsequent series of closely-contested battles from Tirlemont to -Mons. The case for the Belgian people, and an account of the sufferings -which had to be endured by a peaceful, non-combatant population, will -be found mentioned also in the course of the narrative. The diplomatic -case for Belgium has already been given to the public in another volume -of this series ("How the War Began"); but the details of this case, and -the reasons why this country is taking part in the war, have been so -well summed up by Mr. Asquith that a few extracts from his speech are -necessary to make this volume complete. - -The first of a series of meetings to bring home to the people of -England the vital importance of the questions at issue was held in the -Guildhall on Friday, September 4th; and the speakers included the -Prime Minister, Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Balfour. In the -course of his remarks Mr. Asquith referred to the Arbitration Treaty -between Great Britain and the United States, which he mentioned at a -previous Guildhall meeting some three and a-half years previously. "We -were very confident three years ago in the rightness of our position," -he said. "We are equally confident to-day, when reluctantly and against -our will, but with a clear judgment and with a clean conscience we find -ourselves involved with the whole strength of this Empire in a bloody -arbitrament between Might and Right." - -Mr. Asquith continued: - - The issue has passed out of the domain of argument into another field, - but let me ask you, and through you the world outside, what would have - been our condition as a nation to-day, if we had been base enough, - through timidity, or through a perverted calculation of self-interest, - or through a paralysis of the sense of honour and duty, if we had been - base enough to be false to our word and faithless to our friends? - - Our eyes would have been turned at this moment, with those of the - whole civilised world, to Belgium, a small State, which has lived for - more than seventy years under the several and collective guarantee - to which we, in common with Prussia and Austria, were parties; and - we should have seen, at the instance and by the action of two of - these guaranteeing Powers, her neutrality violated, her independence - strangled, her territory made use of as affording the easiest and most - convenient road to a war of unprovoked aggression against France. - - We, the British people, would at this moment have been standing by - with folded arms, and with such countenance as we could command, while - this small and unprotected State, in defence of her vital liberties, - made an heroic stand against overweening and overwhelming force. We - should have been admiring, as detached spectators, the siege of Liège, - the steady and manful resistance of their small army; the occupation - of their capital, with its splendid traditions and memories; the - gradual forcing back of their patriotic defenders of their native - land to the ramparts of Antwerp; countless outrages suffered through - buccaneering levies exacted from the unoffending civil population, - and finally, the greatest crime committed against civilisation - and culture since the Thirty Years' War--the sack of Louvain and - its buildings, its pictures, its unique library, its unrivalled - associations--shameless holocaust of irreplaceable treasures, lit up - by blind barbarian vengeance. - - What account should we, the Government and the people of this - country, have been able to render to the tribunal of our national - conscience and sense of honour if, in defiance of our plighted and - solemn obligations, we had endured, if we had not done our best to - prevent--yes, and to avenge--these intolerable outrages? - - For my part I say that sooner than be a silent witness, which means - in effect a willing accomplice, of this tragic triumph of force over - law, and of brutality over freedom, I would see this country of ours - blotted out of the page of history. - -Several German newspapers, distorting the facts of the case with -remarkable disingenuousness, had roundly asserted that England had -chosen to take part in the war for purely materialistic reasons, and -that this country was not so anxious to vindicate the principle of -Belgian neutrality as to secure the oversea trade of the German Empire. -Even if Mr. Asquith had not spoken on the subject at all, it would have -been realised sooner or later that there was no foundation for this -assertion; for it was hardly likely, if we had had only this object in -view, that a community of practical business men would have tolerated -the enormous sacrifice of life and money involved in attempting by war -to displace German exports to European and non-European countries. - -As this argument was advanced with such persistence in the German -Press, it may be worth while dwelling on it for a moment. The total -value of the German export trade for 1913 was just over £495,000,000, -and of our own export trade £635,000,000. With many German products, -such as dyes, and certain chemical and electrical goods, this country -has never been able to compete. At the beginning of the war, for -example, when the German coast had been blockaded by our Fleet, we -should have been compelled to spend millions of pounds in order to -experiment with, and later on to manufacture, aniline dyes analogous to -those produced in Germany. The same remark applies to many classes of -electrical goods. Millions would have had to be spent on experiments -before we began to manufacture the products, assuming--in many cases -a large assumption--the success of the experiments. This, too, at a -time when money was notoriously scarce, when accommodation could not -be obtained from the banks, and when the Government had just announced -that it wanted a hundred millions sterling as a first instalment of war -expenses. - -Apart from this, even if we had thought of capturing Germany's export -trade, or a large part of it, it was clear that other nations had -conceived the same notion and were getting ready to act upon it. -Japanese merchants, for instance, had their eyes fixed on the markets -of China, and manufacturers in the United States had been showing, -even before the war, a deep interest in South America. Is it likely, -in these circumstances, that a nation such as this would have seen -at least half a million men withdrawn from productive work, and the -expenditure of millions of money, purely for the sake of competing -with the United States and Japan in foreign markets?--always realising -that the war must end some time, that Germany must once more begin to -manufacture, and that competition would be as severe as ever in less -than a decade? No; if we can capture some of Germany's export trade, -that will be a mere incidental in the struggle for national existence, -and the profits represented thereby will but ill balance the lives and -money which will have to be sacrificed in the meantime. - -Fortunately, Mr. Asquith took the opportunity, when speaking at -the Guildhall, to make it clear that Great Britain and the British -Dominions were not actuated by materialistic aims in entering upon the -greatest campaign in history. There was something to be considered -besides profits. Having referred to the sacking of Louvain, Mr. Asquith -went on to say: - - That is only a phase--a lurid and illuminating phase--in the contest - in which we have been called, by the mandate of duty and of honour, - to bear our part. The cynical violation of the neutrality of Belgium - was, after all, but a step--a first step--in a deliberate policy of - which, if not the immediate, the ultimate and the not far-distant aim - was to crush the independence and the autonomy of the Free States of - Europe. First Belgium, then Holland and Switzerland--countries, like - our own, imbued and sustained with the spirit of liberty--were one - after another to be bent to the yoke; and these ambitions were fed and - fostered by a body of new doctrines, a new philosophy, preached by - professors and learned men. - - Free and full self-development, which to these small States, to - ourselves, to our great and growing Dominions over the seas, to our - kinsmen across the Atlantic, is the well-spring and life-breath of - national existence--that free self-development is the one capital - offence in the code of those who have made force their supreme - divinity, and upon its altars are prepared to sacrifice both the - gathered fruits and the potential germs of the unfettered human - spirit. I use this language advisedly. - - This is not merely a material; it is also a spiritual conflict. Upon - its issue everything that contains promise and hope, that leads to - emancipation, and a fuller liberty for the millions who make up the - mass of mankind, will be found sooner or later to depend. - -The Prime Minister proceeded to combat the absurd suggestions that the -Anglo-French Agreement of 1904, and the Anglo-Russian Agreement of -1907, were likely to prove a menace to the German Empire: - - Let me now just for a moment turn to the actual situation in Europe. - How do we stand? For the last ten years, by what I believe to be happy - and well-considered diplomatic arrangements, we have established - friendly and increasingly intimate relations with the two Powers, - France and Russia, with whom in days gone by we have had, in various - parts of the world, occasions for constant friction, and now and again - for possible conflict. Those new and better relations, based in the - first instance upon business principles of give-and-take, have matured - into a settled temper of confidence and goodwill. They were never in - any sense or at any time, as I have frequently said in this hall, - directed against other Powers. - - No man in the history of the world has ever laboured more strenuously - or more successfully than my right honourable friend, Sir Edward Grey, - for that which is the supreme interest of the modern world--a general - and abiding peace. It is, I venture to think, a very superficial - criticism which suggests that, under his guidance, the policy of this - country has ignored, still less that it has counteracted and hampered, - the Concert of Europe. It is little more than a year ago that under - his presidency, in the stress and strain of the Balkan crisis, the - Ambassadors of all the Great Powers met here day after day, curtailing - the area of possible differences, reconciling warring ambitions and - aims, and preserving, against almost incalculable odds, the general - harmony. - - And it was in the same spirit, and with the same purpose, when a - few weeks ago Austria delivered her ultimatum to Servia, that the - Foreign Secretary--for it was he--put forward the proposal for a - mediating Conference between the four Powers who were not directly - concerned--Germany, France, Italy, and ourselves. If that proposal had - been accepted actual controversy would have been settled with honour - to everybody, and the whole of this terrible welter would have been - avoided. - - With whom does the responsibility rest for its refusal and for all - the illimitable suffering which now confronts the world? One Power, - and one Power only, and that Power is Germany. That is the fount and - origin of this world-wide catastrophe. - - We are persevering to the end. No one who has not been confronted, as - we were, with the responsibility of determining the issues of peace - and war can realise the strength and energy and persistency with - which we laboured for peace. We persevered by every expedient that - diplomacy could suggest, straining almost to the breaking point our - most cherished friendships and obligations, even to the last making - effort upon effort, and hoping against hope. Then, and only then, - when we were at last compelled to realise that the choice lay between - honour and dishonour, between treachery and good faith--when we at - last reached the dividing line which makes or mars a nation worthy of - the name, it was then, and then only, that we declared for war. - - Is there anyone in this hall, or in this United Kingdom, or in the - vast Empire of which we here stand in the capital and centre, who - blames or repents our decision? (Cries of "No!") For these reasons, - as I believe, we must steel ourselves to the task, and in the - spirit which animated our forefathers in their struggle against the - domination of Napoleon, we must, and we shall, persevere to the end. - -At the Guildhall, as in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister -referred to the noble example shown by the Belgian people in summoning -all their available forces to repel the aggression of a Power which had -been presumed to be friendly. He said: - - It would be a criminal mistake to under-estimate either the magnitude, - the fighting quality, or the staying power of the forces which are - arrayed against us. But it would be equally foolish and equally - indefensible to belittle our own resources whether for resistance - or attack. (Cheers.) Belgium has shown us by a memorable and a - glorious example what can be done by a relatively small State when - its citizens are animated and fired by the spirit of patriotism. In - France and Russia we have as allies two of the greatest Powers of the - world engaged with us in a common cause, who do not mean to separate - themselves from us any more than we mean to separate ourselves from - them, (Cheers.) - -Having paid this tribute--how well deserved it was, and to what a -remarkable extent the German check at Liège influenced the subsequent -developments of the campaign, the world is now beginning to -realize--Mr. Asquith paid an equally warranted tribute to our own Fleet: - - We have upon the seas the strongest and most magnificent Fleet which - has ever been seen. The Expeditionary Force which left our shores - less than a month ago has never been surpassed, as its glorious - achievements in the field have already made clear, not only in - material and equipment, but in the physical and the moral quality of - its constituents. - - As regards the Navy, I am sure my right honourable friend (Mr. - Winston Churchill) will tell you there is happily little more to be - done. I do not flatter it when I say that its superiority is equally - marked in every department and sphere of its activity. We rely on - it with the most absolute confidence, not only to guard our shores - against the possibility of invasion, not only to seal up the gigantic - battleships of the enemy in the inglorious seclusion of their own - ports, whence from time to time he furtively steals forth to sow the - seeds of murderous snares which are more full of menace to neutral - ships than to the British Fleet--our Navy does all this, and while it - is thirsting, I do not doubt, for that trial of strength in a fair and - open fight which is so far prudently denied it, it does a great deal - more. - - It has hunted the German mercantile marine from the high seas. It has - kept open our own sources of food supply and largely curtailed those - of the enemy, and when the few German cruisers which still infest - the more distant ocean routes have been disposed of, as they will be - very soon, it will achieve for British and neutral commerce passing - backwards and forwards from and to every part of our Empire a security - as complete as it has ever enjoyed in the days of unbroken peace. Let - us honour the memory of the gallant seamen who in the pursuit of one - or another of these varied and responsible duties have already laid - down their lives for their country. - -As not the least important object of the Guildhall meeting was to -stimulate recruiting, Mr. Asquith naturally referred to the army and -its work. At a very early stage in the war both Germany and France -had called up practically their last available man. Indeed, so hard -pressed did the German Empire find itself after five weeks' fighting -that arrangements, it was officially announced, were made for giving -instruction in rifle shooting to boys aged from sixteen to nineteen. -It was not, of course, intended that these lads should at once take -an active part in the fighting: but it was assumed that by the time -they reached their military age they would be familiar with the use of -weapons and more or less adequately drilled. Retired officers who were -too old to take part in the campaign were ordered to take the boys in -hand. - -To remedy the inevitable wastage in the French Army, as well as in -our own Expeditionary Force--which, a few days before Mr. Asquith's -speech, had already fought gallantly and lost some 14,000 men at -Mons and Charleroi--it was desired that armies should be raised in -England, trained, and sent out to the fighting line as required. For -this purpose Lord Kitchener had intimated that at least 500,000 men -would be required, and calls were made for 100,000 men at a time. The -oversea Dominions, and, above all, India--where the German Government -had vainly tried to bring about a disloyal outbreak--hastened to come -forward with offers of men; but all this did not relieve the home -country of its responsibility. Speaking on this subject, Mr. Asquith -said: - - In regard to the Army, there is call for a new, a continuous, a - determined, and a united effort. For, as the war goes on, we shall - have not merely to replace the wastage caused by casualties, not - merely to maintain our military power at its original level, but we - must, if we are to play a worthy part, enlarge its scale, increase - its numbers, and multiply many times its effectiveness as a fighting - instrument. The object of the appeal which I have made to you, my Lord - Mayor, and to the other Chief Magistrates of our capital cities, is to - impress upon the people of the United Kingdom the imperious urgency of - this supreme duty. - - Our self-governing Dominions throughout the Empire, without any - solicitation on our part, demonstrated, with a spontaneousness and - a unanimity unparalled in history, their determination to affirm - their brotherhood with us, and to make our cause their own. From - Canada, from Australia, from New Zealand, from South Africa, and from - Newfoundland the children of the Empire assert, not as an obligation - but as a privilege, their right and their willingness to contribute - money, material, and, what is better than all, the strength and - sinews, the fortunes, and the lives of their best manhood. - - India, too, with no less alacrity has claimed her share in the common - task. Every class and creed, British and natives, Princes and people, - Hindus and Mahommedans, vie with one another in noble and emulous - rivalry. Two divisions of our magnificent Indian Army are already on - their way. We welcome with appreciation and affection their proffered - aid. In an Empire which knows no distinction of race or cause we all - alike, as subjects of the King-Emperor, are joint and equal custodians - of our common interests and fortunes. We are here to hail with - profound and heartfelt gratitude their association, side by side and - shoulder to shoulder, with our home and Dominion troops, under the - flag which is the symbol to all of a unity that a world in arms cannot - dissever or dissolve. - - With these inspiring appeals and examples from our fellow-subjects all - over the world what are we doing, and what ought we to do here at home? - - Mobilisation was ordered on August 4th. Immediately afterwards Lord - Kitchener issued his call for 100,000 recruits for the Regular Army, - which has been followed by a second call for another 100,000. The - response up to to-day gives us between 250,000 to 300,000. I am glad - to say that London has done its share. The total number of Londoners - accepted is not less than 42,000. - - I need hardly say that that appeal involves no disparagement or - discouragement of the Territorial Force. The number of units in that - force who have volunteered for foreign service is most satisfactory - and grows every day. We look to them with confidence to increase their - numbers, to perfect their organisation and training, and to play - efficiently the part which has always been assigned to them, both - offensive and defensive, in the military system of the Empire. - - But to go back to the expansion to the Regular Army. We want more - men--men of the best fighting quality--and if for a moment the number - who offer themselves and are accepted should prove to be in excess of - those who can at once be adequately trained and equipped, do not let - them doubt that prompt provision will be made for the incorporation - of all willing and able men in the fighting forces of the kingdom. We - want first of all men, and we shall endeavour to secure them, and men - desiring to serve together shall, wherever possible, be allotted to - the same regiment or corps. The raising of battalions by counties or - municipalities with this object will be in every way encouraged. - - But we want not less urgently a larger supply of ex-non-commissioned - officers, and the pick of the men with whom in past days they served, - men, therefore, whom in most cases we shall be asking to give up - regular employment and to return to the work of the State, which they - alone are competent to do. The appeal we make is addressed quite as - much to their employers as to the men themselves. The men ought to be - absolutely assured of reinstatement in their business at the end of - the war. Finally, there are numbers of commissioned officers now in - retirement, who are much experienced in the handling of troops and - have served their country in the past. Let them come forward, too, and - show their willingness, if need be, to train bodies of men for whom - at the moment no cadre or unit can be found. - -Mr. Asquith concluded one of the most eloquent speeches he had ever -delivered with a warning to the optimists who had predicted a too easy -task for the allied forces, and recommended those present--and, through -them, the British Empire generally--to cultivate the virtue of patience: - - I have little more to say. Of the actual progress of the war I will - not say anything, except that, in my judgment, in whatever direction - we look there is abundant ground for pride and for confidence. I say - nothing more, because I think we should all bear in mind that we are - at present watching the fluctuations of fortune only in the early - stages of what is going to be a protracted struggle. We must learn to - take long views, and to cultivate, above all other faculties, those of - patience, endurance, and steadfastness. - - Meanwhile, let us go, each of us, to his or her appropriate place - in the great common task. Never had a people more or richer sources - of encouragement and inspiration. Let us realise first of all - that we are fighting as a united Empire in a cause worthy of the - highest traditions of our race; let us keep in mind the patient and - indomitable seamen, who never relax for a moment, night or day, their - stern vigil of the lonely sea; let us keep in mind our gallant - troops, who to-day, after a fortnight's continuous fighting, under - conditions which would try the mettle of the best army that ever took - the field, maintain not only an undefeated, but an unbroken front. - - Finally, let us recall the memories of the great men and the great - deeds of the past, commemorated, some of them, in the monuments which - we see around us on these walls; nor forgetting the dying message of - the younger Pitt, his last public utterance, made at the table of one - of your predecessors, my Lord Mayor, in this very hall: England has - saved herself by her exertions, and will, as I trust, save Europe by - her example. - - The England of those days gave a noble answer to his appeal, and did - not sheath the sword until after nearly twenty years of fighting the - freedom of Europe was secured. Let us go and do likewise. - -As the published documents now at our disposal sufficiently show, the -German Government matured its preparations for the greatest war in -history in what they believed to be the certain hope that Great Britain -would not intervene. It was fully believed at Berlin that our domestic -differences would prevent any designs at helping Belgium which the -Government here might wish to carry out. The sudden change in national -feeling, which reconciled political opponents like Sir Edward Carson -and Mr. John Redmond, or Mr. Asquith and Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Winston -Churchill and Lord Charles Beresford, could not be comprehended on -the other side of the North Sea, and completely upset the plans of -the German Government. This loyalty to the nation, taking the place -of loyalty to party at a time of national emergency, was demonstrated -in the House of Commons as soon as the crisis became acute. At the -Guildhall, too, Mr. Bonar Law once more proved how ready the Opposition -were to sink their differences with the Government, and to support -the Liberal Ministry in its endeavours to bring the campaign to an -honourable conclusion. - -When Mr. Asquith, after an enthusiastic burst of applause, had sat -down, Mr. Bonar Law rose, amid an equally enthusiastic demonstration of -welcome, and said: - - It would, indeed, be impossible for me to add anything to the force - of the appeal which has just been addressed by the Prime Minister - to our people. But I am glad to be here as representing one of our - great political parties in order to show clearly that in this supreme - struggle, and in everything connected with it until it is brought to - a triumphant close, the head of our Government must speak not as the - leader of a party but as the mouthpiece of a nation. - - We are a peace-loving people, but never, I believe, in our history has - the whole nation been so convinced as it is to-day that the cause for - which we are fighting is righteous and just. We strove for peace by - all means up to the last moment, but when, in spite of our efforts, - war came, we could not stand aside. The honour and the interests of - Great Britain-and believe me, they go together--alike forbade it. It - was inevitable that we must be drawn into this world struggle, and the - only question was whether we should enter it honourably or be dragged - into it with dishonour. - - This war is a great crime--one of the greatest in history. But it is - a crime in which as a nation we have no share. Now, as always, for - nearly a generation, the key of peace or war was in Berlin. The head - of the German Government had but to whisper the word "Peace," and - there would have been no war. He did not speak that word. He drew the - sword, and may the accursed system for which he stands perish by the - sword! - - War has come, and we are fighting for our life as truly as Belgium or - France, where the tide of battle, with all its horrors, is rolling on. - As Cromwell said of his Ironsides we can say with equal truth to-day: - "We know what we are fighting for, and we love what we know." - - We are fighting for our national existence, for everything which - nations have always held most dear. But we are fighting for something - more--we are fighting for the moral forces of humanity. We are - fighting for respect for public law, and for the right of public - justice, which are the foundation of civilisation. We are fighting, as - the Prime Minister has said, for Right against Might. I do not attempt - what Burke has declared to be impossible--to draw up an indictment - against a whole people--but this I do say, that the German nation has - allowed itself to be organised as a military machine which recognises - no law except the law of force, which knows no right except the right - of the strongest. It is against that we are fighting to-day. - - The spirit in which this war was entered into was shown clearly in the - words addressed to our Ambassador at Berlin by the German Chancellor. - "You are going to war," he said, "for a scrap of paper." (Cries of - "Shame!") - - Yes, but a "scrap of paper" with which was bound up the solemn - obligation, and with that obligation the honour, of a great nation--a - "scrap of paper" in which was involved also the right to independence, - to liberty, the right even of existence, of all the small nations of - the world. It is for that "scrap of paper" that the Belgian soldiers - have fought and died, that the Belgian people, by what they have done, - and by what they have endured, have won for themselves immortal fame. - It is for that "scrap of paper," and all that it means, that we, too, - have already watered with the blood of our sons the fair fields of - France, and for which we shall conquer or perish. - -Like Mr. Asquith, Mr. Bonar Law emphasised the fact that the war was a -spiritual and not a materialistic conflict; and he denounced in no less -vigorous terms the atrocities which had been perpetrated by the German -Army on its way through a friendly country. After his reference to the -"scrap of paper," he went on to say: - - The words which I have quoted show not merely the spirit in which the - war was entered into, but the spirit in which it is being conducted - to-day. When reports first reached us of German atrocities in Belgium - I hoped for the sake of our common humanity that they were untrue, - or at least exaggerated. We can entertain that hope no longer. The - destruction of Louvain has proclaimed to the world in trumpet tones - what German methods are. It has fixed upon German honour an indelible - stain, and the explanations which it has been attempted to give of it - have only made that stain the deeper. - - War at the best is terrible. It is not from the ordinary soldier, - it is not from below, that restraint can be expected. It must come, - if it come at all, from above. But here the outrages have come not - from below but from above. They are not the result of accident, but - of design. They are part of a principle--the principle by any means, - at any expense of the lives of defenceless men or helpless women and - children, to spread terror in the country and to facilitate the German - arms. This is a moral and a spiritual conflict. Believe me, in the - long run, the moral and the spiritual are stronger than the material - forces. - - The object of this meeting, and of the speech to which we have just - listened, is to appeal to the manhood of our country to rally once - again round the old flag. That appeal will not be made, is not being - made, in vain. Our people had only to realise, as at first they did - not quite realise, what were the issues at stake to come forward with - all the spirit of their fathers. That lesson is being driven home now - by influences stronger far than any speeches. It is being taught by - the heroic steadfastness of the Belgian people. It is being taught now - by the knowledge that but for the close shield of the Navy--the shield - which if we fail to conquer cannot save us--our fate to-day would be - the fate of Belgium. It is being taught, above all by the accounts, - meagre though they are, of what has been done by our soldiers on the - field of battle. With that mistaken estimate of themselves and of - others, which is one of the explanations of this war, the Germans, - before and after the outbreak, have spoken of us as a decadent nation. - Do they say that to-day? - - Let the long-drawn-out fight that began at Mons give the answer. There - our troops, pitted against the choicest bodies of the German army, - outnumbered by nearly three to one as I believe, were undefeated and - unbroken. When the story of that fight comes to be written, it is my - belief that it will form as glorious a page as is to be found in the - whole annals of our history. The men will come. - - There is no doubt of that. Everywhere I find the same spirit. Everyone - is asking, "What can I do to help my country?" The men will come. - - There is one thing more only which I should like to say. Many of those - whom I am addressing are, like the Prime Minister and myself, unable - to take our place in the fighting line. It is not right, it is not - fair, that we should make an appeal for sacrifices to the patriotism - of those only who are able and willing to fight our battles. An equal - sacrifice is demanded of those who remain behind. Let us not as a - Government merely, but as a nation, realise our obligation and make - a vow and keep it, that no dependent of any man who is fighting our - battles shall go hungry while we have bread to eat. And let us realise - also, as we have not always realised in the past, that our soldiers - are the children of the State, and that they have the first claim upon - the resources of our nation. - -When Mr. Balfour had supported the leader of the Unionist party there -were loud calls for Mr. Churchill, who made a very brief but pointed -speech on the Navy and its work: - - My Lord Mayor and Citizens of London,--You may rely with good - confidence upon the strength and efficiency of our naval defence. - That defence will enable you to live and to work and draw the means - of life and power from the utmost ends of the earth. It will give you - the time, it will give you the means to create the powerful military - force which this country must wield before this trouble is brought to - its conclusion. - - Certain I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer. - - You have only to persevere to save yourselves and to save all those - who rely upon us. You have only to go right on, and at the end of the - road, be it short or be it long, victory and honour will be found. - -_Apropos_ of the German atrocities at Liège, the brutal character of -the German troops, and Mr. Bonar Law's reference to the fact that the -outrages were instigated from above and were not to be blamed wholly -on the soldiers themselves, a word may be added regarding one or two -philosophical misconceptions which have arisen as to the origin of -this modern trait in the character of the German people. It is often -asserted that the philosophy of Nietzsche has been responsible for not -merely encouraging but developing the German belief in physical power -and brute force; and amid the host of "professors," on whom blame is -cast for urging on the Teuton to develop his country at the expense of -his neighbours, Nietzsche has frequently been singled out for special -mention as a man in whose works the Kaiser has always taken an especial -interest. - -This belief is quite erroneous. Nietzsche, who poked bitter fun at the -clumsiness and stupidity of his countrymen, who cracked jokes over the -musicians and philosophers most dear to the German heart, and who, -before all else, repudiated Prussianism lock, stock, and barrel, was -certainly not a writer likely to appeal to the Kaiser or to any of the -makers of modern Germany. The reader cannot fail to be impressed by -the striking fact that the "professors" who have written in support -of German development have one and all disclaimed any connection with -Nietzsche or his teachings. The thinker who is really responsible, even -more so than Treitschke, for Germany's attempt to burst her confines -and to increase her possessions, is a man of a very different order. - -A year or two ago there appeared the English translation of a book -by Houston Stewart Chamberlain, "The Foundations of the Nineteenth -Century." This was a book dealing generally, in so far as a connected -thread ran through it, with racial problems, and the author's -admiration for the Teutonic race was expressed without limits. -Chamberlain came of English stock, but he developed German sympathies, -lived in Germany, and wrote in German. For the Aryans, gradually -turned into the Teutons and modern Germans, Chamberlain claimed all -the virtues of mankind; and his net was spread wide. The Founder of -the Christian Church was of Teutonic stock, according to the teachings -of the Chamberlain school; and so was Dante. The Latin races, on the -contrary, were held to be decadent--it was only a matter of time before -they would have to disappear and make way for the strong, virile race -from the North. - -This book created a profound impression at the time of its publication -in Germany--and in German, although the author had been an Englishman. -It was read widely in Court circles, by the "professors," and by -military men. It was brought to the notice of the Kaiser, who ordered -several hundred copies to be sent to him. These--the number was said to -be as many as eight or nine hundred--were distributed, by the Imperial -command, to heads of schools, burgomasters, and the like, throughout -the length and breadth of the German Empire. To the views of the -Chamberlain school Nietzsche was unalterably opposed; and his choicest -fulminations were directed against the group of thinkers who wrote with -unstinted admiration of the Teutonic race. To use his own expression, -the victories of 1870-1871 had given the Germans an inflated conception -of their own importance in the world, and the material wealth that -accrued to them during the next two decades ruined completely the old -German philosophy and culture which had been the pride and hope of such -men as Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, and Schopenhauer. - -Next to Chamberlain, the greatest influence in the modern development -of Germany was the famous historian, Heinrich von Treitschke. Like -Chamberlain, Treitschke distorted some facts to suit his purpose, and -neglected others which would have spoilt his theories; but there is -no doubt about the vigour of his thought and the lucid style in which -he wrote. He lived from 1834 to 1896, and specialised on historical -subjects from his 'teens. His view was that the Germans were the -greatest people on earth, that it was their duty to the world to -subjugate other peoples and races, and that nothing should prevent the -fulfilment of this task. These opinions, enunciated at first in a -series of brilliant historical essays, found their most dramatic, one -might almost say their most sensational, expression in Treitschke's -"History of Germany in the Nineteenth Century," a work which has for -many years been regarded in Germany as scarcely less important than the -Bible itself. It was Treitschke who first poured contempt on the French -as a race of "decadents," and who prophesied that the most difficult -reckoning would be with England. - -These two men had, and still have, innumerable followers; nor -should we overlook Bismarck's speeches. But there was a third and -independent influence who must not be overlooked, either. This is -General von Bernhardi, whose book "Germany and the Next War" has now -become notorious, as much in the original as in the English and other -translations. With a curious smattering of philosophy and religion, -General von Bernhardi advocated the opinion that war was not merely -difficult to avoid, but that it was desirable and necessary for -maintaining the virility and strength of a nation. For this reason he -did not profess to shrink from a European campaign, no matter how dire -the effects of it might be; and his book contains a full _exposé_ of -what the German plans should be, on land and sea, on the outbreak of -war. He has full confidence in the German army, and no less confidence -in the German navy; and he is determined that the power of Prussia and -the Prussian system shall be used to secure for his country the place -in the sun to which he thinks she is entitled. He ridicules Peace -Conferences, Geneva Conventions, and the like--for war is war, and not, -as the German Ambassador in Washington has just told us, an afternoon -tea-party--and war is to be waged ruthlessly against France and this -country. "France," writes General von Bernhardi, "must be crushed so -that she can never again cross our path." - -It is obvious to any reader who compares the thoughts and sentiments -in all these works with the Kaiser's speeches that his Majesty is a -careful student of them. To him both Heine and Nietzsche, who preferred -the old to the new Germany, are enemies of his Empire; but men like -Bernhardi, Treitschke, Chamberlain, Bismarck, and Frederick the Great -are safe guides. The Kaiser has, throughout his speeches, made many -references to Frederick the Great, whose literary works deserve -more study than is usually accorded them in England. They contain -the views of a man who, bullied in childhood by a coarse father, -had to fend for himself and to make his own discoveries in war and -social administration. His experiences are summed up, now and then, -in a series of snappy epigrams which are even more to the point than -Bismarck's. Within his limits, the Emperor William II. is at least -original, and it would hardly be fair to accuse him of plagiarism; but -he has, at least, had recourse to his great ancestor for inspiration. - -A survey of the influences at work in modern Germany, then, must -include the writings of the men just referred to, and often of their -followers as well. When these writings are considered we shall be able -to realise why Mr. Bonar Law had to refer so pointedly to the Belgian -atrocities and their instigation "from above." The Kaiser himself -has declared more than once that war must be waged ruthlessly; and -Treitschke, Bernhardi, Frederick the Great, Bismarck, and Chamberlain -unite in holding weakness up to ridicule and in emphasising the -necessity for brutality, in the face of these teachings, which have -influenced the ruling caste in the German Empire for more than a -generation, we need not wonder if the invaders of Belgium and France -have been urged on by their officers to excesses which have called -forth the censure of the civilised world. When the Emperor himself -advises his soldiers to "leave a name like Attila," we may be sure that -his officers will not be behindhand in enforcing the instruction. - - -_Wyman & Sons, Ltd., Printers, London and Reading._ - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Campaign Round Liege, by J. M. 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M. Kennedy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Campaign Round Liege - -Author: J. M. Kennedy - -Release Date: January 5, 2018 [EBook #56316] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIEGE *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was created from images of public domain material -made available by the University of Toronto Libraries -(http://link.library.utoronto.ca/booksonline/).) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="hidehand"> -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /> -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="full"/> -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="map" /> -</p> - - - - - - -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="ph2">The Daily Telegraph<br /> -WAR BOOKS</p></div> - -<p class="ph1" style="margin-top:10em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE CAMPAIGN ROUND LIÈGE</span><br /> -</p> - - - - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top:10em;">The Daily Telegraph</p> - -<p class="ph2a">WAR BOOKS</p> - -<p class="ph3">CLOTH 1/- NET.</p> - -<div class="bboxa"> -<p class="ph3"><span class="u"> -VOL. I. (<i>3rd Enormous Edition.</i>)</span></p> -<p class="ph2a"><i>HOW THE WAR BEGAN</i></p> - -<p class="ph4"><i>By W.L. COURTNEY, LL.D., and J.M. KENNEDY</i> -</p> - - - -<p class="ph4">Is Britain's justification before the Bar of History.</p> - - -<p class="ph3"> -<span class="u">VOL. II.</span></p> -<p class="ph2a"><i>THE FLEETS AT WAR</i></p> - -<p class="ph4"><i>By ARCHIBALD HURD</i> -</p> - - - -<p class="ph4">The key book to the understanding of the NAVAL situation</p> - - -<p class="ph3"> -<span class="u">VOL. III.</span></p> -<p class="ph2a"><i>THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN</i></p> - -<p class="ph4"><i>By GEORGE HOOPER</i></p> - -<p class="ph4">The key book to the MILITARY situation. -</p> - - - -<p class="ph3"><span class="u">VOL. IV.</span></p> -<p class="ph2a"><i>THE CAMPAIGN ROUND<br/> -LIEGE</i> -</p> - - - -<p class="ph4">¶ Describes in wonderful detail the heroic defence of Liege, and shows -how the gallant army of Belgium has upset and altered the whole plan -of advance as devised by the Kaiser and his War Council.</p> -</div> - - - - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top:10em;">THE CAMPAIGN<br /> -ROUND LIÈGE</p> - -<p class="ph6">BY</p> -<p class="ph4">J.M. KENNEDY</p> - -<p class="ph3" style="margin-top:5em;">WITH AN INTRODUCTION</p> -<p class="ph6">BY</p> -<p class="ph4">W.L. COURTNEY, LL.D.</p> - -<p class="ph4" style="margin-top:10em;">HODDER AND STOUGHTON</p> -<p class="ph5">LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO</p> -<p class="ph6">MCMXIV -</p> - - - - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top:10em;">CONTENTS</p> - - - - -<table summary="toc" width="80%"> -<tr> -<td><small>CHAPTER</small> -</td> -<td> -</td> -<td><small>PAGE</small> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2"> -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7">7</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">I. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">OUTBREAK OF WAR—INVASION OF BELGIUM -AND LUXEMBURG—THE FIRST -FIGHTING AT LIÈGE</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">II. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">FRENCH JOIN BELGIANS—DETAILS OF -THE BATTLES—GERMAN SPY SYSTEM—RAIDS -BY UHLANS</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_51">51</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">III. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">PRELIMINARY ATROCITIES—BRAVERY OF -THE BELGIANS—BATTLE OF HAELEN-DIEST</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_75">75</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">IV. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">LIFE AT BRUSSELS—FRENCH ADVANCE—CAPITAL -REMOVED TO ANTWERP</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">V. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">PREPARATIONS AT NAMUR—SCENES AT -LIÈGE—GERMANS PRESSING FORWARD—OCCUPATION -OF BRUSSELS</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_111">111</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="td2">VI. -</td> -<td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION—THEIR -"CUSTOMARY COOLNESS"—ZEPPELIN -AT ANTWERP—GERMAN ATROCITIES—LORD -KITCHENER'S SPEECH</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_134">134</a> -</td> -</tr> -</table> - - - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</a></p> - - -<p>"To attack always, to attack everywhere, and to overlap in the attack" -is the essential principle of German military training. This is the -principle which is acted upon when hostilities definitely open and the -diplomatist retires into the background. There is only one means by -which it can be carried into effect, and that is to have overwhelming -numbers of men ready to pour into the field and bear down opposing -forces by sheer weight. At Liège, at Namur, at Charleroi, or in the -Vosges, the mowing down of the invading hosts by rifle or cannon must -have seemed to the defensive troops as wearying and useless a task as -cutting off the heads of a hydra; for two German soldiers appeared to -rise out of the ground for every single one that fell.</p> - -<p>This was one great advantage with which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> the German army entered upon -the war. For years past strategic railways have been under construction -on the Belgian border—railways designed, not for the conveyance of -goods or passenger traffic (for there was none), but for the conveyance -of German troops from Cologne and other places to north-east France -through Belgium and Luxemburg. The plans of the German General Staff -were admirably conceived. One observer compared the advance of the -invading army to a human tidal wave spreading through the valley of -the Meuse. True, there were one or two small hitches. It was clear -from the stories told by the prisoners taken by the Belgians at Liège -that the German commissariat was unexpectedly defective. Again, -insufficient preparations had been made for besieging Liège itself, and -it was not for some days that it was found possible to bring up the -great siege guns which should have been there from the very beginning. -These faults, however, were not the result of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> negligence so much as -of conceit and of too great a belief in the invulnerability of the -German arms. According to a message quoted in the present volume, the -Kaiser waved his hand through the air and said: "I will go through -Belgium like that." He did not; and the delay consequent upon the -stubborn defence of Liège interfered with the German plans at the -outset and gave the French time to complete their mobilisation. The -effects of this delay are, indeed, incalculable, especially in view -of the unexpected rapidity of the Russian mobilisation, and General -Rennenkaempf's advance through East Prussia. Still, once the Germans -realised that they had to meet resistance in Belgium it must be -acknowledged that they took immediate steps to break it down. Large -siege guns were hurried to the front, with the result, so far as can be -ascertained from the meagre news which is allowed to pass the Censors -on both sides of the Channel, that four of the strongest forts at Namur -fell after a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> three days' siege. Nothing, at first, seemed to be able -to stop, or even to check, the advance of 2,000,000 Teutons.</p> - -<p>Although only a few details have been allowed to leak out, the -admitted facts all go to show that the German onslaught on France -through Belgium has been successful, but delayed. It is said that the -invaders expected to be in Paris within two weeks of crossing the -frontier, after which they expected to be able to turn the bulk of -their mighty army towards Russia before the Tsar's forces could be -properly mobilised—before, at any rate, they could take the field -and begin their advance into East Prussia. To this extent the plan -has miscarried, thanks to the gallant resistance of Liège. Unless the -Germans were in full possession of the railways at Liège and Namur an -entry into France would have been dangerous, since the free passage of -reinforcements could not be guaranteed. As it was, the Russians were -in possession of Eydkuhnen before the Germans were in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> possession of -Liège; and the German advance on Namur coincided in point of time with -the Russian advance on Insterburg.</p> - -<p>While the German plans have miscarried to this extent, it would be -foolish not to realise that they have succeeded in other respects. A -glance at the map will show this; for if the official communiqués tell -us little else they tell us, at least, what the approximate position of -the armies was at given dates. On August 15th and 16th, for instance, -and even, we may assume, on the 17th, the German army stretched in an -irregular line from Maastricht to Alt Breisach, through Huy, Arlon, -Longwy, and Metz. The southern portion of it, composed chiefly of -Bavarians, lay from Château Salins to Strassburg, and thence to the end -of the long line in the neighbourhood of Alt Breisach. The French army -lay opposite in a nearly parallel line. French regiments had reached -and reinforced the Belgian lines at Malines and Louvain, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the main -body of the French army was spread out along a front of nearly three -hundred miles from Tirlemont to Mülhausen, via Namur, Mézières, Verdun, -Sarreburg, Cirey, and Colmar.</p> - -<p>As the Germans had opened their southern campaign by invading French -territory at Cirey and Longwy, the position of the French army at this -time makes it clear that General Joffre had taken the offensive. The -Germans had been driven back over their original lines; Alsace had been -invaded by the French; Altkirch and Mülhausen had been captured, and -even Strassburg was menaced. This right wing of the French forces—the -wing which had been thrust forward into Alsace—was based, of course, -on the impregnable fortresses of Belfort and Epinal. As the subsequent -developments showed, this invasion of Alsace was a strategic error, and -this was acknowledged almost in so many words before a week had passed.</p> - -<p>Why, at this early stage, a forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> move was made in this direction -was never explained. There were critics who not unreasonably called -it "fancy work." Certainly, it was to be expected that the Germans -would advance from their southern base of Strassburg, and their -central base of Metz; but the really serious work of the campaign, -as everybody expected, was to be in the north-east. The advance into -Alsace gave General Joffre an opportunity of issuing a proclamation to -the Alsatians which, in view of their treatment by the Germans for more -than a generation, naturally rejoiced them. But it was an advance which -had to be paid for in another direction, when the main body of the -German army began to make its way across the Upper Meuse.</p> - -<p>If the position of the German troops has been traced as indicated, -the line will be almost straight, except towards the south, where the -Germans have had to give way before the French in Alsace. A day or -two later, however, the line will be anything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> but straight. By the -20th, although there is still fighting at Liège, and Brussels has not -yet been occupied, there is a distinct German advance towards the -north-west. The invaders have pushed on to Malines and Louvain, and, in -the centre, they menace Namur. They have also brought up large forces -to Givet, Dinant, and Sedan. They are cut down by the thousand; their -dead fill the trenches; the defenders wonder how the officers can -possibly induce their men to advance in such close formation, since -they are certain to be annihilated. There is a reason, nevertheless, -and a good one; for the time being there is no limit to the number of -men who can be brought forward to take the places of those that fall. -The result is a slow German advance, and everywhere the Allies, though -stubbornly contesting every inch of the ground, slowly retire.</p> - -<p>By the 22nd there is a further decided change. Brussels has been -occupied, and the German forces are converging on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> Charleroi in, so far -as we know, six or seven parallel columns. From Enghien, from Hal, from -Nivelles, from La Hulpe, from Wavre, and from Jodoigne, the Kaiser's -troops make their way into the country lying between Namur and Mons. We -do not know, at this time, precisely where the British troops are, nor -are we at liberty to guess the strength of the French in this district. -We are soon to know, however. A battle rages for three or four days at -Charleroi; the French retire in good order; and two thousand British -casualties are reported. Our troops and the French troops have behaved -with the utmost gallantry; but, so far as we can ascertain, they have -been outnumbered by two to one—perhaps in an even greater proportion. -Set the minute hand of a clock at eleven, and the hour hand at five. -That will, roughly, indicate the position of the German army (with the -Belgian, British, and French troops in an almost parallel line) about -August 17th to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> 19th. Then bend the minute hand of the clock to nine. -That will convey a correct impression of the broad sweep made by the -northern wing of the German army within four or five days; and it must -be acknowledged, unfortunately, that it swept the Allies in front of it.</p> - -<p>The result of the first stages of the Charleroi fighting made one -or two things evident. In the first place, it was then known that -the strength of the opposing German armies had been considerably -under-estimated; they had succeeded in bringing up very strong -reinforcements, with field guns and adequate munitions, through Liège. -Secondly, it was seen that the French had not advanced northwards -in sufficiently strong force. General Joffre had concentrated on -Alsace and the Ardennes, rather than on the Namur front. The official -statement published in Paris shows the French position at the -commencement of the battle:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p><blockquote> - -<p>An army starting from Northern Woevre and proceeding towards -Neufchateau is attacking the German forces which have marched through -the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg on the right bank of the Semois, and are -going in a westerly direction.</p> - -<p>Another army, which had started from the region of Sedan, is crossing -the Ardennes, and is attacking the German forces which are marching -between the Lesse and the Meuse.</p> - -<p>A third army, from the region of Chimay, has begun an attack on the -German right between the Sambre and the Meuse. This army is supported -by the English army, proceeding from the Mons region.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In this statement, as Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett remarked at the time, -several very important facts stood forth clearly:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>(1) The French armies had never held the line of the Meuse and of the -Sambre in any strength.</p> - -<p>(2) The German armies, before the commencement of the fighting at -Charleroi, were in possession of the country contained within the -triangle, of which Namur is the apex, between the Sambre and the -Meuse.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>(3) Before some of its forts fell, Namur must have been entirely -isolated, and attacked not only from the north but also from the -south; and the French armies were not in a position to reinforce the -garrison unless they sent forward some detachments before the Germans -crossed the Sambre.</p> - -<p>(4) In the fighting between August 18th and 22nd or 23rd it was -the French armies who attacked and not the German—except in the -neighbourhood of Mons.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Reference has been made to the triangle of which Namur is the apex. -This, it was generally believed by the military critics, was the angle -which the French were ready to occupy, if they had not, indeed, already -occupied it, before the fighting at Charleroi began. The discovery that -this triangle was really in possession of the Germans came as a shock. -Exaggerated hopes gave way to exaggerated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> fears; and it was even held -that the Germans had a reasonable chance of breaking through the French -lines in the north and advancing on Paris before the Russians could -advance much further into Germany.</p> - -<p>It is to be presumed that these fears are exaggerated, and that General -Joffre can shift his men from Alsace to the north. One gathered that -eighteen German army corps had advanced through Belgium, and that only -three or four had been left to watch over Alsace-Lorraine. It would -be unwise to hazard any conjecture as to the strength of the French; -but if it were said that the proportions were just the reverse the -statement might not be far out. At any rate, the fact remains that -at the time of writing the French advance has been entirely checked; -and the Allies are now on the defensive. If General Joffre had chosen -to remain on the defensive from the first instead of advancing into -Alsace; or, on the other hand, if he had considerably strengthened his -force<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> in the north and advanced in that direction with the object of -establishing himself at Namur, the position would have been totally -different. The numbers of the opposing forces would, at least, have -been better proportioned, and the "human tidal wave" could have been -held back.</p> - -<p>There is, of course, another side to the story. Although the Allies -had to retire, the retirement was carried out in good order. German -prisoners bore flattering testimony to the accuracy of the British -firing, and it was admitted that the invaders had lost very heavily—so -heavily, in fact, that they could not proceed with their advance for a -day or two. Furthermore, there was no particular reason why, at this -stage, the Allies should have wished to assume the offensive at all. -They were not driven out of their original defensive positions; they -merely failed, by their forward movement, to dislodge the Germans, -who were greatly superior to them in numbers. The net result of the -fighting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> was that the Allies had simply to abandon their offensive—an -offensive which does not appear to have been included in their original -plans. In the official statement already quoted there was a passage -saying: "On the orders of General Joffre our troops and the British -troops took up positions on the covering line, which they would not -have left had not the admirable Belgian effort enabled them to enter -Belgium." Commenting on this, Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The only deduction one can draw from this is that these operations -were never included in the pre-arranged plan of campaign, and that -they were only undertaken on the supposition that Namur, isolated and -surrounded by the enemy, would be able to offer the same prolonged -resistance as Liège, which would give the Allies time to advance in -strength and occupy the triangle formed by the junction of the Sambre -and the Meuse. The unexpected fall of this fortress at the very apex -has now forced General Joffre to fall back on his original line of -defence along the French frontier.</p></blockquote> - -<p>As will be seen from telegrams quoted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> in the course of the following -pages, German cavalrymen made a series of raids through northern -Belgium, and took possession of Ghent and Bruges, even penetrating as -far as Ostend. These raids, similar to many others in the central and -southern parts of the country, were carried out—the Germans admitted -it officially—with the aim of terrorising the civilian population. It -appears to be a German belief—quite erroneous!—that when the civilian -population is terrified by raids of this nature it brings pressure to -bear on the Government to "stop the war." On August 26th, in order to -check further German advances of this kind along the coast, a large -force of British marines took possession of Ostend.</p> - -<p>As moral effects count for as much in war as the effects of accurate -marksmanship or the "pounding" of siege guns, it should be stated -that the Belgian resistance did more than delay the German advance. -It had an effect which, in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> war, was of even greater importance. -For forty years all Europe had been brought up to believe in the -invulnerability of the German army. The mere threat of German -intervention was enough to turn the scales in favour of any proposals -which were being urged by German diplomats. It almost became an -accepted axiom of diplomacy and war that the Germans would always win -and that their opponents would always lose. Certainly the Germans, -and above all the Prussians, lost no opportunity of impressing this -fact upon the world at large. To a supreme belief in themselves they -added a disdainful arrogance of the rest of mankind which was, for an -extraordinarily long period, found effective and impressive.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The atmosphere which this attitude brought about, the atmosphere of -terror which had enveloped Europe for so many years, was swept away, -once and for all, by the Belgian army at Liège. Such was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> the awesome -feeling inspired by the mere name of Germany that we should have hardly -been surprised to see the Belgians turn tail and throw down their arms -without firing a shot. What did happen we all know. The forts, which -the Germans expected to capture in a few hours, were still holding out -after twelve days. In the field, small forces of Belgians time and -again cut up forces of Germans out-numbering them by three or four to -one. In some outpost engagements, on a scale which would have entitled -them to be called battles a century or so ago, the invaders were beaten -back time after time—cavalry, infantry, and artillery were equally -ineffective against the Belgian arms. It was only by sheer weight of -numbers that the Belgians were forced back into Antwerp, and even then -they preserved their ranks intact and were ready, after a few days' -rest, for a further onslaught.</p> - -<p>The importance of this great moral<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> change should be emphasised. -The German army will never again represent invulnerability; it will -stand rather for pure savagery. Reference has already been made to -the raids undertaken by German cavalry for the purpose of terrorising -the civilian population. As the telegrams in this volume will show, -intimidation did not stop at mere raids, fuss, and noise. Inoffensive -civilians were shot on the slightest provocation; houses were looted; -villages burned; women and even young girls outraged; boys battered -to death with the butts of rifles—and all this was done, not because -the men got out of hand and "saw red"; but systematically, because the -invaders wished to terrorise the civil population. When this statement -was first made it seemed incredible—the methods of the Huns or the -Tartars in the twentieth century. Some refutation, some attempt at -refutation, from the German side was awaited. It did not come. Instead -there came an admission<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> of the truth of the allegations which had been -accumulating for several days.</p> - -<p>After the outbreak of war it was customary for the German "wireless" -stations to send out war "news" at Nauen or Norddeich. This was picked -up by the Marconi Company and given out to the English Press. The -"news" was usually exaggerated and in many cases utterly mendacious. -But hidden away at the end of a batch of these messages which reached -London on August 27th was to be found an appalling paragraph, which, in -the course of a very few lines, admitted publicly and officially the -terrible charges of barbaric savagery that during the preceding days -had compelled the Belgian Government to appeal to the judgment of the -civilised world.</p> - -<p>Special stress must be laid on the official character of this -confession, because it is notorious that nothing can be transmitted -from the German wireless stations under war conditions without the -express<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> sanction and approval of the Berlin Government.</p> - -<p>The statement in question is as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The distribution of arms and ammunition among the civil population of -Belgium had been carried out on systematic lines, and the authorities -enraged the public against Germany by assiduously circulating false -reports. They were under the impression that, with the aid of the -French, they would be able to drive the Germans out of Belgium in two -days. The only means of preventing surprise attacks from the civil -population has been to interfere with unrelenting severity and to -create examples, which by their "frightfulness" would be a warning -to the whole country. The increased war contribution levied on the -Province of Liège has also had an excellent effect.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Could a confession be more frank or candid? Could any statement nerve -us, as we have never been nerved before, to resist the menace of -Prussian militarism to the uttermost?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Outbreak of War—Invasion of Belgium and Luxemburg—The First -Fighting at Liège</span></p> - - -<p>In the first volume of this series, "How the War Began," the causes -leading up to the great conflict were dealt with in detail. It may be -briefly recalled that on Thursday, July 23rd, the Austro-Hungarian -ultimatum was sent to Servia, the Belgrade authorities being allowed -only forty-eight hours in which to reply. The next day saw the holding -of a Cabinet Council in Russia. On July 25th the Austrian Minister left -Belgrade because the reply handed to him by the Servian Cabinet was -deemed unsatisfactory. Sir Edward Grey, on Monday, July 27th, announced -his plan for a "Four-Power Conference"—Germany, France, Italy, and -ourselves—a plan which had to be abandoned owing to the hostility -of Germany. On July 28th, Austria-Hungary declared war on Servia; -a partial Russian mobilisation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> was ordered on the 30th; Germany -mobilised on the 31st.</p> - -<p>It became evident at once that it was the aim of the German General -Staff to cripple the French army immediately, so that the German -soldiers, who were concentrated on the French and Belgium frontiers, -could be hurried back to East Prussia to meet the Russian forces -later on. Before any definite declaration of war had been made, -indeed, either against France or Russia, German patrols invaded French -territory on the night of July 31st, seized several locomotives, and -cut the telegraph and telephone wires. This may be regarded as the -first act of war, though the French outposts were withdrawn in order -that they might not come into actual conflict with the invaders just -then.</p> - -<p>So serious had the international situation become, that the smaller -countries began to make preparations lest their territory should be -violated. On Friday, July 31st, the Belgian Government ordered a -partial, and the Dutch Government, a complete mobilisation; and before -the week-end had passed practically all Belgium was in arms. The -Stavelot-Malmedy route near the German frontier was strengthened by -advance cavalry outposts; dirigibles were got in readiness; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> Meuse -strongholds were fully garrisoned, and barbed wire fences were erected -everywhere. On August 2nd, without having yet declared war, Germany -invaded the independent state of Luxemburg, the neutrality of which -had been guaranteed by the Treaty of London of 1867, by Great Britain, -Austria-Hungary, France, Prussia, Russia, Italy, Holland, and Belgium.</p> - -<p>The German soldiers arrived at the station of Luxemburg during the -night, seized the station and the Government offices, and held the -bridges on the Trèves and Trois Vierges lines, so as to ensure the -passage of military trains across the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duchess -was rudely treated by the German officers, and imprisoned in her -palace; and the invaders positively refused to withdraw. It was -admitted a day or two afterwards by the Imperial Chancellor, speaking -in the Reichstag, that the violation of neutral territory was wrong, -but that the Germans were determined, in his now famous phrase, to -"hack their way through."</p> - -<p>At the same time the German army penetrated French territory at two -points, namely, Longwy and Cirey-les-Forges.</p> - -<p>It was stated on August 2nd that the number of Germans who had crossed -the Grand Duchy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> was about 100,000, and that they were concentrating -in Belgian territory in the neighbourhood of Liège. Strong guards -were posted round the railway lines. On Sunday, too, a despatch from -Luxemburg announced that the Luxemburg Minister of State had received, -through the German Minister there, a telegram from the Imperial -Chancellor stating that the military measures taken by the Germans in -Luxemburg did not constitute a hostile act against the Grand Duchy. -They were simply measures taken to protect the working of the railways -connected with the German system against a possible attack by French -troops. Luxemburg would be completely indemnified for any damage that -might be done to the lines.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="map" /> -</p> - - - -<p>Although Germany formally declared war on Russia on July 31st, no -great military efforts were made in the east. On the other hand, the -movements already made against France were followed up with energy, -in spite of the fact that diplomatic relations had not actually been -severed. What the next German step was may be seen from the following -brief statement, which was made by Sir Edward Grey in the House of -Commons on the evening of August 3rd:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><blockquote> - -<p>Germany sent yesterday evening at seven o'clock a Note proposing to -Belgium friendly neutrality covering a free passage through Belgian -territory, and promising the maintenance of the independence of the -kingdom and possessions at the conclusion of peace, and threatening in -the case of refusal to treat Belgium as an enemy.</p></blockquote> - -<p>A time limit of twelve hours was fixed for reply.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Belgium answered that an attack on their neutrality would be a -flagrant violation of the rights of nations and that to accept the -German proposal would sacrifice the honour of a nation conscious -of its duty. Belgium is firmly resolved to repel aggression by all -possible means.</p></blockquote> - -<p>King George at once signed the Proclamation ordering the mobilisation -of the entire British army and embodying the Territorials. This cynical -disregard of a Treaty to which Germany had affixed her signature could -be redressed in only one way. While the British Expeditionary Force was -being prepared, however, the Germans were making haste to secure their -positions in Belgium and on the French frontier, and their movements -were reported from the outset by the special correspondents of <i>The -Daily Telegraph</i>. On August 4th, by order of the Belgian General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> -Staff, the railway bridges at Lavaux and Bastogne were destroyed, so as -to delay the Germans if they advanced through Luxemburg: everywhere the -conditions in Belgium were those of war. Civilians in all directions -took refuge in the towns, and the roads were blocked by wagons and -ploughs. On the Luxemburg frontier many German patrols and posts were -seen. The Germans occupied the whole of the province, with the object -of facilitating the concentration of their army.</p> - -<p>A correspondent, returning from Longwy, the great natural fortress -which forms the advance guard of the French covering troops, found it -necessary, owing to military obstacles, to perform some part of the -journey on foot. The roads were barred by sentries and posts at all -points. The officers of the garrison asked him to assure the English -that the morale of the army was superb. Certainly, the correspondent -added, he had never seen French soldiers so calm, cool, and confident.</p> - -<p>On the same day the Germans entered Belgium at three points—Dolhain, -Francorchamps, and Stavelot; and other forces advanced from Luxemburg -in the direction of Longwy, Villerupt, and Thionville. In the evening -Belgium was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> declared to be in a state of war with Germany. The German -raids, following upon the insolent demand that German troops should be -allowed to march through the country, had caused an intense feeling of -indignation throughout Belgium.</p> - -<p>At the Brussels recruiting station men of all ages literally fought to -enlist and get rifles. There was wild patriotic enthusiasm and no sign -of fear.</p> - -<p>At an extraordinary sitting of Parliament many members appeared in -military uniform, ready to start for the front.</p> - -<p>The King delivered the following speech to the deputies:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Never since 1830 has a graver hour sounded for Belgium. The strength -of our right and the need of Europe for our autonomous existence -make us still hope that the dreaded events will not occur. If it is -necessary for us to resist an invasion of our soil, however, that duty -will find us armed and ready to make the greatest sacrifices. Our -young men have already come forward to defend the Fatherland in danger.</p> - -<p>One duty alone is imposed upon us, namely, the maintenance of a -stubborn resistance, courage, and union. Our bravery is proved by our -faultless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> mobilisation and by the multitude of voluntary engagements. -This is the moment for action. I have called you together to-day -in order to allow the Chambers to participate in the enthusiasm of -the country. You will know how to adopt with urgency all necessary -measures. Are you decided to maintain inviolate the sacred patrimony -of our ancestors?</p> - -<p>No one will fail in his duty, and the army is capable of performing -its task. The Government and I are fully confident. The Government is -aware of its responsibilities, and will carry them out to the end to -guard the supreme welfare of the country. If a stranger should violate -our territory he will find all the Belgians gathered round their -Sovereign, who will never betray his constitutional oath. I have faith -in our destinies. A country which defends itself wins the respect of -everyone, and cannot perish.</p> - -<p>God will be with us.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Deafening cheers welcomed the announcement that M. Vandervelde, the -leader of the Socialists, had been nominated as Minister of State, to -show that men of all parties were now united for the defence of the -flag. The King's speech, appealing to the devotion of the whole nation, -and expressing confidence in the fate of a neutral and peaceful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> -country which had been so unlawfully attacked, caused an indescribable -outburst of loyal and brave assent. All bills regulating a moratorium -and the recall of more army drafts were voted without a minute's -discussion.</p> - -<p>While the King and Queen left the Palace amid wonderful ovations, -emotion increased when the Premier, M. de Broqueville, announced that -Belgian territory had already been invaded by Germans, and when he read -the recent Germano-Belgian diplomatic notes, threatening Belgium with -Germany's dire vengeance for defending her neutrality.</p> - -<p>The King started for the front at once.</p> - -<p>On August 5th, Dr. E.J. Dillon, one of <i>The Daily Telegraph's</i> special -correspondents, wired:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I received information this morning that British troops had landed and -were on their way to the frontier to defend Belgian neutrality. I at -once drove out to Laeken, through which suburb they must pass. There -I learned that the news was premature. French regiments are alleged -to have arrived at Namur. Others are marching into Belgium. It is -reported here that the German troops, when entering Belgian territory, -were fired upon from houses in Visé, whereupon they decimated the -population, sparing neither age nor sex.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> - -<p>All these reports must be received with circumspection. I myself, -however, have witnessed scenes of poignant grief, the actors in which -were relatives of the people in Visé, who had heard the narrative and -believed it. The authorities naturally keep such things dark in order -not to frighten the population, which is incensed against the Germans.</p> - -<p>Belgium is beset with German spies, who even now continue their -work, with marvellous deliberation and courage. Wireless telegraphic -apparatus is alleged by the authorities to be still employed by the -German agents, some of whom have been arrested. The population of both -Brussels and Antwerp are excited against the Germans. The authorities -are now effectually protecting the shops. Twenty-five thousand -Germans, many occupying influential positions, reside in Antwerp, -and the public desires their expulsion in the interests of defence. -Belgians have been expelled from Germany and forbidden during the -railway journey to look out of the windows or speak any language but -German.</p> - -<p>This morning a German eagle-shaped aeroplane was hovering over Liège -city. A Belgian aviator rose higher, and descended heavily upon -the German craft, cutting it in two. The Belgian is said to be but -slightly wounded. As his name is not given the narrative is open to -doubt.</p> - -<p>An eye-witness of the combat at Visé affirms that a squadron of -Prussian cavalry moved towards Visé<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> Bridge, in which the Belgians had -made a breach sixty mètres wide. The Belgians, hidden among the broken -piers, opened a cross-fire, almost annihilating them. At the same time -shots were fired from the houses on the right bank of Visé, which was -already occupied by the Germans. It was then that the indiscriminate -massacre of the inhabitants by the German soldiers began. They also -fired upon the Red Cross ambulance.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The latest news received from the front on the same day stated that -under the protection of the long range guns of the fortress of Liège -the Belgian troops were putting up a fine defence against the German -invaders. They inflicted great losses on the enemy, whose attempts to -cross the River Meuse by means of a pontoon bridge had failed. This, -it was stated, would compel the Germans to cross the Meuse on foot at -the Dutch frontier. The attitude of the Dutch towards them was not yet -known.</p> - -<p>Official news received at Brussels stated that a fierce fight had -occurred at Liège. The present situation was understood to be very -favourable for the Belgians, who had victoriously repulsed all the -German attacks. The Germans, who endeavoured to pass through the spaces -between the forts, were driven back by a mixed brigade.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was said that not a single one who passed the intervals returned. -The German shells were unable to pierce the defences. German aeroplanes -showed themselves much inferior to the Belgian. None of the Belgian -aeroplanes sustained any accident, but several of the German did so.</p> - -<p>It was confirmed that the Germans behaved disgracefully at Visé. They -shot many civilians, expelling the remainder of the inhabitants and -giving the town to the flames.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The <i>Rotterdamsche Courant</i> in a leading article said that Holland -had read with satisfaction Sir Edward Grey's statement that it -was obligatory on the Great Powers to maintain the neutrality of -the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. Holland also observed with -satisfaction that Germany was avoiding the Dutch frontier.</p> - -<p>The engagement referred to above was generally known as the first -battle of Liège. Subsequent particulars of it showed that the Belgian -forces captured seven guns, and that 8,000 of the invaders were killed -and wounded. On Wednesday, August 5th, in an encounter between the -Vesdre and the Meuse Rivers a single Belgian squadron annihilated six -German squadrons. The Seventh German Corps suffered enormous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> loss, 800 -prisoners being brought into Brussels. The encounter began in the early -morning, and lasted till five in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>Germans, with the Seventh Army Corps supported by a large mass of -cavalry, began a violent attack against the south-eastern section of -the Liège stronghold, not engaging the forts with their artillery, but -trying to reach the interior of the stronghold through the intervals.</p> - -<p>The ground was mined in several places, and all the battalions were -destroyed. The German loss was enormous. That of the Belgians was very -much less.</p> - -<p>Early on Wednesday morning, by force of numbers, the German advance -guard succeeded in entering Liège. Fighting went on in the street for a -time.</p> - -<p>In view of the strength of the fortifications at Liège, the strategic -position of the town, and the fact that the main body of the Belgian -army was concentrated there, it became evident that the invaders could -not advance without either "containing" Liège—<i>i.e.</i>, surrounding -the place with a large body of troops, and, as it were, imprisoning -the garrison without making any attempt at capture—or reducing -the fortresses to such an extent as to drive the main body of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> -Belgian army before it. The latter plan was adopted and was eventually -successful; but not before the heroic garrison, though greatly -outnumbered, had succeeded in delaying the German advance for nine or -ten days. As time was an essential factor in the German programme, it -is difficult for us to over-estimate the advantage which thus accrued -to the defenders of Western Europe.</p> - -<p>The town of Liège stands on the Meuse, close to the point where the -hills on its left bank come to an end, and near the spot where the -valleys of the Vesdre and Ourthe on the other side afford routes -for roads and railways, east to Verviers and southwards towards the -Ardennes. The main stream divides the far-extending city into an older -town, wherein is situated the citadel and most of the public buildings, -and a newer suburb containing the manufacturing establishments and -dwellings of the artisans. The most noteworthy buildings are the -magnificent church of St. Jacques, dating from the eleventh century, -the handsome Académie des Beaux Arts, the Theatre Royal, built upon -the model of the Odéon at Paris, the Palais de Justice, and Town Hall. -Liège owes much of its prosperity to the fact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> that it is the centre of -a rich coal district, some of the mines actually extending under the -houses and streets.</p> - -<p>Iron industries and coal increased its population from 113,000 in -1873 to 169,000 in 1910. The iron manufacturers are chiefly concerned -with the production of cannon and those implements of war for which -the adjoining township of Seraing is especially famous. The textile -industry also employs thousands of workers, while paper, oil, tobacco, -leather, gold and silver ware, bicycles, watches, and light machinery -of all kinds are manufactured in the busy quarters. Known to the -Germans as Lüttich, the city is the capital of the Walloons, a race -who have been described as "marked by an indefatigable industry and -a fierce and implacable spirit of hostility towards those who have -attempted to infringe their privileges." Since its foundation the town -has been the scene of endless fighting. Charles of Burgundy sacked it -in 1468, and put thousands of its brave inhabitants to death. It was -stormed by Maximillian I. in 1649; three times by the French between -1675 and 1691; and was captured by Marlborough in 1702. In the wars of -1792-94 French and Austrians fought repeatedly for its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> possession, -the height of Robermont outside the defences being the spot where the -Prince of Coburg was defeated by Marshal Jourdan on September 19th, -1794, in the last battle fought by the Austrians on Belgian soil. The -citadel, 500 feet above the sea level, whence the approach of the -Germans was anxiously watched, commands a view over the whole of the -city and the populous and industrious valleys of the Meuse, while -in the South can be seen from its summit the peaks of the Ardennes -and northward the Petersburg near Maastricht and the broad plains of -Limburg.</p> - -<p>Hardly had the siege begun in earnest when a small body of Uhlans, who -had been directed by spies to the headquarters of General Leman, the -Belgian commander, made a determined attempt to assassinate him by -forcing their way into his office and shooting at him with revolvers. -One of the General's brother officers lifted him up bodily, carried him -to the yard at the back of the house, and dropped him over the wall -into the yard alongside. This promptness, in the momentary confusion, -was believed to have saved General Leman's life. Two Belgian gendarmes -and an officer were killed; but the other Belgians present shot dead -the Uhlans who had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> made the daring raid. There were eight of them in -all—two officers and six men.</p> - -<p>In a despatch sent off in the evening of August 6th Dr. E.J. Dillon -briefly summed up the early fighting. The invading army, he stated, at -first expected a mere nominal resistance. Disappointed, they despatched -forces to the north and south-east of Liège, where are the forts of -Barchon, north of Evegnée, of Fléron and Chaud-fontaine to the east, -and of Embourg and Boncelles to the south. The attacks proceeded at -various points along this front.</p> - -<p>The position at Liège was defended by forts and also by field works, -trenches, barbed-wire entanglement, and mines, with artillery served by -mobile troops, under improvised cover, who occupied the spaces between -the forts, but hidden behind them so that the Germans who endeavoured -to pass through these spaces in order to surround the forts were unable -to determine the position of the field works and direct their artillery -fire against them. This piece of strategy proved fatal to the enemy's -troops, who were exposed to artillery fire from the forts, and cut -down piecemeal by the defenders within the spaces. The country was -favourable to the invaders, owing to the ravines, woods, and winding -roads,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> which enabled them to advance under natural cover. Despite this -advantage, the Belgians, who displayed genuine heroism, drove them back -with slaughter, but not without themselves making heavy sacrifices, -which they did with a degree of valour that commanded universal -admiration. The Russian Tsar sent his hearty congratulations.</p> - -<p>During the night of Wednesday—Thursday, a tremendous assault was -undertaken by the Germans, in which the entire Seventh Army Corps took -part. The Belgians manfully held their positions, while the whole -country around, illumined by dazzling searchlights, quaked as if shaken -by a seismic convulsion. The grey light of morning revealed hundreds of -German corpses and also the advance of the German forces against Fort -Barchon. The Belgians having formed a mixed brigade of two regiments, -proceeded to effect a daring counter-attack from the heights of Wandre. -Their advance was as irresistible as an oceanic tide. The Germans stood -a few minutes awaiting the onset, and then fled panic-stricken. The -Seventh Corps was broken, and a few hours later 5,000 fugitives passed -by Maastricht, where they were received, fed, and, curiously enough, -sent to Aix-la-Chapelle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the south the spaces between the forts of Embourg were the objective -of a resolute attack. The invaders advancing within three hundred yards -of the Garde Civique were first deprived of their colonel, whom a -soldier shot dead, and were then literally mown down like grass by the -scythe.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the German artillery fire was concentrated upon the Château -of Langres, opposite Fort Embourg. Under cover of a heavy artillery -fire a body of German troops surrounded the Château when suddenly a -grey cloud with flame arose, followed by a terrific explosion. The -Belgians having mined the Château had blown it up, and many Germans -with it.</p> - -<p>The upshot of this brilliant stand made by the Belgians was the -maintenance of all the forts, the capture of numerous prisoners and -seven guns, the death of 800 and the disablement of thousands of the -enemy, and the defeat of the two crack corps of Brandenburg.</p> - -<p>After this defeat the Germans sent a parlementaire to demand the -surrender of Liège, threatening an attack by a Zeppelin airship as -the alternative. General Leman's refusal was speedily followed by an -advance executed by the Tenth Army Corps. It was repulsed.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="map" /> -</p> - - - -<p>The Belgian War Office stated that the German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> invaders, having -already lost about 25,000 men, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, -requested the Belgian authorities to grant a twenty-four hours' -armistice. This was refused.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">French join Belgians—Details of the Battles—German Spy -System—Raids by Uhlans</span></p> - - -<p>French outposts effected a junction with the Belgians on the 7th. -Before they could offer effective assistance, however, the first -battle had already taken place. The Germans, profiting from their -previous experience of the Belgian forces, had this time taken greater -precautions and brought up more men. A <i>Daily Telegraph</i> correspondent -said that he could clearly see from the hill the Germans in little -boats and others building a pontoon over the Meuse south of Visé. The -horses were swum across. The crossing was carried out in half a dozen -places with great regularity. The Germans did not seem much concerned -at the fire of the Belgian forts. The Belgian troops were spread out -over the rising ground. Fire from a German mitrailleuse kept the -Belgians at a distance, and slowly the whole hillside became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> covered -with German soldiers, who drove the Belgians before them.</p> - -<p>Near Visé an automobile arrived with five Belgian civilian guards. They -alighted from the car and advanced on foot. A German patrol called on -them to halt, and instantly the Belgians fled. Four escaped; one fell -wounded. As they passed him the Germans said that when they came back -they would kill him.</p> - -<p>By five o'clock a large force of Germans had crossed the Meuse and -commenced to march south on Liège. The Belgians tried to harass the -Germans by firing into the progressing columns. At last the Belgians -ceased firing and retired. From the houses along the road the people -took to flight in despair.</p> - -<p>In the village of Eben people were calm, looking with astonishment at -the tremendous body of troops passing along the route. They were not -molested at all as the Germans progressed towards Liège along both -banks of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>With characteristic optimism Germans said: "In two days we will have -Liège, and within a week we will be before Paris." The Germans did not -seem to have any idea, in fact, that in front of Liège they might have -an encounter with the French Army.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<p>An incident was reported which showed how little the German soldier -knew about the war in which he was engaged. Amongst the wounded in -Maastricht was a young German of eighteen who believed that he had been -fighting the French. Great was his surprise when he was told he had -been fighting the Belgians. "The Belgians!" he said, "but we have no -quarrel with the Belgians!" He was under the impression that he had a -French bullet in him.</p> - -<p>Already the advance guard was fighting near Liège, and the Germans -agreed that they had lost heavily. They said, "Cost what it may, we -will take Liège." Fort Pontisse, near Liège, was heavily attacked.</p> - -<p>Some of the wounded Germans received bullets in the back in the -encounter at Visé. It was believed that, by mistake, one body of -Germans fired into another. Twenty-six were killed and wounded. Small -wonder that the feelings of the people were filled with anguish at -Maastricht, as at all hours of the day motor ambulances came in from -the battlefield. The seriously wounded were brought to Maastricht, -where there were surgeons. The less seriously wounded were taken to -Eysden.</p> - -<p>A Dutch lady with two children took to flight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> from Visé on hearing -that the Germans were approaching. She was stopped by a body of -Germans, who compelled her to go with them to Visé and afterwards -show where they could get provisions. Finally she was escorted to the -frontier.</p> - -<p>In a later telegram the same correspondent said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I have just returned from the frontier village of Mesch, where I saw -the most magnificent and impressive sight of a vast German army. From -the hill on which I was standing I could see the German troops come -up before me, artillery, cavalry, infantry, and all, while behind the -hill I could hear the boom of gun fire.</p> - -<p>As the Holsteiner Dragoons passed I could see on their colour the -date 1871. Then I saw fifteen farmers with bent heads led forth as -prisoners. Their crime was that they had defended their homes.</p> - -<p>Then an aeroplane flies overhead. Is it German or Belgian? Will it -drop bombs? It passes on. And then I am approached by German soldiers, -who point revolvers at me, and order me to retire, for in my eagerness -I had stepped beyond the Dutch frontier post.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In a still later message he writes:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The Belgians have destroyed several bridges on the light railway from -Tongeren to Bilsen.</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> - -<p>Several important despatches appeared on Monday, August 10th, giving -particulars of the movements of troops during Saturday and Sunday. -There were no movements by the Germans for three days. Beyond the range -of the forts' fire they rested, recovering strength. The threatened -attack along the river Ourthe was suspended. These facts, in the view -of the Belgian General Staff, denoted insufficient preparations and -showed that the German concentration had not been fully carried out. -The situation, in their opinion, gave every assurance that merited -punishment would follow the invasion.</p> - -<p>Liège was invested by the Germans on Sunday night, but this was -expected, and was regarded as unimportant. The forts were known to be -ready for further and prolonged resistance, while the foe's stock of -projectiles was evidently short. The Belgian field forces, apart from -the Liège garrison, were massing in the right directions. The portion -of Belgian Luxemburg invaded by the Germans was being cleared of them -by the advancing French troops, who marched forward with the greatest -speed and energy and got good assistance from a division of Belgian -cavalry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<p>Many trains conveyed more French troops to the front via Brussels.</p> - -<p>King Albert reviewed and congratulated the triumphant Third Division, -which had been keeping the foe at bay at Liège.</p> - -<p>Liège city possessed an old disused fortress, which the Belgians blew -up to prevent the Germans from availing themselves of it.</p> - -<p>It was reported, and afterwards confirmed, that many Bavarians were -deserting or refusing service, the idea of fighting peaceful Belgium, -whose Queen is a beloved Bavarian princess, being very unpopular.</p> - -<p>A Belgian who passed through Rotterdam on Saturday evening said: "I -left Liège on Saturday morning, and then the town was still defending -itself valiantly. Not one of the forts was then in the hands of the -Germans. An armistice of three hours was agreed upon to bury the dead, -who lay all around."</p> - -<p>The man, who was evidently highly wrought up after the terrible -experience of the siege, declined to say more. The German prisoners -captured had very few cartridges, from which it was assumed that the -Germans had some difficulty in bringing up ammunition and supplies.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> - -<p>How deadly a task the Germans had undertaken in rebuilding the bridge -over the Meuse was illustrated by the following telegram sent by the -<i>Rotterdamsche Courant's</i> correspondent at Maastricht on Saturday -afternoon:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The pontoon bridge built by the Germans was shot away, so that further -troops cannot cross. The 90th and 25th German Regiments, which -supported the bridge-builders, were mown down by the quick-firing -guns. A wounded Belgian was asked how the Germans had fared. He -replied in one word, "Annihilated." Those of the wounded who can be -transported by rail are to be brought from the hospitals at Maastricht -to Alkmaar.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The gallant defence offered by the Belgian garrison was not to pass -without suitable recognition. On August 7th, the French President, M. -Poincaré, despatched the following telegram from the Elysée to the King -of the Belgians:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I am happy to announce to your Majesty that the Government of the -Republic has just decorated with the Legion of Honour the gallant town -of Liège. It wishes thus to honour the courageous defenders of the -place and the whole Belgian army, with which since this morning the -French army has been shedding its blood on the battlefield.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In the view of a very high military authority,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> the severe check -inflicted by the Belgian garrison of Liège on the German VII. Army -Corps was of cardinal importance. The German General Staff made no -secret of the fact that they looked forward to an easy task in marching -through Belgium. An officer in the German War Office recently stated -that they counted on the benevolent neutrality of Belgium at worst; -and, more probably, the King of the Belgians would range himself on the -German side.</p> - -<p>Some time ago a military mission, at the Kaiser's invitation, attended -manœuvres of special importance near Berlin. In conversation with -the senior British officer present the Kaiser said: "I shall sweep -through Belgium thus"—and waved his arm in the air.</p> - -<p>The authority alluded to expressed the opinion that the line of the -Meuse could now be held, but that the crucial trial of strength would -occur when the main bodies of the two field armies met in the open.</p> - -<p>What was of no less interest, as showing the elaborate methods adopted -by the Germans for years beforehand, was Dr. E.J. Dillon's account of -the Germans in Belgium before and after the outbreak of war. Dr. Dillon -telegraphed from Brussels on Sunday, August 9th:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>It is a noteworthy fact that during the fierce fighting of the past -few days a disproportionately large number of officers as compared -with privates were disabled owing to their distinctive uniforms, and -among the officers were a disproportionately large percentage of -surgeons, whose uniform is still more conspicuous. The War Minister's -attention is being drawn to the advisability of rendering the outward -marks of rank differences less noticeable at a distance.</p> - -<p>The Belgian Government has decided not to proceed to the expulsion -of Germans en masse, although the country is infested by spies and -agents, who make desperate efforts to reveal and frustrate the plans -of the military authorities. In the German Consulate and the German -school wireless telegraphy apparatus were discovered. At Antwerp, -where the Germans had for years wielded paramount influence, many of -them repaid the hospitality shown them with perfidious hostility.</p> - -<p>Two sons of the principal German firm in Antwerp, which has been -established for over twenty years there, have been arrested on a -charge of treason. Even the School of Aviation had trusted a caretaker -of German nationality, who has occupied this and similar posts for -eighteen years, and was discovered on Friday working the wireless -telegraph apparatus. He was arrested, tried, and condemned.</p> - -<p>Nowhere in Belgium were the Germans more at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> home than in Antwerp; -nowhere have they proved such relentless enemies to their hosts. When -quitting the city on Friday some of them exclaimed, "We are going now, -but we will return shortly escorted by troops." The bitterness against -Germany in Antwerp is intense, but there and throughout Belgium the -German prisoners and wounded are treated with the utmost consideration.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The Germans, who were hospitably received in Holland, fed, and sent -home, were not, as the Belgian Press believed, soldiers, but fugitive -civilians. Holland has scrupulously discharged her duties as a neutral -State.</p> - -<p>The Flemish population of Belgium is making heroic sacrifices for the -struggle, which has only been begun. The smiling suburbs of Antwerp, -with their gardens, lawns, thickets, and luxurious villas, are being -disfigured beyond recognition in order to meet the requirements of the -military strategists, and the owners look on with grim approval at the -destruction of their cherished property.</p> - -<p>The narrative of how the neutrality of Luxemburg was violated is -interesting. On Sunday morning while I was painfully travelling through -Bavaria towards the Rhine the population of Luxemburg awakened to find -all the ways of communication in German hands. Everywhere detachments -of German soldiers were stationed, but what most astonished the -simple-minded citizens was this—that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> detachments were commanded -by the employés of commercial and industrial firms established in -Luxemburg who two days previously had been at their offices as usual.</p> - -<p>Now, attired in military uniform, they were at the head of bodies of -German troops, leading them through the streets, directing them to -places where perquisitions might be made or arrests effected, and -giving them the benefit of their admirable knowledge of the town and -people.</p> - -<p>This they did with noteworthy results. Thus they denounced some 200 -Alsatians who had not served in the German army, and who naturally -reckoned on a safe asylum in neutral Luxemburg. These unfortunate -men were roused from their sleep and spirited away, their appeal for -humanitarian treatment being answered by violence or threats.</p> - -<p>A German major who was first to cross the Adolf Bridge found his way -barred by the Cabinet Minister M. Eyschen, who, having arrived in a -motor, turned the car lengthwise across the bridge. Taking out a copy -of the Berlin Treaty, he showed it to the German officer, who remarked, -"I am acquainted with it, but have orders which I must execute." -Immediately afterwards the Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide drove up in an -automobile, which she also turned lengthwise across the bridge, saying -that the neutrality of Luxemburg must be respected, and that she would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -telegraph to the Kaiser, whereupon the major curtly answered, "You had -better go home quietly."</p> - -<p>The commander of the Luxemburg army, Vandyck, came up just then and -remonstrated with the German officer, who retorted, "If these are not -your methods they are ours," and, putting a revolver to his head, -cried, "Clear out!"</p> - -<p>Soon afterwards the work of military destruction began, villas and -farmhouses being demolished, and thickets cut down for strategic -purposes. Terror reigns throughout Luxemburg since then. A farmer -with provisions, being stopped and his wagons seized, grumbled. He -was arrested, taken before a Court-martial, and has not been heard of -since. From Luxemburg to Rodange the fields are devastated, houses -razed to the ground, trenches dug, and whoever casts a glance at these -is arrested as a spy. In a word, the population of the Grand Duchy is -learning the meaning of the words "reign of terror."</p> - -<p>Military experts here hold that some days must elapse before important -aggressive operations are resumed by the German army. They explain the -miscalculation of the invaders as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Germany secretly moved forward about 900,000 men towards the -Franco-Belgian and Russian frontiers during the week ending August -2nd, with the object of being able to surprise and overpower the -resisting forces at the very outset of the war.</p> - -<p>In order to accomplish this stroke, which would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> have had an immense -effect upon the morale of the troops, the men were despatched without -adequate provisions or ammunition, on the assumption that they would -find the former in the conquered districts, and could await the -latter from their own trains of supplies, which would follow shortly -afterwards. The reception at Liège upset this reckoning, and explains -why the prisoners complained of hunger.</p> - -<p>These unexpected reverses, which have given time for the junction of -the French and Belgian forces, will now necessitate the definitive -concentration of the German army, which includes the second line of -another million men, and this operation is at present in full swing. -It involves the mobilisation of the Landsturm, or Territorial army, -and according to trustworthy private advices received here, the -officer commanding the Cologne military district has already called -all the men of the Landsturm to arms.</p> - -<p>In other words, a tremendous effort will shortly be put forth to burst -through the Franco-Belgian barriers of the forts and men, and inundate -France with German soldiers.</p> - -<p>In view of this mighty tide of armed men and the relatively narrow -area through which they must force a passage, it is nowise impossible -that they may at the last moment choose a route northwards of Visé, -and violate Dutch territory. This eventuality should be borne well in -mind by those interested in preparing for it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> - -<p>One of the curious methods of warfare employed by the Germans is the -despatch of Uhlans in groups of six and eight, who ride for miles in -advance of the army, enter undefended towns and villages, announce the -arrival of the bulk of the troops, and return. It is amazing how far -ahead of the army they advance.</p> - -<p>On Friday evening they entered Arlon, and were received in silence, -but when leaving they heard the report of a revolver in the principal -café. Then, turning sharply, they discharged their firearms at the -house, and one rushed with pointed lance against a woman sitting at a -window. She was wounded mortally.</p> - -<p>The municipal authorities, fearing further reprisals, drove out in a -motor, with a white flag, found the commanding officer, and tendered -their excuses, promising to punish the person guilty of firing.</p> - -<p>The organisation of the German espionage was elaborate beyond belief. -Large German commercial firms established for many years in Belgium -prospered under conditions which rendered competition by Belgians -hopeless. They entertained intimate relations with all classes of the -population, subscribed handsomely to local charities, wielded great -influence in municipal affairs, and were conversant with everything -which the German Government was concerned to know.</p> - -<p>The secret of their prosperity was a munificent State subvention from -the Berlin Government.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> Each German subject who was in the secret -service of the Government had his own work to execute. At Cambria, it -is affirmed, a German firm was charged with the work of having the -bridge blown up. A Belgian servant discovered and denounced the plot. -The authorities shadowed a German merchant day and night, and when -at last he drew near the bridge with the requisite explosives the -sentinel rushed upon him with the bayonet.</p> - -<p>The German military captain Erchard was arrested at Ostend on -suspicion. On his person was found a sum of 4,000 francs and a written -order, "Remain Ostend observant," also the key to a cipher with which -he corresponded with the German staff. After his arrest a letter to -him was intercepted from a Belgian offering him important information -concerning the plans of national defence. The writer of the letter has -also been apprehended. In the ancient synagogue of Antwerp, now used -only as a magazine, 3,000 German rifles, carefully wrapped and packed -in cases, have been discovered.</p></blockquote> - -<p>For a day or two the main interest shifted from Liège to Alsace, as on -Sunday, August 9th, a French force advanced into Alsace and occupied -Mülhausen. The men were greeted with unbounded enthusiasm by the -inhabitants; but strategic considerations necessitated the evacuation -of the town shortly afterwards. Another wing of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> French army, -however, advanced at the same time into Belgium, and there were several -cavalry encounters, of minor importance, on the banks of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>Mr. Granville Fortescue, who, as the special representative of <i>The -Daily Telegraph</i>, had spent the first two days of the siege in the city -of Liège, caught the last train from the besieged city and sent his -telegram dated Liège, August 6th, from Brussels. He said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Last night and early this morning the Germans attacked this city in -force. About 11.30 p.m., on hearing heavy cannonading, I crossed the -river by the bridge Fragnée, and took position on the heights to the -south of the city. It was full moon.</p> - -<p>The German attack was directed against the forts at Fléron, Embourg, -and Boncelles. The artillery practice was perfect. Shell after shell -was exploded fairly on the ramparts of the forts. The return fire of -the Belgians I could not judge for effectiveness, as the German gun -positions were admirably concealed. The rough nature of the country -and the darkness favoured the attackers. In my opinion no siege guns -were in action. The Germans used a high explosive shell that burst -with extraordinary vividness.</p> - -<p>About three a.m. infantry fire broke out in the woods west of the -River Ourthe, between Embourg<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> and Boncelles. It was impossible to -distinguish anything except the flashes of the rifles. About this time -I heard infantry fire in the west. The country in the vicinity of the -forts has not been cleared, and evidently only hastily fortified.</p> - -<p>The Belgian infantry, 9th and 14th Line Regiments, held the country -between the forts Fléron, Embourg, and Boncelles. The 9th Regiment -bore the brunt of the attack, which was repulsed along the line.</p> - -<p>With the first rays of daylight, about four a.m., I was able to make -out the troops of the German line of battle.</p> - -<p>They were fighting in close order. I could not believe I was watching -the first line, as this seemed to me to be a return to old-fashioned -tactics. But there could be no doubt as to their formation. The -engagement attained its fiercest stage about five a.m. About this -time the fort at Fléron was silenced. I was afterwards told that the -German fire had smashed much of the machinery of the disappearing gun -carriages.</p> - -<p>Small parties of German cavalry could be seen in the intervals between -the infantry battalions. But there was no attempt at a cavalry attack.</p> - -<p>Towards eight o'clock there was a lull in the attack. The accidental -nature of the country to the south favoured the concealment of the -Germans. I would not attempt to estimate closely their force at -this point. It might have been a division. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> were occupying the -intervals between the fortresses, and had as their objective the -bridges south of the city.</p> - -<p>The attack was checked all along the line. Battalion after battalion -was thrown back by the Belgians, whose 9th Regiment of the Line fought -like demons.</p> - -<p>My own adventures were many and varied. The most stirring was when I -was held up by a lancer, who kept his revolver pointed at the pit of -my stomach while I explained that I was not a German. Four times I was -arrested and brought before the authorities. When I got back into the -town the crowd that swarmed on the streets would one minute surround -me and threaten me as a German, and the next loudly acclaim me as the -first of the arriving English.</p> - -<p>That was the question in every mouth. "When would the English come?" -The whereabouts of the French was another topic eagerly discussed by -the mob.</p> - -<p>Panic-stricken refugees came hurrying in during the morning, and -continued throughout the day to flood the city. Wherever they could -find listeners, which was easy, they would tell the story of their -night's experiences. One woman with her two daughters had spent the -whole night in the cellar of their home. A shell had exploded in the -kitchen. Had any of her family been injured? someone asked.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Yes, monsieur, the poor cat was dead." A stout gentleman, with a -pointed grey beard was inconsolable because his "collection of little -birds" had been left behind at the mercy of the Germans.</p> - -<p>This influx of frightened outsiders had a very baleful effect on the -people of Liège itself. Naturally the discussion of the number of -killed and wounded on both sides was the principal topic.</p> - -<p>Motors carrying wounded soon began to arrive. These stopped before -the hotels or establishments which had been turned into improvised -hospitals. "Fifteen beds ready," "Ten beds for wounded here," were -signs posted on the doors of many houses.</p> - -<p>The news was soon current in the city that the fighting had ceased for -the moment. There was to be a conference with the Germans.</p> - -<p>The Palace of Liège was now the centre of attraction. "The Germans -demanded the immediate surrender of the forts and the city." "The -Belgians had asked for twenty-four hours in which to consider this -proposal." "The Germans refused, and threatened to bombard the city at -once." These and a dozen other rumours ran through the crowds.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a loud explosion set every heart thumping. "Had the -bombardment commenced?" "No, the Belgian engineers had blown up the -arches of the bridge."</p> - -<p>But as the afternoon wore on it became known that the Belgian -commanders had refused to give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> up the city. The bombardment was to -begin at six p.m. That was the last word I got.</p> - -<p>The last train out of the city was crowded with refugees fleeing with -such little property as they could gather together. The scenes were -pitiful in the extreme when the train pulled out. Never can one forget -the expression of those left behind.</p> - -<p>And the scenes in the train!</p> - -<p>I carried a woman who must have been between eighty-five and ninety -years old up the step of the vehicle and to a rude bench in a -third-class carriage. A Sister of Mercy was her only attendant. Before -we were half-way to Brussels a priest had given her extreme unction. -Opposite me sits a man with four five-week old puppies and the mother -in his lap. In the next car are herded a score of German prisoners. -The helmets covered with cloth. The insignia gone.</p> - -<p>In order to understand the attack which the Belgians so gallantly -repulsed during the early hours of the morning it is necessary to have -some idea of the country south of Liège.</p> - -<p>The most remarkable feature of the terrain is the sharp rise of the -hills south of the River Meuse. From the flat banks of the stream the -land rises at an angle of fifteen degrees until it reaches 300 feet. -These figures are my estimation. The country is wooded and rough.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p>From a military point of view the section to the south and west of -where the River Ourthe joins the Meuse is extremely important. In the -first place, the Meuse is crossed here by two bridges, one railway -and the other a splendid masonry road bridge built to commemorate the -Liège Exposition. This latter is called sometimes the Pont de Fragnée -and sometimes the Exposition Bridge. The Pont du Val-Benoit is the -name of the railway bridge. The Exposition Bridge has been mined ready -for destruction. I could not get a chance to examine the railway -bridge. The railways from Hervé and Verviers enter the city over this -crossing. As it is certain that the main German force is coming over -these lines of communication, the capture of the bridges must be their -first object.</p> - -<p>The angle between the Rivers Ourthe and Meuse is a flat plain. Besides -the railway junction, the angle is occupied by the electric lighting -plant, a smelting works, and a gun and small arms factory. These were -all in full blast during the day. A coal mine was also being operated.</p> - -<p>In addition to these plants, whose value to an invading army is beyond -estimation, a force holding the hills to the south would have the city -at its mercy. Again, there is another railway running to Namur. So if -the Germans are to get anywhere near their second objective this line -of communication must be taken.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> - -<p>Nothing could be superior to the resistance put up by the Belgian -army to the attacks made between Embourg and Boncelles. The 9th and -14th Regiments of the Line not only checked the advancing Germans, -but actually threw them back. The Belgians were greatly helped by the -fact that the enemy advanced in close order. Battalion after battalion -of Germans were thrown into the fight in solid formation. It is small -wonder that they were decimated. However, the estimated number of -killed and wounded on their side is certainly exaggerated. Rumour puts -it at 25,000. At the assault of Port Arthur where I saw the Japanese -swarm up the forts at Ban Ju San, and where there were 400 pieces of -artillery in action, the losses from August 16th to the 21st totalled -16,000 on the Japanese side. While the Belgians have inflicted the -severest kind of repulse, yet I cannot believe that the enemy's -casualties reach the figures given. Still, they have been heavy enough -to make them ask for an armistice of twenty-four hours.</p> - -<p>The Belgian troops engaged are the 3rd Division and 15th Mixed -Brigade. The Germans are reported as the 7th, 9th, and 10th Corps -under General von Emmich. The detachments of Germans captured which -I have seen have all been cavalry. They are mostly boys of from -eighteen to twenty-four years old. Their grey uniforms are stripped of -all insignia, and they have covered their helmets with grey drill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> -In justice to the attacking force, I must say that their artillery -practice was excellent. This fact only adds to the credit of the -Belgian defence.</p> - -<p>In all honour to the work done by the army, the spirit of the citizens -of Liège also merits the highest praise. It takes courage to sit -still under a bombardment. And this is what the civilians have had -to do. Their courage was also tested to the utmost by the stories of -murder and rapine told by the panic-stricken refugees coming in from -the outlying towns. Fortunately, so far, the German shells have done -little harm to the city proper. Yet it seems contrary to the spirit -of our boasted civilisation that the rules of war permit an enemy to -drop projectiles among women and children. Liège is a fortified town, -and under this classification it is liable to artillery attack without -notice.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In a subsequent despatch Mr. Fortescue emphasised the fact that the -dogged resistance of the Belgians had been of the highest military -importance for two reasons: in the first place, it had given France -time to complete her mobilisation; and, in the second, it had given the -British army time to mobilise and to begin its landing on the Continent.</p> - -<p>At noon on August 11th, the Press Bureau issued a statement showing, -<i>inter alia</i>, the disposition of the German forces at Liège, so far -as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> they were known. The statement said that about two German cavalry -divisions were reported in the neighbourhood of Tongres; three German -corps were still opposite Liège; other German troops were reported to -be entrenching the line of the River Aisne.</p> - -<p>The large German force was moving through Luxemburg, and the advanced -troops were now on the Belgian frontier.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Preliminary Atrocities—Bravery of the Belgians—Battle of -Haelen-Diest</span></p> - - -<p>At this stage of the fighting numerous circumstantial stories of German -atrocities began to filter through, though for various reasons large -portions of them were deleted by the Censors. They were generally -summed up in an official statement by the Belgian Government which is -quoted in a subsequent chapter. Dr. Dillon, telegraphing on August -11th, asserted that it was still impossible to throw any light -upon the military operations, which might culminate on Thursday or -Friday in a terrific collision between the forces of disruption and -those of civilisation. Never before, not even during the Japanese -campaign against Russia, had the movements of an army been shrouded -in such impenetrable mystery. Considering the number, audacity, and -ingenuity of the German agents still in Belgium, these precautions -were indispensable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> Anyhow, the War Office, the only source of -intelligence, contented itself with a brief assurance that the news was -satisfactory, or that there was no news of importance to communicate. -Concrete facts were learnt mostly from Paris or Holland.</p> - -<p>Another fact which was beginning to dawn upon the public was that -the heroic resistance of the Belgian army had been offered hitherto -to covering troops only, and that the enemy's losses did not exceed -5,000, although three German army corps had been thoroughly beaten. -It was believed in Brussels that the hostile main armies would be -ready any time after Wednesday night, August 12th. On the 11th several -detachments of German covering troops were sent forward to the Belgian -advanced posts as feelers. The Belgians when possible concealed -themselves in thickets or in fields, and captured a considerable number -of the invaders.</p> - -<p>One Belgian lancer, named Bogaerts, deserves especial mention. His -habit was to sally forth alone, lance in poise, and dash forward -against the Uhlans, one of whom he generally killed or wounded, -whereupon the remainder gave themselves up. In this way he took -fourteen prisoners, wounded several Uhlans, and killed three, without -suffering the slightest injury.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> - -<p>Encounters became frequent in the district stretching from Liège to -Tongres, Hannut, and Tirlemont, whither two divisions succeeded in -penetrating on the 11th.</p> - -<p>Already the airships of the different combatants were floating -gracefully into the visual range of the Brussels population, but at -such a height that one could only conjecture the nationality of each; -and the authorities warned the public neither to fear nor attack the -Uhlans.</p> - -<p>Anxiety respecting Holland's neutrality was not yet wholly dispelled. -Nobody doubted the firm resolve of the Dutch Government to maintain -its right to hold aloof from the war, but certain misgivings were -entertained as to the adequacy of the troops stationed in the district -where the violation of territory by the Germans was most probable. Some -months previously Dutch Limburg, possessing only a few squadrons of -cavalry, was practically defenceless. Since then a number of infantry -battalions were stationed along the frontier from Maastricht to Venloo, -together with several companies of the local Landwehr. If, as many -military men believed, these troops were the only obstacle to a German -advance in Holland, they constituted an inducement rather than a -deterrent, it was thought.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> - -<p>German spies and secret agents were still numerous and audacious. -Ten days before the declaration of war all trees near the sources of -water in the forest of Soignes, outside Brussels, had notices posted -up in German, with the words, "Potable water." The Mayor of Brussels -had these placards removed, but they were afterwards found posted up -anew. On August 12th when a representative of <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> was -leaving the American Legation, he saw two municipal guards arresting a -lady, whom they politely conducted to the police-station. His chauffeur -cried, "That's no lady. He is a German spy." A couple of men hearing -this rushed up and attempted to maltreat the prisoner, but the guards -protected their charge effectually. At the station the prisoner, who -looked quite collected, was found to be a male German agent possessed -of apparatus for cutting telegraph wires and also of compromising -documents. Belgian treatment of Germans, said the correspondent, -whether civilians or prisoners, erred on side of humanitarianism if it -erred at all.</p> - -<p>On the night of August 12th the Press Bureau stated:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Of the twenty-six German army corps the bulk have now been definitely -located, and it is evident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> that the mass of the German troops are -concentrated between Liège and Luxemburg.</p> - -<p>The number known to be on the Western side proves that in the Eastern -theatre of war the frontier, as far as Germany is concerned, is -comparatively lightly guarded, unless by reserve troops.</p></blockquote> - -<p>At this time, beyond some unimportant outpost fighting near Liège, the -position in Belgium was quiet. "A sense of stagnation," as Dr. Dillon -expressed it, was creeping over the public. Of the troops massing -behind the various cavalry covers, of the enemy's numbers, whereabouts, -and plans, nobody but the General Staff knew anything. The vaguest of -conjectures were the sole substitute for knowledge. Some held that the -Germans, disheartened by their failure to traverse Belgium in three -days and by the severe defeat of three army corps, were preparing for -the defensive. This view, taken in official circles, was borne out by -the circumstance that they were entrenching themselves on the River -Ourthe, employing the peasants to make routes in the south of the -province of Liège and in Luxemburg, bringing up fresh troops for the -reinforcement of the line Maestricht-Liège, and withdrawing most of -their covering cavalry regiments.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus04.jpg" alt="diagram" /> -</p> - - - -<p>Passing from the region of conjecture to that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> of fact, it was soon -learnt that the enemy's cavalry which advanced on Monday into Belgium -to see how the land lay threw out feelers from Hannut and Saint Trond -towards Tirlemont, Hougaerde, and Jodoigne. They came with artillery -and machine guns, occupied Landen, Neerwinden, Pellaines, and other -places, burning houses and hayricks as they passed. A regiment of -Belgian lancers met them at Dormael, where a sharp encounter gave a -momentary advantage to the defenders, whom the German artillery, which -was opened shortly afterwards, forced to retire.</p> - -<p>The Germans then proceeded to shoot seven inmates of the houses on an -unproved charge of firing. They also burned the houses of the village -of Orsmael, and shot three brothers, peasants, on a like allegation.</p> - -<p>Universal execration followed the German troops in Belgium, where all -observers were unanimous in accusing them of cruelty towards civilians, -unwarranted by the attitude of the population and forbidden by the -rules of war. Wherever they tarried peaceful inhabitants were shot -down on charges which were emphatically denied by their neighbours. At -Dormael a Uhlan, seeing a priest go forward to administer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> the last -sacraments to the agonising wounded, cut him down as if he too were a -combatant.</p> - -<p>Having compelled the Belgian lancers to retire from Dormael, the German -cavalry advanced in the direction of Tirlemont to the number of about -2,000. Arriving at Bost, which is a mile from Tirlemont, they found -their further advance barred by Belgian infantry, whereupon they fell -back upon Saint Trond and Waremme.</p> - -<p>The Belgian troops did not begin the pursuit of the enemy's cavalry -until August 11th, when they drove it beyond Waremme.</p> - -<p>Liège became a new centre of an artillery action, both offensive -and defensive. The Germans pounded away at the forts, their shells -exploding on the cupolas and around these, while the forts responded -with vigour unimpaired. Meanwhile the invaders began to construct a -pontoon over the Meuse at Lixhe, for troops and trains of ammunition -and provisions. It was believed that they were also preparing to cross -the river above Liège, for they were forwarding heavy war material in -the direction of Engis.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the French cavalry showed themselves to the population of -Brussels, who gave them a warm ovation.</p> - -<p>The second general engagement in the struggle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> for the possession of -the Liège forts took place on Wednesday, August 12th, and lasted until -the early morning of the 13th. The Germans attempted a "reconnaissance -in force," and attacked the Belgian army at two points.</p> - -<p>Again, however, the Belgian soldier proved more than a match for the -most highly trained troops of the Kaiser. The reconnaissance in force -failed utterly. Two of their finest cavalry divisions and two regiments -of Jaegers suffered heavy losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners.</p> - -<p>The attack was made at two points, one to the north of Namur and the -other near Diest, which is a railway junction. About ten in the morning -cavalry patrols reported the advance of the enemy towards Haelen, a -village about three miles south of Diest. At the head of the force rode -the famous 17th Dragoons; behind them marched a regiment of Jaegers -with a battery of artillery and machine-guns. Belgian carbineers -awaited them at Zelck and succeeded in checking the advance until they -could retire on Haelen, which was formerly a fortress.</p> - -<p>With reckless courage the Dragoons galloped into what was an armed cul -de sac. In front of them was a battery on the mound of the fort, and -the road was trenched and barricaded. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> Belgians opened fire from -buildings which had been loopholed to meet an attack from that quarter. -Under cover of artillery fire and aided by machine-guns the cavalry -attempted to carry the position by assault. It was an enterprise that -did more credit to the courage than to the judgment of the German -soldier.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mr. William Maxwell, who communicated these facts, added:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>At manœuvres in Germany some years ago I remember the Kaiser asking -Sir Ian Hamilton what he thought of the infantry formation. Sir Ian -ventured to suggest that the formation was too dense. Whereupon the -Emperor rebuked him with these words: "Half of those men would be -killed, but we can afford to lose them." The cavalry seem to act on -this principle. Without a pause they rode upon the barricade, which -they attempted to leap. I counted seven dead horses close to the -barricade, while others lay writhing a hundred yards off, bearing -testimony to the bravery of two-score men who now lie side by side -awaiting burial. So stout was the resistance of the 700 Belgians -who held this position against a division of cavalry and a regiment -of infantry that the enemy soon found it prudent to withdraw. Not -allowed to retire unmolested, though pursuit beyond Zelck would have -been folly, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> left behind about forty dead, many wounded, and 300 -prisoners.</p></blockquote> - -<p>It was remarkable, according to the accounts of eye-witnesses, how -readily some of these brave men surrendered. One Belgian officer -captured three officers. The first question they asked was, "What is -England doing?" They were evidently ignorant that England had declared -war. Their second question was, "What of our fleet?" The wounded were -treated not only with skill and kindness, but even luxury.</p> - -<p>The object of this raid was to feel the nature and strength of the -opposing force, and, if possible, to capture points on the railway as -well as to threaten the capital in order to strike terror—a phrase so -often on the lips of their War Lord—into the heart of the people.</p> - -<p>A more detailed version of the Haelen-Diest fight on the road to -Louvain says that the encounter lasted all day. The Germans were -supported by a battery of artillery. The Belgian field forces fought -desperately, and Lieutenant Van Doren even enlisted the Diest fire -brigade against the enemy, whose loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners -was comparatively heavy.</p> - -<p>Many of the prisoners were fainting, and the horses were dying from -hunger. The German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> attacking party had probably been detached from the -Liège right wing for an audacious raid on Louvain and Brussels.</p> - -<p>Further details about the Haelen-Diest combat showed that the German -losses must have approached 3,000.</p> - -<p>The action, when the German mitrailleuses (machine-guns) were captured, -took place north of Eghezée, on the road from Liège to Namur. Of -course, the main German forces continued to be arrested before Liège, -but they sent forth detachments in every direction to make believe that -they had carried everything before them in their rear and to create -popular panics. Each of these detachments was gradually beaten in its -turn, and this slowly weakened the large forces intended for the great -general battle, and estimated at about seven army corps, or about -250,000 men.</p> - -<p>The following official statement was issued at Brussels on Thursday, -August 13th:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The victory gained by the Belgian troops yesterday is now officially -confirmed. The Belgian troops engaged were only one cavalry division -and a brigade of all arms. The German losses were very heavy, and it -is believed that about three-fifths of the enemy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> engaged was put out -of action. The Belgian losses were relatively slight, only a few men -being killed.</p> - -<p>The Belgian cavalry division this morning took up the offensive -against yesterday's defeated troops, in order, it is believed, to pick -up the dead and wounded and to collect the abandoned war material. No -German surprise is expected.</p> - -<p>Another encounter took place this morning in the south with the German -troops reported yesterday to be marching towards Eghezée. These -were attacked by our troops and repulsed with very heavy losses. We -captured a number of machine guns mounted on motor-cars.</p> - -<p>There is no reason to fear any German cavalry movement on Brussels -from the south, all roads to the capital being guarded by the army and -by the Garde Civique.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The military situation at the time was summed up as follows by Mr. E. -Ashmead-Bartlett, <i>The Daily Telegraph's</i> military expert:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Every single account of conversations with wounded German soldiers -or prisoners serves to show that the rank and file of the German -army have not the smallest idea for what they are fighting, and that -all profess not to have the smallest desire to invade either France -or Belgium. In the war of 1870, the situations were reversed. Every -German knew that the future of his country as a world Power depended -on victory,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> and all marched to the front with a determination to -conquer or to die. The French, on the other hand, had no idea for what -they were fighting, and their purely professional army left for the -war amidst vague cries of "À Berlin!" buoyed up by no moral principle. -These factors must bear a very far-reaching effect on the eventual -outcome of the campaign.</p> - -<p>In a recent journey through France, I noticed nothing so remarkable -as the intense seriousness of the people. Frenchmen will tell you -there has been nothing like it since the Revolutionary wars, prior -to the Napoleonic epoch, when the levée en masse crushed the invader -at Valmy and Jemappes. The French have entered into this struggle -through no love of fighting, but because they know their existence as -an independent nation is at stake. One other fact must also be noted -before the chances of the opposing armies are examined. In 1870 the -French regular army, which should have had a peace strength of 400,000 -men, only numbered 270,000, whereas the Germans, at the very start of -the campaign, stood at a total war strength of over 1,200,000 men.</p> - -<p>This inequality no longer exists. On paper Germany has a considerable -superiority of numbers, namely twenty-five army corps against -twenty-one, and her reserves are probably more numerous and better -organised than those of the French. On the other hand, she is, -according to the most reliable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> information, keeping four corps on the -Russian frontier, and, therefore, the numbers available against France -should certainly not show any superiority, and will probably show -an inferiority when the Belgian and British armies are united along -the line of the Meuse. For years German strategists have reckoned on -having to fight both France and Russia at the same time, and they have -professed themselves as being confident of undertaking such a gigantic -task. Four corps especially trained under Von der Goltz to fight in -more open formations were to hold the Russians, whilst the remaining -twenty-one were to be flung with such rapidity against France as to -obtain a decisive success before Russian intervention could make -itself seriously felt.</p> - -<p>It is one thing to have twenty-one army corps ready to invade France, -and quite another to find a suitable front on which to deploy them for -such an invasion. All the time-honoured old routes for the invasion -of France are practically closed to modern armies by the chain of -fortresses which the French have constructed, and, vice versa, the old -roads to Germany are closed to a French invasion. Therefore, French, -German, and Belgian strategists have long recognised that the only -route by which a modern German army could invade France and march on -Paris would be via Belgium, and that declarations of neutrality would -count but little in the strategic scale. It was to resist such a -menace that the Belgians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> constructed two fortified camps at Liège and -Namur. The old routes of 1870 present too many formidable obstacles to -be overcome. A direct advance into France from Alsace would have found -itself faced by the fortified front Belfort-Epinal-Toul, and Verdun, -four formidable fortified camps, supported by forts on the heights -overlooking the Moselle and Meuse.</p> - -<p>There are only two routes by which this line can be passed. That by -way of Charmes, between Epinal and Toul, protected by the fort of -Manonvillers, which would enable the Germans to enter Haut Marne and -to gain the valley of the Seine, and the road to Paris via Bar-le-Duc, -St. Dizier, and Troyes. This is the theatre of war of 1814, and also -the road used by the Crown Prince after Froeschwiller, in 1870. But an -invading army would have to take or mask all these entrenched camps, -which would take a very long time, or else have his communications -continually threatened.</p> - -<p>The other road is that by Dun-Stenay, north of Verdun, passing through -the defiles of Côtes-de-Meuse and the forest of Argonne to the open -country round Valmy. But this country is extremely difficult for -military operations on a large scale. It was used by the Duke of -Brunswick in 1792.</p> - -<p>The Germans confidently expected to overrun the whole of Belgium and -to gain the French frontier before a single French corps could be -concentrated to offer any serious resistance. They reckoned on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> two -factors which have turned out the reverse of what they hoped. They -relied on a partial break-down in the French mobilisation, especially -on the railway lines. In this supposition they have been completely -mistaken. Nothing so far has been so remarkable as the smooth working -of the railway service, and, consequently, the rapid concentration of -the French armies. The second factor on which the Germans relied was -the readiness of the Belgians to see their country overrun by a swarm -of invaders or else their inability to resist such an invasion. The -quickest route into Belgium is to cross the Meuse at Liège, and from -there to march south by the left bank along the Mons-Charleroi road, -and to gain the French frontier between Maubeuge and Valenciennes. Of -recent years the Germans have made every preparation for such a move. -They have organised depôts for troops and collected large masses of -stores, and have quadrupled lines at Aix-la-Chapelle, Malmedy, St. -Vith, Bitburg, and Trèves. They can thus rapidly concentrate immense -numbers of troops from Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Coblenz in front of -Liège.</p> - -<p>But the stubborn and unexpected defence of Liège has thrown all -their plans for a direct advance into Belgium via the Liège-Namur -line out of gear, and, to judge from the meagre reports which are -coming through slowly, they have entrenched that line strongly, and -are holding it on the left bank of the Meuse with the two corps -which were so roughly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> handled while the bulk of their forces are -preparing to cross the Belgian frontier further north on the line -Maestricht-Roermonde, and to march on Brussels through the Duchy of -Limburg. We read of constant cavalry engagements in this district and -of partial defeats of the German troops, but these stories must not -be taken too seriously, as the German cavalry is merely being used as -a screen to cover the concentration of immense masses of infantry who -will soon be making their presence felt.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Life at Brussels—French Advance—Capital removed to Antwerp</span></p> - - -<p>A striking description of life in and around Brussels at this time is -given by Dr. Dillon:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Brussels is herself again. The delirious excitement which during the -first days of mobilisation displayed itself in acts of frenzy has -subsided. The inhabitants have adjusted themselves to the wearisome -suspense and unpleasant surprises of a state of war. Shops that were -shuttered a few days ago are open and doing a brisk business once -more. The cafés are thronged inside and out. The boulevards are bright -with streams of many-coloured humanity. The newspapers which dish up -the same stories day after day are grabbed at by citizens eager to -obtain the first news of the military movements.</p> - -<p>The only striking differences one discerns between this and normal -times affect the lives of the well-to-do classes. All the theatres, -cinematographs, and other places of amusement are closed. Some of -the principal hotels are turned into temporary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> hospitals. Public -conveyances, whether cabs or taxis, can hardly be said to exist. -Certain sorts of food which were formerly exported, such as peaches, -grapes, and chickens, have hardly any market and are being sold at -half prices. Flowers are withering on their stalks for lack of buyers. -Artisans, such as electricians and plumbers, have vanished.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Notwithstanding these changes, added Dr. Dillon, the links with the -cheerful life of a month ago had not yet been severed. The people of -Brussels were still blithesome and self-confident, buoyed up by the -sense of security imparted by the heroic conduct of their defenders and -the consciousness of a right cause. As yet the unquiet temper of war -had nowhere manifested itself, yet maimed warriors, homeless families, -destitute women, orphaned children, claimed and received attention, and -reminded the observer all too suggestively of the harvest of misery yet -to be garnered in.</p> - -<p>A couple of hours' drive out of the town took one to a world of grim -realities and sinister contrasts. Over the country between Tirlemont -and Saint Trond, but yesterday full of tame beauty, rich in cornfields -and carefully tended gardens, the withering breath of the ruthless -Moloch had already fitfully passed. As the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> traveller moved along the -dusty road, catching a glimpse of an occasional farmhouse quivering in -the distance through the heat of the August day, he might well feel -beset by the vague dangers that might at any moment have started into -concrete shape and ended his hopes and cares for all time.</p> - -<p>As one approached the village of Orsmael at this time unmistakable -tokens of desolation thrust themselves on the view. At first shattered -panes of glass, then domestic utensils flung among the cabbages of the -gardens or before the wrenched doors, greybeards with shrivelled faces -moaning under the trees, women trembling and wailing plaintively, and -still beholding as a mirage the scenes of horror which upset their -mental balance. Here a couple of children prattling in subdued tones, -there a mother leading three orphaned little girls from the still -smoking ruins of their house into the wide world, and everywhere the -loathsome soilure and squalor of war.</p> - -<p>Inhuman hate appeared to possess those Prussian invaders, whom terror -drove and terror alone could curb. Belgians who dealt with them at -close quarters, as at Dormael, declared that these Uhlans fought with -the bitterness of personal fury, and, not content with killing those -who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> manfully resisted them in fight, assassinated numbers who had laid -down their weapons and held their hands up. Many of the corpses have -their hands raised and their elbows on a level with the shoulders. The -wounds of these brave defenders are horrible, having been inflicted -with weapons fired at a distance of a couple of inches from the mouth -or breast.</p> - -<p>Some Uhlans met a Belgian chemist who was riding a bicycle near -Jodoigne. Arresting him they inquired their way to the town hall, -placing the muzzles of revolvers to his head while they listened. He -gave them the required information and was allowed to pass on, but -before he had gone ten yards they sent three bullets into his back.</p> - -<p>On Friday afternoon, August 14th, the Press Bureau issued the following -statement, summing up the position in Northern Belgium:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>(1) After a successful resistance of five days at the passes of Sainte -Marie aux Mines and Le Bonhomme, the French troops have occupied the -region of the Saale Pass, which commands the valley of the Burche, an -affluent of the Rhine.</p> - -<p>(2) At Saale numerous desertions from the German troops are notified. -The French have taken many prisoners, and have captured some -machine-guns.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> - -<p>(3) It is now confirmed that in Belgium the Belgians were successful -in an engagement which took place on August 12th between their troops -and six regiments of German cavalry, supported by 2,500 infantry, -machine-guns and artillery. The enemy was completely disorganised; the -six cavalry regiments suffered great losses, and the Belgians pursued -the infantry which gave way.</p> - -<p>(4) This (Friday) morning, towards Eghezée, sixteen kilomètres to -the north of Namur, a mixed detachment from the garrison surprised -some German cavalry regiments in camp, threw them into confusion and -forced them back towards the east, after taking numerous prisoners -and capturing cannon and machine-guns. To the south of the Meuse the -German cavalry avoids contact with the French.</p> - -<p>(5) The news of fighting about Haelen yesterday is confirmed. The -Germans were driven back eastwards, and there is now no German cavalry -between Hasselt and Ramillies.</p> - -<p>(6) Liège forts are reported to be still holding out, and to have -plenty of supplies.</p> - -<p>(7) German cavalry patrols are now reported north of Montmedy.</p> - -<p>(8) General Joffre, by virtue of the powers conferred on him by the -Ministry of War (decision of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> August 8th, 1914), has made Lieutenant -Bruyant, of the Dragoons, a Knight of the Legion of Honour. "This -officer," it is stated in the text of his appointment, "accompanied by -seven horsemen, did not hesitate to charge a platoon of some thirty -Uhlans: he killed the officer in charge of them with his own hand, and -routed the German platoon, inflicting severe losses upon it."</p> - -<p>(9) The Commander-in-Chief has conferred the first war medal of the -campaign on Escoffier, Corporal of Dragoons, for having charged with -the greatest courage and received several wounds.</p> - -<p>(10) Belgian cyclists and cavalry from Namur surprised yesterday a -force of German cavalry, accompanied by artillery and machine-guns, -and compelled them to retire. The Germans lost a field gun and several -machine-guns.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The French army was meanwhile making good progress, and on the night of -the 14th it was officially announced by the War Ministry in Paris that -the French were entering Belgium through Charleroi and were proceeding -in the direction of Gembloux, some thirty miles to the north-east.</p> - -<p>Reports were current on Friday evening that the German attack had been -renewed, but these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> were afterwards seen to be baseless. The German -forces around Liège were content to remain on the defensive for a -time; and even towards the south, in the Vosges, the French troops -were slowly driving the invaders before them. At Liège itself several -bodies of the enemy had taken up their position in the town, but the -forts were still intact. An observer of the scene at this juncture -commented on the changed physiognomy of that once gay capital of the -Walloon country. Some 30,000 of the inhabitants had fled from the place -in terror when the enemy's guns began to shower shells upon the forts -from Fléron. The remainder buried themselves in cellars and underground -passages, scores huddling together without food, drink, or other of -life's necessaries. The city bore marks of havoc everywhere. Gaping -bridges, half-demolished houses, many without doors, which had been -taken off their hinges and cast into the courtyard or the roadside, -fallen roofs, smouldering ruins, told their dismal tale.</p> - -<p>There was not a street in which shells had not fallen. The very -asphalt was ploughed up in places like a cornfield at sowing time. -Hurriedly-made graves with their soft mounds protruded in unexpected -places. During the day the Germans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> were everywhere in evidence: they -patrolled the principal thoroughfares, stood at the barricades which -they had raised at all the approaches to the town, or crept up towards -the forts with remarkable recklessness. Nine of them on bicycles rode -to within 300 mètres of the forts one morning; eight returned unharmed, -only one paying for the pleasant sense of daring adventure with his -life. The inhabitants were cowed by recent deterrent examples and by -the terrors hanging over them.</p> - -<p>At nightfall the city assumed the aspect of a churchyard. The silence -was soul-curdling, yet the hearts of the inhabitants beat quicker and -louder when that silence was broken by the heavy tread of the Prussian -patrols or the rending thunder of heavy guns. All the doors still -extant had to be kept wide open. Early in the morning when the bakers -removed their bread from the ovens, German guards, posted wherever -victuals are to be had, were in the habit of pouncing down on the -entire output of the bakeries, for which they sometimes paid; but the -ill-starred inhabitants had no share. The soldiers made their own -coffee and soup in great motor cauldrons, from which it was poured into -metal porringers that they carry with them. They now wore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> reformed -field uniforms, rendering them hardly distinguishable from a distance, -just as their airships were so re-painted as to resemble the grey of -cloudland.</p> - -<p>At Haelen and Diest, the scene of Wednesday's engagement, one drew -nearer to the ghastly realities of war. The struggle waxed desperate, -man meeting man, striking, thrusting, and wrestling in the final fight -for life or death. Here the once peaceful country-side was utterly -transformed. In the background heaps of ruins that so lately were -farmhouses still emitted pungent smoke. Between the leafy trees one saw -the charred rents in the dwellings still erect, animals erring hither -and thither, barricades hastily erected of dead horses, their horrible -wounds gaping and spreading the mephitic reek of death, and along the -carriage-road on either side freshly-made ridges which hid the German -dead.</p> - -<p>The serious attention of the civilised world was at this juncture -once again directed to the inhuman methods of warfare practised by -the German soldiery in Belgium, else, it was declared, the campaign -would assume a character of fiendish savagery unmatched in the annals -of war. "Unless some real respect be shown to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> the usages received -by civilised nations," said one observer, "both sides will end by -making no prisoners. If even a tithe of the narratives now passing -from mouth to mouth about the atrocities committed by the invaders be -well founded—and they are vouched for by credible and level-headed -clergymen, mayors, and foreigners who feel no personal animus against -the Germans—the soldiery of the Fatherland have outrun the Hercules -pillars of inhumanity."</p> - -<p>Another report stated that the Germans in Liège were trying to -fraternise with the Belgians, and that German military bands played -daily in the two Belgian cafés.</p> - -<p>About the middle of August a Belgian who had a relative at Port Talbot, -Cardiff, wrote:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Every day brings to light new acts of heroism displayed by the plucky -little Belgians, whilst several more no doubt have been accomplished, -of which we shall never hear. Their heroes are either too silent or -for ever silent. Lupin, a boy of eighteen, a corporal in the regiment -of Major Jeanne, who himself was nearly killed during the battle of -Liège, has died, a great hero in the eyes of his whole regiment.</p> - -<p>One of his comrades who has known Lupin for years <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>tells this pathetic -story, which Major Jeanne has himself brought to light. "We were -on the right bank of the river Meuse at Bellaire, which is not far -above Jupille, and we were in close touch with a German battery. -The musketry on both sides was terrible. I was stretched out flat, -continuously loading and shooting, and could feel my gun getting hot. -Bullets were flattening their noses in front of me, raising clouds of -sand and dust. My mouth, eyes, and ears were full of powder. Corpses -were heaped round me, their faces black with powder, and stamped -with the horrible grimace of death; their hands, with swollen veins, -gripping their deadly Mausers. Yes, war is magnificently terrible.</p> - -<p>"All at once the Germans adopted new tactics, and I must give them -credit for being a cute lot. They seemed to withdraw from their -position, and we could distinctly notice their ranks splitting as if -in great confusion, but it was only to bring to the front some more -artillery which had been rushing from behind. The move was smartly -executed, the ranks closed again, and for a time they seemed as if -they were going to have the advantage over us.</p> - -<p>"But now young Lupin had seen his chance looming, and what he did -altogether changed the face of things. 'Leave them to me now,' was -what someone heard him say, and like a flash the boy dashed off under -cover of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> ditch on the left. Only a few of us had seen it, but -Major Jeanne knew his corporal of eighteen, and knew he was up to -something grand. Watching him, he shouted, 'Go for them! Get at those -square-heads with your bullets. Fire!'</p> - -<p>"In the meantime Lupin had managed to get to the left of the German -battery, and at 300 mètres distance he sheltered behind a wall. -He took aim at the battery in enfilade, and under the fire of his -Mauser brought down in quick succession the chief officer, the -under-officers, and the artillerymen. This time real confusion took -place at the German battery, which was nearly silenced, the Germans, -thinking that a whole platoon was now attacking them from behind the -wall, directed their last piece of artillery on the wall, and with a -terrific crash the wall came down, burying the brave Corporal Lupin. -The boy's bravery had weakened the German position, and it did not -take us long to scatter them, and put another victory on our list."</p></blockquote> - -<p>On Saturday and Sunday, August 15th and 16th, there was little definite -news from any part of the theatre of war. There was some fighting in -the south undoubtedly, and a French force defeated a strong body of -Bavarians, capturing 500 prisoners. At Dinant, in Belgium, there was -another stiff engagement, but no details of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> it came to hand for a -few days. An authoritative report was given out at Brussels to the -effect that the Germans had lost more than 25,000 killed, wounded, -and prisoners at Liège—more than half an army corps. These losses, -of course, would have been reckoned as trivial if the Germans had -succeeded in their original design of executing a "military promenade" -through Belgian territory. Apart from the scarcity of food, already -referred to, the besieging forces at Liège suffered from lack of -horses, and cavalry reconnaissances were gradually becoming impossible.</p> - -<p>On Monday, August 17th, it was officially announced that the British -Expeditionary Force had been safely landed on French soil; and it was -at the same time stated that the French army had scored some successes -in Upper Alsace. The movement of this wing of General Joffre's army -appeared to extend from the Swiss frontier at Altkirch, near Mülhausen, -as far away as Château Salins, a distance of eighty miles. Its object, -which was afterwards frustrated by a strong German advance, was to -isolate and "contain" the great fortresses of Metz and Strassburg. The -two official notices issued by the War Ministry in Paris describe these -operations:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p> - -Sunday Midnight [<i>i.e.</i>, August 16th].<br /> -</p> - -<p>The forward movement has been developed along the whole front from -Réchicourt to Sainte Marie-aux-Mines. In the Vosges we have carried -Sainte Marie-aux-Mines and made progress towards Sainte Blaise.</p> - -<p>The French troops which occupied the Donon yesterday have advanced. In -the valley of Schirmeck especially their progress has been extremely -rapid. We have taken 1,000 prisoners, in addition to the 500 captured -yesterday. Large quantities of equipment have been abandoned by the -enemy.</p> - -<p>In this district, as at Sainte Marie, we have captured guns of large -calibre, field-guns, and ammunition.</p> - -<p>In the region Blamont—Cirey we have gained the heights of Lorquin, -and in doing so have taken the convoy of a division of German cavalry, -consisting of nineteen motor wagons.</p> - -<p>In the attack on Dinant the enemy's forces consisted of the Cavalry -Division of the Guard and the First Division of Cavalry, supported -by infantry from several battalions and some companies with maxims. -When these forces appeared on the left bank the French troops attacked -them. This attack, delivered with magnificent dash, soon drove the -enemy back, and they recrossed the Meuse in great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> disorder. Many were -unable to regain the bridge, and fell into the river, which at this -point has steep banks and flows swiftly. Numbers of the enemy were -drowned.</p> - -<p>Taking advantage of this disorder, one of our Chasseur cavalry -regiments crossed the river after the Germans and pursued them for -several kilomètres. Several hundred horses belonging to the Uhlans -were captured and subsequently passed to the rear for remount -purposes. In this pursuit the French regiment put to flight forces of -the enemy considerably superior to itself in numbers.</p> - -<p> -Monday (11 a.m.) [<i>i.e.</i>, August 17th].<br /> -</p> - -<p>Our advance continues to develop. Our troops have carried the heights -to the north of the frontier, and their lines pass Breschwiller, -Lorquin, Azaudange, Marsal.</p> - -<p>In the Donon region we occupy Schirmeck, 7½ miles beyond Saales.</p> - -<p>The number of field-guns taken by us at this point is not four, as -was stated yesterday, but twelve, as well as twelve limbers and eight -maxims. Our cavalry has pushed forward as far as Lutzelhausen and -Muhlbach.</p> - -<p>Further to the south we have occupied Ville, to the east of the Pass -of Urbans, on the road to Schlestadt. Thann, Cernay, and Dannemarie -are occupied.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> - -<p>At Blamont, a village from which the Germans have just been driven -by our troops, they had, without reason or provocation, put to death -three persons, of whom one was a young girl and another an old man of -eighty-six, whose name was M. Barthélemy, and who was an ex-Mayor of -the village.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On Monday, August 17th, the Queen of the Belgians and the Ministers for -War, Finance, and Foreign Affairs retired from Brussels to Antwerp with -the Ministers of France and Russia, who left French interests in the -hands of the Spanish Legation.</p> - -<p>It was officially stated that this was according to long pre-arranged -and Constitutional arrangements, and not because the military situation -was disquieting. The families of the withdrawing Ministers remained in -Brussels, which was protected by over 20,000 Civic Guards, entrenched -behind barbed-wire fences, making the capital quite safe against -surprise attack.</p> - -<p>This move was really made because the Germans had managed to bring -up heavy siege guns; and, although the forts were still holding out, -arrangements were gradually being made to "contain" them and to advance -on the capital with the main army. The Belgian Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> afterwards -decided not to attempt to defend Brussels, and the barricades which had -been erected were dismantled and the barbed-wire fences taken down.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">Preparations at Namur—Scenes at Liège—Germans Pressing -Forward—Occupation of Brussels</span></p> - - -<p>In the meantime the second stronghold of the Belgian army, Namur, was -prepared for the onslaught of the enemy. On August 13th Mr. Granville -Fortescue, who had arrived there, noted that the city exhibited all -the grim circumstances of a siege except the actual falling of shells -within its boundaries. When he arrived at the station he followed the -crowd, which was herded into a corner until each passenger had been -examined. One could not move without a "laissez-passer." Soldiers -patrolled the streets, and every few hundred yards pedestrians were -halted and made to show their papers. Barricades commanded all the main -avenues into the city. They had been made by dragging enormous goods -vans across the street and turning the van into a sort of blockhouse. -The sides were pierced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> for rifle fire, and sand bags were piled -breast-high inside.</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus05.jpg" alt="map" /> -</p> - - - -<p>Defences of sand bags and earth were built at either side of the van.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Suddenly the whirl of an aeroplane sounds overhead. Then we hear a -scattered volley. The aeroplane is German, and the garrison are trying -to pot it, despite the fact that it must be 2,000 feet up. They are -striking in appearance, these German aeroplanes. Once seen it is easy -afterwards to distinguish them. Seen from directly below, it is best -described as scarab shaped—what I should imagine a giant scarab would -look like on the wing. The whole machine is white, except for a panel -of sky blue painted across the centre of each wing. The engine of the -German machine makes a louder noise than either the French or Belgian. -The aeroplane we were watching circled above the forts and remained in -this vicinity about half an hour. Then it turned about and disappeared -to the east.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The Kaiser, with three of his sons, left Berlin on August 17th for -Mayence, about 100 miles to the north of Strassburg; but he did not -venture upon Belgian soil.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>An English officer who returned to England from Brussels at this time -had had the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> interesting experience, and, it should be added, -privilege, of chatting with one of the heroic defenders of Liège, a -Belgian officer. To a representative of <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> he said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I never had any doubt that the Belgians were plucky fellows. The -defence of Liège shows them in heroic light.</p> - -<p>One of them, in the course of a casual conversation, which would not -have given you any idea that he, or any of his colleagues, had taken -part in anything extraordinary, said: "Some of us late arrivals only -managed to get to our posts when the German attack began. It was -night-time. We replied sharply with our guns. Until the dawn came we -had no very distinct idea of what our practice was. Then we noticed -heaps of slain Germans in a semi-circle at the foot of our fort. The -German guns must have been much less successful, because they rarely -hit us that night. They did better at daybreak. We did better still.</p> - -<p>"As line after line of the German infantry advanced, we simply mowed -them down. It was terribly easy, monsieur, and I turned to a brother -officer of mine more than once and said, 'Voilà! They are coming on -again, in a dense, close formation! They must be mad!' They made no -attempt at deploying, but came on, line after line, almost shoulder -to shoulder, until, as we shot them down, the fallen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> were heaped one -on top of the other, in an awful barricade of dead and wounded men -that threatened to mask our guns and cause us trouble. I thought of -Napoleon's saying—if he said it, monsieur; and I doubt it, for he -had no care of human life!—'C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la -guerre!' No, it was slaughter—just slaughter!</p> - -<p>"So high became the barricade of the dead and wounded that we did -not know whether to fire through it or to go out and clear openings -with our hands. We would have liked to extricate some of the wounded -from the dead, but we dared not. A stiff wind carried away the smoke -of the guns quickly, and we could see some of the wounded men trying -to release themselves from their terrible position. I will confess I -crossed myself, and could have wished that the smoke had remained!</p> - -<p>"But, would you believe it, this veritable wall of dead and dying -actually enabled these wonderful Germans to creep closer, and actually -charge up the glacis? Of course, they got no farther than half way, -for our maxims and rifles swept them back. Of course, we had our own -losses, but they were slight compared with the carnage inflicted upon -our enemies."</p></blockquote> - -<p>The English officer added:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"There is, as you know, quite a large colony of English people in -Brussels, and also in Bruges. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> have their English club and tennis -courts. Many of these Britishers have their own houses, and live in -Belgium for three or six months every year. When the war broke out -all but those owning, or renting, property were advised to leave the -country, which they did. Many English householders in Belgium also -closed their residences and left for England.</p> - -<p>"The Belgians were at first extremely dubious of our intention to send -troops to Belgium to support them, and night after night, at a certain -well-known seaside resort, they crowded about the British Consulate -for news. When it was definitely known that the British Expeditionary -Force had started Belgian men and women asked for the Union Jack to -be brought out by the Consul, and when this was done they filed past, -kissing it. I saw this with my own eyes."</p></blockquote> - - -<p>On the 18th it became evident that the German forces had gathered -on the line Maastricht-Liège and were about to make an attempt to -penetrate the allied armies facing them. There was no serious fighting -on this date, but German cavalry were seen in the direction of Antwerp.</p> - -<p>The long-expected battle appeared to have begun on the 19th -(Wednesday), and Tirlemont, a town some twenty-three miles from -Brussels, on the railway to Liège, was said to be its centre.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> Refugees -hurried into Brussels from Aerschot and Diest, and hundreds of -civilians from Tirlemont also made for the capital.</p> - -<p>Saarburg was occupied by the French on the same day.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The great German advance on Belgium was begun on Friday, August -21st, in a line extending from Dinant, a town to the south of -Namur, as far as a point opposite Antwerp. About noon Brussels was -reached and occupied. The following account of the position of the -Belgian Government was issued officially just before the capital was -transferred to Antwerp:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>At the present moment the general situation in the Belgian theatre of -war may be described as follows: After having lost a great deal of -time, a large number of men, and a great quantity of material, the -Prussian army has managed to gain ground on both banks of the Meuse up -to a line where it is in contact with the allied armies. The German -troops on the north side of the Meuse belong to various corps, whose -operations have been principally directed against Liège, and who in -the course of time have become available in other directions. There -is also a strong force of cavalry, by means of which the Germans have -been able to make a great show by extending to the north and south.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the south they came into collision with our troops and the French -troops, and were repulsed. In the north, on the other hand, they found -an open road, and small portions of them managed to make dashes far -afield. In a word, the Germans have taken the measure of our position, -but that they should have lost a fortnight in attaining this result is -all to the honour of our arms. That may have incalculable consequences -for the issues of the operations. The normal development of the -latter, according to the plan concerted between the allies, may lead -to the carrying out of "manœuvres," that is to say, to changes of -position in order to effect a change in the general situation.</p> - -<p>We are on the outside wing, where these manœuvres are nearly -always necessitated, either for the direct or indirect protection of -the flank. Our army, therefore, must necessarily modify its original -positions, and thus carry out completely the first task devolving -upon it, which consists in gaining time. There is, consequently, no -ground for anxiety if the army makes a movement in such and such a -direction, and armchair strategists need not occupy themselves with -the arrangements made, but should realise that our army now belongs to -a co-ordinated whole, and remember that the strategic conditions have -entirely changed since close contact has been established with our -allies on our right.</p> - -<p>The object of the operations as at present going<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> on is not to cover -such and such a district or such and such a town, which has now become -a matter of only secondary importance. The pursuit of the aim assigned -to the Belgian troops in the general plan of campaign preponderates -over everything. This object cannot be revealed, and the most -well-informed persons are unable to discover it in view of the veil of -obscurity which is rightly being spread over all the news allowed to -come through regarding the operations.</p> - -<p>Fighting is going on along the whole front from Bale to Diest. The -closer the contact comes between the two armies and the closer -one gets to a decisive action, the more one must expect to see an -advantage gained at one point while ground is lost at another. That -is only to be expected in the case of battles taking place over such -immense fronts as those occupied by the great armies of modern times.</p> - -<p>To sum up, one may say that what is going on at our gates is not the -only thing to be thought of. A strategic movement conceived with a -well-defined object is not necessarily a retreat. The fighting which -has taken place at the front during the last few days has resulted in -making the enemy more circumspect and in delaying his forward march -to the great advantage of the whole scheme of operations. There is -no reason at the present time for letting oneself be hung up, thus -playing into the hands of the Germans. That is the motive of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> -movements now being carried out. We are not beaten, far from it, but -are making arrangements for beating the enemy in the best possible -conditions. The public should, in this matter, place all trust in the -commander of the army, and should remain calm and confident.</p> - -<p>The outcome of the struggle does not appear doubtful. Meanwhile the -newspapers should abstain from mentioning movements of troops, as -secrecy is essential for the success of the operations.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The exodus from Brussels was vividly described in a telegram from Mr. -A.J. Rorke, the correspondent of the Central News Agency. He wired, -under date of August 20th:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I left Brussels at three o'clock this morning, with the Germans at its -very gates.</p> - -<p>All through the evening, following the evacuation of Tirlemont, -Louvain, and neighbouring villages, there had been coming into the -city from all the roads leading into it one unending procession of -old men, women, children, and wounded soldiers retreating before the -advance of the Uhlan vanguard.</p> - -<p>They came into the centre of the city, clamouring at the Gare du Nord -for tickets to the coast, but the trains were all reserved for the -hosts of wounded brought in by motor-ambulances and carts from the -firing-line.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> - -<p>Most of the men had been wounded in the head and face, disproving the -repeated stories that the Germans were bad marksmen and aimed low.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, practically all the men wounded in yesterday's -battle were hit high, proving that the Germans, infantrymen and -cavalrymen, are firing from the hip.</p> - -<p>Later came the news that there would probably be no more trains out -of Brussels, so the more timid of the population began to prepare -hurriedly for departure.</p> - -<p>A dramatic moment in the history of Europe occurred when the Civic -Guard, unwillingly, and only on instructions from the Executive -Government at Antwerp, abandoned their defensive on the outskirts of -the city, and in the forest around the town, and marched into Brussels.</p> - -<p>They were ordered to Ghent, and singing, with unbroken spirit, the -"Marseillaise," the strains of which rose over the murmurs of a -panic-stricken population, they entered the railroad station.</p> - -<p>And so Brussels, undefended, evacuated by its troops unwillingly, -though their going really showed a finer spirit of patriotism than -death on a battlefield, awaited the arrival of the "modern Huns."</p> - -<p>Just before I left early this morning a rumour, which at that hour I -was unable to confirm, spread through the city that the French had -arrived, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> that the Turcos were actually in action with the Germans -on the Louvain road.</p> - -<p>These facts must stand out in the battle of yesterday.</p> - -<p>One long line of burning villages marked the German advance, and three -regiments of Belgian troops are no more. They are, I hear, the First -Regiment of Guides and the Third and Ninth Regiments of the Line.</p> - -<p>A weeping woman whom I took into my automobile drew from her breast, -on the road to Ghent, a blue cap with a yellow facing, upon which was -the figure "3."</p> - -<p>"Voilà une casquette d'un de nos braves petits soldats," she said to -me, "mais il n'y a plus du Troisième."</p></blockquote> - -<p>As Mr. William Maxwell pointed out, the real capital of Belgium, in the -military sense, had always been Antwerp, not Brussels; and Napoleon -himself gave one of his generals to understand, in explicit terms, -that there could be no glory in entering the undefended capital of an -enemy's country. "Most of the country the Germans have overrun up to -the present," said Mr. Maxwell, "has not been seriously contested, -for it does not enter into the Allies' plan of action." Antwerp, as -an important Belgian official ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>plained, was provisioned for an -indefinite period; it could be supplied with stores of every kind from -the sea; and it was calculated that the forts would be able to hold out -for at least a year. In these circumstances the Belgian army entrenched -there would always be a menace to the right wing of the Germans, who -would be obliged to detach a large part of their forces to prevent an -attack from that direction.</p> - -<p>Great indignation was aroused all over Europe when it became known that -the Germans had imposed a war levy on Brussels of no less a sum than -£8,000,000, the alternative being the sacking of the city, with all its -priceless art treasures. A levy of £2,000,000 had already been imposed -on the province of Liège.</p> - -<p>The Germans made their official entry into Brussels at two o'clock in -the afternoon of Friday, August 21st. To the eternal credit of the -people it must be said that they betrayed not the slightest sign of -panic, but faced their painful uncertainty with dignity and courage.</p> - -<p>The Civil Guard, of whom 20,000 were in Brussels, were uniformed men, -and may be compared to our old volunteers. They had made preparations -to resist the capture of the city, and had covered the approaches with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> -trenches and barbed wire entanglements. But Brussels is not a fortified -place, and armed opposition would have involved severe penalties. The -Guard, therefore, withdrew from the capital soon after midnight. They -retired with the honours of war, singing songs of victory.</p> - -<p>For some days the citizens had recognised the possibility of having the -Germans for their uninvited guests, and when Louvain was abandoned they -accepted the inevitable. The spirit they manifested was reflected in a -dignified and courageous proclamation by their burgomeister.</p> - -<p>At six o'clock in the morning the enemy's cavalry appeared at -Tervueren, a distant suburb of the capital. From that hour every door -was closed, and every window was darkened with shutter or blind. From -the outskirts people began to flock into the heart of the city, yet -there was no panic-fear. At nine o'clock the capital was surrounded, -but no entry was made until after two o'clock. The occupation proceeded -with method. Railway stations and telegraph and telephone offices were -taken over, and sentries were posted on all the main roads. The city, -which was crowded twelve hours before, looked like a deserted place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> - -<p>Pushing on from Brussels the same evening, the Germans took possession -of the undefended cities of Ghent and Bruges, and advance brigades of -cavalry made their appearance at Ostend, which was occupied shortly -afterwards. This advance—of no military importance, and savouring -of what is colloquially known as window-dressing—was more than -compensated for by a series of French successes in Alsace-Lorraine. -General Joffre's forces drove the Germans out of several of the smaller -towns, captured many hundreds of prisoners, and took ninety-one guns -from the enemy.</p> - -<p>Coincidentally with the arrival of the Germans in Brussels, it was -announced that this country would lend our Belgian allies the sum of -£10,000,000 in recognition of their splendid services at the beginning -of the war.</p> - -<p>The first complete account of the fighting at Dinant a few days -previously was given in a special message from Mr. Granville Fortescue. -Writing from Dinant on August 15th, Mr. Fortescue said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>A considerable force of German light infantry, supported by mountain -batteries, to-day made a determined attack on this town. The fight -lasted from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> daylight till dark. Although the Germans had some success -in the morning, the arrival of French reinforcements compelled them to -evacuate the excellent positions they had taken.</p> - -<p>The first shell just missed the clock above the railroad station, -which marked ten minutes past six, and fell through the roof. It did -little damage beyond shattering numerous windows. The railroad station -is directly opposite my hotel. The second shell tore through the -chimney of the hotel. The kitchen was filled with bits of bricks and -mortar. The breakfast coffee was spoiled.</p> - -<p>Captain X., who was here on a special mission, made his escape in a -motor, accompanied by a squad of khaki-clad couriers on motor-cycles. -The guests of the hotel scuttled to the cellars.</p> - -<p>It was nearly seven o'clock before the infantry began firing in -earnest. The only French troops in the town were some of a regiment of -the line. The French had no artillery when the action opened.</p> - -<p>The position was in a certain state of defence, which might have been -improved. However, the streets were barricaded and a field of wire -entanglements stretched across the bridge, which was also commanded by -a mitrailleuse.</p> - -<p>Dinant lies in a well, one might say, on both banks of the Meuse. High -limestone cliffs tower above the town. On the east bank these are -steep, and are crowned by an ancient fort known as the citadel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> The -fort dominates the whole adjacent country. On the west bank of the -Meuse the town scrambles up a hillside, covered with trees.</p> - -<p>When the engagement opened I joined Commandant A. and Lieutenant B., -who were in charge of the detachment defending the bridge.</p> - -<p>At this time the Germans were making a strong effort to capture the -citadel. It was held by a small French force, perhaps one company.</p> - -<p>The cliffs resounded with the rifle and gun fire. The din and the -falling shells drove the population en masse to the "caves."</p> - -<p>Members of the Volunteer Hospital Corps, however, hurried along on -their bicycles searching the streets for wounded.</p> - -<p>The German mountain batteries fired with accuracy, although the small -projectiles had little effect. I picked up the fuse of one shell, a -Dapp, cut at 4,000 mètres.</p> - -<p>About ten o'clock the Germans held the crest of the cliffs across the -river, and soon took the citadel. They sent down a veritable hail of -lead on the defenders. Behind the cover of the bridge abutments the -French reply gallantly. Thus the fight goes on for an hour. One hears -nothing save the irregular explosions of rifles, the machine-like -sputterings of the mitrailleuse, punctuated by the shock of shell -fire. It rains, but this in no way halts the firing. About thirty -wounded are brought in when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> French troops change position to -the high ground back of the town. A sudden increase in the volume of -sound tells me that the wished-for reinforcements have arrived. Soon -a half-company of a regiment crowd into the hotel, expecting to find -there a good field of fire. They bring with them a dozen frightened -women who have been hiding in the station.</p> - -<p>About noon the firing slackens, and the rain ceases. A few limping -figures in blue coats and red trousers stagger into the hotel. A -doctor stationed here gives them first-aid attention. While the lull -continues a woman crosses to the pillar-box and drops in a postcard.</p> - -<p>About one I return to my post of observation. The German flag has -been hoisted over the citadel. This is a signal for renewed firing. -The sight of the hated flag seems to rouse the French troops to fury. -About 2 p.m. I hear for the first time the welcome sound of French -field artillery. One of the first shots cuts the German flag across. -Two French batteries have arrived, and they hail projectiles into the -citadel with extraordinary accuracy. Another line regiment arrives -to reinforce the troops here, and under a smothering fire I see the -heads of the Germans that dotted the ramparts of the fort begin to -disappear. At this time I also hear heavy firing in the south-east. -About ten minutes before six I cannot distinguish a German on the -ramparts. The only firing is some scattered shooting from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> French -side. A cheer greets the coming of another new regiment, and soon the -French troops are back in the positions they held in the morning.</p> - -<p>But the road back of the bridge is dotted with the dead. They lie in -all sorts of contorted positions. Their blue coats are splashed with -red, their red trousers are stained a deeper crimson.</p> - -<p>And the cheers of the troops who have just arrived die down as they -pass this grim testimony of what war means.</p> - -<p>As it was the intention of the French to hold the Dinant bridge at -all hazards, their strongest force was placed behind the abutment -wings of this bridge. These are limestone block walls, about three -feet high, and offer good cover. But this cover would have been -vastly improved if the walls had been capped with sandbags. There was -plenty of time to have so improved this defence. Again, the field of -fire before this position was poor. But the gravest mistake was the -neglect to construct protected approaches to the advanced position. -Reinforcements had to be rushed across an open field of fire, where -they suffered unnecessary casualties. And when the French line of -defence had to be changed, and the troops withdrawn to a higher -position behind the town, they suffered heavily because they must -pass along a road swept by the German fire. All of which should have -been provided against. This is not written in a spirit of criticism, -but simply to call attention to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> certain mistakes that will, in the -future, surely be corrected.</p> - -<p>The French are under a severe handicap in the matter of uniform. It is -over a dozen years since the Boer War, and certainly they should have -discarded the blue coat and red trousers for a more neutral colour. -They have covered the red crown of their caps with blue. This is to -prevent their being discovered by aeroplane scouts. But the flamboyant -uniform of the line regiments makes a fair mark, as far as the modern -rifle is effective. In groups they are all the gunner asks for a -target.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, the Germans have adopted a grey-green colour that -is almost invisible. Yesterday, with a first-class glass, I had -difficulty in locating individuals.</p> - -<p>What I have written applies with more force to the Belgian troops. -These soldiers are as conspicuous as claret stains on a new tablecloth.</p> - -<p>On my way here I passed some four or five regiments of infantry. -Though the men are young, they are going into this war with a -seriousness unusual in the French. Of course, the Gallic temperament -is not changed. They still show their "esprit" and their gaiety is -not altogether extinguished. Perhaps the solemnity I have alluded to -is more noticed among the officers than the men. They are as grave as -schoolmasters. All of which is a good sign.</p> - -<p>I have been particularly struck by the professional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> atmosphere of the -artillery officers. It needs but a glance of the eye to be sure that -this arm will perform splendid service under their direction.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The Germans had so many men massed in the occupied portions of Belgium -by this time that temporary checks did not stem what one correspondent -aptly described as a tidal wave of troops sweeping irresistibly through -the valley of the Meuse. Japan, who had sent Germany an ultimatum -with regard to Kiao-Chau, declared war on receiving no reply by the -stipulated time; but, it is unnecessary to add, this fact had no -influence on the operations of the German troops in Belgium. Telegrams -sent off on Sunday stated that a big battle was developing in the -neighbourhood of Charleroi—Mons, and that the Germans in order to -ensure the uninterrupted and safe passage of their army, had occupied -all the villages between Louvain and Alost. The Liège forts, it was -officially announced, were still holding out, but the Germans had -"contained" them by a large force of soldiers. Attention was rather -concentrated on the forts at Namur, to subdue which the Germans had -advanced their heavy siege guns. It was said on Monday, August 24th, -that "Namur had fallen," but no confirmation of this statement could be -obtained,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> and it was generally taken as meaning that the invaders had -managed to enter the town, but that the forts were still holding out. -An official message from Brussels on the following Wednesday evening -said that Namur had not yet fallen.</p> - -<p>In the meantime refugees were hurrying from Ostend, to which city -both Belgian and German wounded were being brought. The cross-Channel -steamers were crowded, and Belgian refugees who had come away from -Brussels and Tirlemont made their appearance in London.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="ph2"><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a></p> - -<p class="hang"><span class="smcap">British Troops in Action—Their "Customary Coolness"—Zeppelin at -Antwerp—German Atrocities—Lord Kitchener's Speech</span></p> - - -<p>The British Expeditionary Force was engaged in the battle at Mons, and -it was subsequently stated that the soldiers had been fighting for -thirty-six hours on end. A short statement by the Press Bureau was -more usefully expanded into the following account, which was issued by -the French Embassy and summed up the situation as it existed on Monday -night, August 24th:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>On the west of the Meuse the English army, which was on our left, has -been attacked by the Germans. Its behaviour under fire was admirable, -and it resisted the enemy with its customary coolness.</p> - -<p>The French army which operated in this region attacked. Our army -corps, with the African troops in the first line, carried forward by -their over-eager<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>ness, were received with a very murderous fire. They -did not fall back, but later by a counter-attack by the Prussian Guard -they were compelled to retire. They did so only after having inflicted -enormous loss on the enemy. The flower of the Prussian Guard suffered -very severely.</p> - -<p>On the east of the Meuse our troops advanced across very difficult -ground. They met with a vigorous attack as they left the woods, and -were compelled to retire after fierce fighting on the south of the -Semoy.</p> - -<p>At the order of General Joffre, our troops and the English troops -have taken up their position on the covering line, which they would -not have quitted had not the splendid courage of the Belgian army -permitted us to enter Belgium. The covering line is intact. Our -cavalry has not suffered. Our artillery has proved its superiority. -Our officers and our soldiers are in splendid physical and moral -condition.</p> - -<p>As a result of the orders given, the struggle will change its -aspect for several days. The French army will for a time remain -on the defensive. When the proper moment comes, as chosen by the -Commander-in-Chief, it will resume a vigorous offensive.</p> - -<p>Our losses are severe. It will be premature to estimate them or to -estimate those of the German army, which, however, has suffered -so severely as to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> be compelled to halt in its counter-attack and -establish itself in new positions.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The communiqué then proceeds to deal with the situation in regard to -Lorraine. It says:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Yesterday we four times counter-attacked from the positions we occupy -on the north of Nancy, and we inflicted very severe losses on the -Germans.</p> - -<p>Generally speaking, we retain full liberty to use our railway system, -and every sea is open for our re-provisioning. Our operations -have permitted Russia to enter into action and to reach the heart -of Eastern Prussia. It is, of course, regrettable that, owing to -difficulties in execution which could not have been foreseen, our plan -of attack has not achieved its object. Had it done so it would have -shortened the war, but in any case our defence remains intact in face -of an already weakened enemy.</p> - -<p>All Frenchmen will deplore the momentary abandonment of the portions -of annexed territory which we had already occupied. On the other -hand, certain portions of the national territory must, unfortunately, -suffer from the events of which they will be the theatre. The trial is -inevitable, but will be temporary.</p> - -<p>Thus, some detachments of German cavalry, belonging to an independent -division operating on the extreme right, have penetrated into the -Roubaix<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>—Tourcoing district, which is defended only by Territorial -forces. The courage of our brave people will support this trial with -unshaken faith in our final success, which is beyond doubt.</p> - -<p>In telling the country the whole truth, the Government and the -military authorities afford it the strongest possible proof of their -absolute confidence in a victory, which depends only on our tenacity -and perseverance.</p></blockquote> - -<p>A thrilling description of the behaviour of the British troops at Mons -was given by Mr. A.J. Rorke, the correspondent of the Central News -Agency, who wired from Paris on Monday night:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Graphic stories of how the British troops at Mons fought during the -two days in which they bore the brunt of the main German advance -reached Paris in the early hours of this morning, when officers -arriving from the front reported at the War Office, and, in subsequent -conversation with their closest personal friends, told of the -wonderful coolness and daring of our men. The shooting of our infantry -on the firing fine, they said, was wonderful. Every time a German's -head showed above the trenches and every time the German infantry -attempted to rush a position there came a withering rifle fire from -the khaki-clad forms lying in extending formation along a big battle -front.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> - -<p>The firing was not the usual firing of nervous men, shooting without -aiming and sometimes without rhyme or reason, as is so often the case -in warfare. It was rather the calm, calculated riflemanship of the men -one sees on the Stickledown range firing with all the artificial aids -permitted to the match rifle expert whose one concern is prize money.</p> - -<p>When quick action was necessary the firing and the action of the men -was only that of prize riflemen firing at a disappearing target. There -was no excitement, no nervousness; just cool, methodical efficiency. -If the British lost heavily heaven only knows what the Germans must -have lost, because, as one of their wounded officers (whom the British -took prisoner) remarked, "We had never expected anything like it; it -was staggering."</p> - -<p>The British troops went to their positions silently but happily. There -was no singing, because that was forbidden, but as the khaki-clad -columns deployed and began to crawl to the trenches there were various -sallies of humour in the different dialects of English, Irish, and -Scottish counties. The Yorkshireman, for instance, would draw a -comparison between the men they were going to fight and certain dogs -that won't fight which the Yorkshire collier has not time to waste -upon at the pit-head; the Cockney soldier was there with his sallies -about "Uncle Bill," and every Irishman who went into the firing line -wished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> he had the money to buy a little Irish horse, so that he could -have a slap at the Uhlans.</p> - -<p>And the cavalry! Officers coming from the front declare that our -cavalrymen charged the much-vaunted German horsemen as Berserks might -have done. When they got into action with tunics open, and sometimes -without tunics at all, they flung themselves at the German horsemen in -a manner which surprised even their own officers, who had themselves -expected great things of them. The Uhlans, whose name and fearful fame -had spread terror among the Belgian peasants and the frontier villages -of France, were just the sort of men the British troopers were waiting -for. The Britishers, mostly Londoners, who, as Wellington said, make -the best cavalry soldiers in the world, were dying to have a cut at -them; and when they got into clinches the Uhlans had the surprise of -their lives.</p> - -<p>From the scene of battle, the point of interest in the European war -drama, as far as England is concerned, shifted in the small hours of -this morning to the railway station at X, where officers and men of -the Army Service Corps awaited the arrival of the wounded—the British -wounded from the firing line. Everything was perfectly organised; -there was no theatrical display; the officers and men of the British -army waited silently and calmly for the toll of war, which they had -been advised was on its way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> - -<p>The station at the time was crowded with Americans coming to England -from Paris after their release from Switzerland, and cheer after -cheer, in which the French in the station joined, echoed under the -arched roof. Britishers who were there felt very proud of their Empire -and their soldiers at that moment. The men who were waiting for the -wounded had not been in the first line of battle it was true—that was -not their job—but their work was probably the greatest of all. It was -for them to watch and wait, while every fibre of their inmost being -thrilled to the note of war; and yet to restrain their desires while -they practised that which the Iron Duke called the wonderful "two -o'clock in the morning" courage. So they waited in a draughty station -for their comrades, thrown back temporarily from the scene of action, -to fit them to return, if possible, immediately.</p> - -<p>While the crowd waited for the wounded, train after train rolled -slowly through carrying more of "our boys" to the active front. They -were sleeping in horse trucks alongside their equine friends; they -were sleeping in cattle wagons; yet they stood up when the cheering -reached their ears, looking fresh, fit, clean, and healthily British -from their service caps to their puttee straps. All young, all -full-blooded, all British; happy and eager to get at grips in what -is to them a holy war. And then, at the end, as the boat-train was -creeping out in the early morning, the wounded arrived.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was my privilege to witness, on the road between Boulogne and -Paris last Saturday, a scene as picturesque and deeply inspiring as a -page from Froissart. The two English Cardinals, Cardinal-Archbishop -Bourne and the Cardinal Abbot Gasquet, famed as an historian, had -left London to journey to the Conclave at Rome. On the line the train -in which they travelled was stopped, and by a curious chance a train -in which a regiment including in its ranks a large number of Irish -Catholics—these men, like the Plantagenets of old, wearing a sprig of -green in their head-dress—was drawn up for a moment alongside.</p> - -<p>The Cardinals, who, under their cassocks, wore the red of their -rank, stepped into the corridor, and, leaning out of a window, said -together, "May God bless you, my children."</p> - -<p>In an instant every Catholic soldier in the open trucks of the troop -train dropped to his knees to receive the Cardinals' blessing. It -appears, maybe, a simple affair, but in its spontaneity and sincerity, -its mingling of the spiritual with the grimly material, it was -eloquent and moving beyond the comprehension of those who only read -what others saw.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 25th the Germans made a raid by Zeppelin airship on Antwerp -and dropped several bombs on the palace, the St. Elizabeth Hospital,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> -and other public buildings. Twelve persons were blown to pieces in -different parts of the city, and shots aimed at the airship proved -ineffectual. The same evening the Belgian Government gave out the -following official statement regarding the shocking atrocities -committed by the invading forces in various parts of the occupied -territory:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>In spite of solemn assurances of goodwill and long-standing treaty -obligations, Germany has made a sudden savage and utterly unwarranted -attack on Belgium.</p> - -<p>However sorely pressed she may be, Belgium will never fight unfairly -and never stoop to infringe the laws and customs of legitimate -warfare. She is putting up a brave fight against overwhelming odds, -she may be beaten, she may be crushed, but, to quote our noble King's -words, "she will never be enslaved."</p> - -<p>When German troops invaded our country, the Belgian Government issued -public statements which were placarded in every town, village, and -hamlet, warning all civilians to abstain scrupulously from hostile -acts against the enemy's troops. The Belgian Press daily published -similar notices broadcast through the land. Nevertheless, the German -authorities have issued lately statements containing grave imputations -against the attitude of the Belgian civilian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> population, threatening -us at the same time with dire reprisals. These imputations are -contrary to the real facts of the case, and as to threats of further -vengeance, no menace of odious reprisals on the part of the German -troops will deter the Belgian Government from protesting before the -civilised world against the fearful and atrocious crimes committed -wilfully and deliberately by the invading hosts against helpless -non-combatants, old men, women, and children.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Long is the list of outrages committed by the German troops, and -appalling the details of atrocities, as vouched for by the Committee -of Inquiry recently formed by the Belgian Minister of Justice and -presided over by him. This committee comprises the highest judicial and -university authorities of Belgium, such as Chief Justice Van Iseghem, -Judge Nys, Professors Cottier, Wodon, etc.</p> - -<p>The following instances and particulars have been established by -careful investigations based in each case on the evidence of reliable -eye-witnesses:</p> - -<p>German cavalry occupying the village of Linsmeau were attacked by -some Belgian infantry and two gendarmes. A German officer was killed -by our troops during the fight and subsequently buried at the request -of the Belgian officer in command. No one of the civilian population -took part in the fighting at Linsmeau. Nevertheless, the village was -invaded at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> dusk on August 10th by a strong force of German cavalry, -artillery, and machine guns. In spite of the formal assurances given -by the Burgomaster of Linsmeau that none of the peasants had taken -part in the previous fight, two farms and six outlying houses were -destroyed by gun-fire and burnt. All the male inhabitants were then -compelled to come forward and hand over whatever arms they possessed. -No recently discharged firearms were found. Nevertheless, the invaders -divided these peasants into three groups, those in one group were bound -and eleven of them placed in a ditch, where they were afterwards found -dead, their skulls fractured by the butts of German rifles.</p> - -<p>During the night of August 10th, German cavalry entered Velm in great -numbers. The inhabitants were asleep. The Germans, without provocation, -fired on M. Deglimme-Gevers' house, broke into it, destroyed furniture, -looted money, burnt barns, hay and corn stacks, farm implements, -six oxen, and the contents of the farmyard. They carried off Madame -Deglimme, half-naked, to a place two miles away. She was then let go, -and was fired upon as she fled, without being hit. Her husband was -carried away in another direction, and fired upon. He is dying. The -same troops sacked and burned the house of a railway watchman.</p> - -<p>Farmer Jef Dierick, of Neerhespen, bears witness to the following acts -of cruelty committed by German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> cavalry at Orsmael and Neerhespen on -August 10th, 11th, and 12th:</p> - -<p>An old man of the latter village had his arm sliced in three -longitudinal cuts; he was then hanged head downwards and burned alive. -Young girls have been maltreated, and little children outraged at -Orsmael, where several inhabitants suffered mutilations too horrible -to describe. A Belgian soldier belonging to a battalion of cyclist -carabineers, who had been wounded and made prisoner, was hanged, whilst -another, who was tending his comrade, was bound to a telegraph pole on -the St. Trond road and shot.</p> - -<p>On Wednesday, August 12th, after an engagement at Haelen, Commandant -Van Damme, so severely wounded that he was lying prone on his back, was -finally murdered by German infantrymen firing their revolvers into his -mouth.</p> - -<p>On August 9th, at Orsmael, the Germans picked up Commandant Knapen, -very seriously wounded, propped him up against a tree, and shot him. -Finally they hacked his corpse with swords.</p> - -<p>In different places, notably at Hollogne sur Geer, Barchon, Pontisse, -Haelen, and Zelck, German troops have fired on doctors, ambulance -bearers, ambulances, and ambulance wagons carrying a Red Cross.</p> - -<p>At Boncelles a body of German troops marched into battle carrying a -Belgian flag.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> - -<p>On Thursday, August 6th, before a fort at Liège, German soldiers -continued to fire on a party of Belgian soldiers (who were unarmed, and -had been surrounded while digging a trench) after these had hoisted the -white flag.</p> - -<p>On the same day, at Vottem, near the fort of Loncin, a group of German -infantry hoisted the white flag. When Belgian soldiers approached to -take them prisoners the Germans suddenly opened fire on them at close -range.</p> - -<p>Harrowing reports of German savagery at Aerschot have reached the -Belgian Government at Antwerp from official local sources. Thus on -Tuesday, August 18th, the Belgian troops occupying a position in front -of Aerschot received orders to retire without engaging the enemy. A -small force was left behind to cover the retreat. This force resisted -valiantly against overwhelming German forces, and inflicted serious -losses on them. Meanwhile practically the whole civilian population of -Aerschot, terrorised by the atrocities committed by the Germans in the -neighbouring villages, had fled from the town.</p> - -<p>Next day, Wednesday, August 19th, German troops entered Aerschot -without a shot having been fired from the town and without any -resistance whatever having been made. The few inhabitants that remained -had closed their doors and windows in compliance with the general -orders issued by the Belgian Govern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>ment. Nevertheless the Germans -broke into the houses and told the inhabitants to quit.</p> - -<p>In one single street the first six male inhabitants who crossed their -thresholds were seized and shot at once under the very eyes of their -wives and children. The German troops then retired for the day, only to -return in greater numbers on the next day, Thursday, August 20th.</p> - -<p>They then compelled the inhabitants to leave their houses and marched -them to a place 200 yards from the town. There, without more ado, they -shot M. Thielmans, the Burgomaster, his fifteen-year-old son, the clerk -of the Local Judicial Board, and ten prominent citizens. They then set -fire to the town and destroyed it.</p> - -<p>The following statement was made by Commandant Georges Gilson, of the -9th Infantry of the Line, now lying in hospital at Antwerp:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I was told to cover the retreat of our troops in front of Aerschot. -During the action fought there on Wednesday, August 19th, between six -and eight o'clock in the morning, suddenly I saw on the high road, -between the German and Belgian forces, which were fighting at close -range, a group of four women, with babies in their arms, and two -little girls clinging to their skirts. Our men stopped firing till -the women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> got through our lines, but the German machine guns went -on firing all the time, and one of the women was wounded in the arm. -These women could not have got through the neighbouring German lines -and been on the high road unless with the consent of the enemy.</p> - -<p>All the evidence and circumstances seem to point to the fact that -those women had been deliberately pushed forward by the Germans to act -as a shield for their advance guard, and in the hope that the Belgians -would cease firing for fear of killing the women and children.</p></blockquote> - -<p>This statement was made and duly certified in the Antwerp Hospital on -August 22nd by Commandant Gilson, in the presence of the Chevalier -Ernst N. Bunswyck, Chief Secretary to the Belgian Minister of Justice, -and M. de Cartier de Marchienne, Belgian Minister to China.</p> - -<p>Further German atrocities are continuously being brought to notice -and made the subject of official and expert inquiry by the proper -authorities.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In issuing the above statements to the English Press, the only comment -the Press Bureau could offer was that these atrocities appeared to -be committed in villages and throughout the country side with the -deliberate intention of terrorising<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> the people, and so making it -unnecessary to leave troops in occupation of small places or to protect -lines of communication. In large places like Brussels, where the -diplomatic representatives of neutral Powers are eye-witnesses, there -appeared to have been no excesses.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met on August 25th, after a short adjournment, Lord -Kitchener, Minister for War, gave the following account of the -situation in the House of Lords:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>As this is the first time that I have had the honour of addressing -your lordships, I must ask for the indulgence of the House. In the -first place I desire to make a personal statement. Noble lords on both -sides of the House doubtless know that, while associating myself in -the fullest degree for the prosecution of the war with my colleagues -in His Majesty's Government, my position on this Bench does not in any -way imply that I belong to any political party, for as a soldier I -have no politics.</p> - -<p>Another point is that my occupation of the post of Secretary of State -for War is a temporary one. The terms of my service are the same as -those under which some of the finest portions of our manhood, now so -willingly stepping forward to join the colours, are engaging. That is -to say for the war; or if it lasts longer, then for three years.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> - -<p>It has been asked why the latter limit has been fixed. It is because -should this disastrous war be prolonged—and no one can foretell with -any certainty its duration—then, after three years' war, there will -be others, fresh and fully prepared, to take our places and see this -matter through.</p> - -<p>The very serious conflict in which we are now engaged on the Continent -has been none of our seeking. It will undoubtedly strain the resources -of our Empire and entail considerable sacrifices on our people. These -will be willingly borne for our honour and the preservation of our -position in the world, and will be shared by our dominions beyond the -seas, now sending contingents and assistance of every kind to help the -Mother Country in this struggle.</p> - -<p>If I am unable, owing to military consideration for the best interests -of the allied armies in the field, to speak with much detail on -the present situation of our army on the Continent, I am sure your -lordships will pardon me for the necessary restraint which is imposed -upon me.</p> - -<p>The Expeditionary Force has taken the field on the French north-west -frontier, and has advanced to the neighbourhood of Mons, in Belgium. -Our troops have already been for thirty-six hours in contact with -a superior force of German invaders. During that time they have -maintained the traditions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> of British soldiers, and have behaved with -the utmost gallantry. The movements which they have been called upon -to execute have been those which demand the greatest steadiness in the -soldiers, and skill in their commanders. Sir John French telegraphed -to me at midnight, as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"In spite of hard marching and fighting, the British force is in the -best of spirits."</p></blockquote> - -<p>I replied:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Congratulate troops on their splendid work. We are all proud of them."</p></blockquote> - -<p>As your lordships are aware, European fighting causes greater -casualties than the campaigns in which we are generally engaged in -other parts of the world. The nation will, I am sure, be fully prepared -to meet whatever losses and sacrifices we may have to make in this -war. Sir John French, without having been able to verify the numbers, -estimates the loss since the commencement of active operations at -rather more than 2,000 men <i>hors-de-combat</i>.</p> - -<p>As to the work of the last few weeks, I have to remark that when war -was declared, mobilisation took place without any hitch whatever, and -our Expeditionary Force proved itself wholly efficient,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> well equipped, -and immediately ready to take the field.</p> - -<p>The Press and the public have, in their respective spheres, lent -invaluable aid to the Government in preserving a discreet silence, -which the exigencies of the situation obviously demanded, and I -gladly take this opportunity of bearing testimony to the value of -their co-operation. The hands of the military authorities were also -strengthened by the readiness with which the civilian community faced -and accepted the novel situation created by the issue of requisitions -for horses, transport, supplies and billets.</p> - -<p>The railway companies, in the all-important matter of the transport -facilities, have more than justified the complete confidence reposed in -them by the War Office, all grades of railway services having laboured -with untiring energy and patience. And it is well to repeat that the -conveyance of our troops across the Channel was accomplished, thanks to -the cordial co-operation of the Admiralty, with perfect smoothness and -without any untoward incident whatever.</p> - -<p>We know how deeply the French people appreciate the value of the prompt -assistance we have been able to afford them at the very outset of the -war, and it is obvious that not only the moral but the material support -our troops are now rendering must prove to be a factor of high military -significance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> in restricting the sphere and determining the duration of -hostilities.</p> - -<p>Had the conditions of strategy permitted, everyone in this country -would have rejoiced to see us ranged alongside the gallant Belgian -army in that superb struggle against desperate odds which has just -been witnessed. But, although this privilege was perforce denied to -us, Belgium knows of our sympathy with her in her sufferings, of our -indignation at the blows which have been inflicted on her, and also of -our resolution to make sure that in the end her sacrifices will not -have been unavailing.</p> - -<p>While other countries engaged in this war have under a system of -compulsory service brought their full resources of men into the field, -we, under our national system, have not done so, and can, therefore, -still point to a vast reserve drawn from the resources both of the -Mother Country and of the British Dominions across the Seas.</p> - -<p>The response which has already been made by the great Dominions, -abundantly proves that we did not look in vain to these sources -of military strength, and while India, Canada, Australia, and New -Zealand are all sending us powerful contingents, in this country the -Territorials are replying with loyalty to the stern call of duty which -has come to them with such exceptional force.</p> - -<p>Over seventy battalions have, with fine patriotism,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> already -volunteered for service abroad, and when trained and organised in the -larger formations, will be able to take their places in the line.</p> - -<p>The 100,000 recruits for which, in the first place, it has been thought -necessary to call, have been already practically secured. This force -will be trained and organised in divisions similar to those which are -now serving on the Continent.</p> - -<p>Behind these we have our Reserves. The Special Reserve and the National -Reserve have each their own part to play in the organisation of our -national defence.</p> - -<p>The Empires with whom we are at war have called to the colours -almost their entire male population. The principle we, on our part, -shall observe, is this, that while their maximum force undergoes a -constant diminution, the reinforcements we prepare shall steadily and -increasingly flow out, until we have an army in the field which in -numbers, not less than in quality, will not be unworthy of the power -and responsibilities of the British Empire.</p> - -<p>I cannot, at this stage, say what will be the limits of the forces -required, or what measures may eventually become necessary to supply -and maintain them. The scale of the Field Army which we are now calling -into being is large and may rise in the course of the next six or -seven months to a total of thirty divisions continually maintained in -the field. But if the war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> should be protracted, and if its fortunes -should be varied or adverse, exertions and sacrifices beyond any which -have been demanded will be required from the whole nation and Empire, -and where they are required we are sure they will not be denied to the -extreme needs of the State by Parliament or the people.</p> -</blockquote> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">THE CASE FOR BELGIUM</p> - - -<p>It has been sought in the preceding chapters to give as detailed a -description as the information at our disposal will allow of the -fighting in the North—<i>i.e.</i> the struggle for Liège and Namur, and -the subsequent series of closely-contested battles from Tirlemont to -Mons. The case for the Belgian people, and an account of the sufferings -which had to be endured by a peaceful, non-combatant population, will -be found mentioned also in the course of the narrative. The diplomatic -case for Belgium has already been given to the public in another volume -of this series ("How the War Began"); but the details of this case, and -the reasons why this country is taking part in the war, have been so -well summed up by Mr. Asquith that a few extracts from his speech are -necessary to make this volume complete.</p> - -<p>The first of a series of meetings to bring home to the people of -England the vital importance of the questions at issue was held in the -Guildhall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> on Friday, September 4th; and the speakers included the -Prime Minister, Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Balfour. In the -course of his remarks Mr. Asquith referred to the Arbitration Treaty -between Great Britain and the United States, which he mentioned at a -previous Guildhall meeting some three and a-half years previously. "We -were very confident three years ago in the rightness of our position," -he said. "We are equally confident to-day, when reluctantly and against -our will, but with a clear judgment and with a clean conscience we find -ourselves involved with the whole strength of this Empire in a bloody -arbitrament between Might and Right."</p> - -<p>Mr. Asquith continued:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The issue has passed out of the domain of argument into another field, -but let me ask you, and through you the world outside, what would have -been our condition as a nation to-day, if we had been base enough, -through timidity, or through a perverted calculation of self-interest, -or through a paralysis of the sense of honour and duty, if we had been -base enough to be false to our word and faithless to our friends?</p> - -<p>Our eyes would have been turned at this moment, with those of the -whole civilised world, to Belgium, a small State, which has lived for -more than seventy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> years under the several and collective guarantee -to which we, in common with Prussia and Austria, were parties; and -we should have seen, at the instance and by the action of two of -these guaranteeing Powers, her neutrality violated, her independence -strangled, her territory made use of as affording the easiest and most -convenient road to a war of unprovoked aggression against France.</p> - -<p>We, the British people, would at this moment have been standing by -with folded arms, and with such countenance as we could command, while -this small and unprotected State, in defence of her vital liberties, -made an heroic stand against overweening and overwhelming force. We -should have been admiring, as detached spectators, the siege of Liège, -the steady and manful resistance of their small army; the occupation -of their capital, with its splendid traditions and memories; the -gradual forcing back of their patriotic defenders of their native -land to the ramparts of Antwerp; countless outrages suffered through -buccaneering levies exacted from the unoffending civil population, -and finally, the greatest crime committed against civilisation -and culture since the Thirty Years' War—the sack of Louvain and -its buildings, its pictures, its unique library, its unrivalled -associations—shameless holocaust of irreplaceable treasures, lit up -by blind barbarian vengeance.</p> - -<p>What account should we, the Government and the people of this -country, have been able to render to the tribunal of our national -conscience and sense of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> honour if, in defiance of our plighted and -solemn obligations, we had endured, if we had not done our best to -prevent—yes, and to avenge—these intolerable outrages?</p> - -<p>For my part I say that sooner than be a silent witness, which means -in effect a willing accomplice, of this tragic triumph of force over -law, and of brutality over freedom, I would see this country of ours -blotted out of the page of history.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Several German newspapers, distorting the facts of the case with -remarkable disingenuousness, had roundly asserted that England had -chosen to take part in the war for purely materialistic reasons, and -that this country was not so anxious to vindicate the principle of -Belgian neutrality as to secure the oversea trade of the German Empire. -Even if Mr. Asquith had not spoken on the subject at all, it would have -been realised sooner or later that there was no foundation for this -assertion; for it was hardly likely, if we had had only this object in -view, that a community of practical business men would have tolerated -the enormous sacrifice of life and money involved in attempting by war -to displace German exports to European and non-European countries.</p> - -<p>As this argument was advanced with such persistence in the German -Press, it may be worth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> while dwelling on it for a moment. The total -value of the German export trade for 1913 was just over £495,000,000, -and of our own export trade £635,000,000. With many German products, -such as dyes, and certain chemical and electrical goods, this country -has never been able to compete. At the beginning of the war, for -example, when the German coast had been blockaded by our Fleet, we -should have been compelled to spend millions of pounds in order to -experiment with, and later on to manufacture, aniline dyes analogous to -those produced in Germany. The same remark applies to many classes of -electrical goods. Millions would have had to be spent on experiments -before we began to manufacture the products, assuming—in many cases -a large assumption—the success of the experiments. This, too, at a -time when money was notoriously scarce, when accommodation could not -be obtained from the banks, and when the Government had just announced -that it wanted a hundred millions sterling as a first instalment of war -expenses.</p> - -<p>Apart from this, even if we had thought of capturing Germany's export -trade, or a large part of it, it was clear that other nations had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> -conceived the same notion and were getting ready to act upon it. -Japanese merchants, for instance, had their eyes fixed on the markets -of China, and manufacturers in the United States had been showing, -even before the war, a deep interest in South America. Is it likely, -in these circumstances, that a nation such as this would have seen -at least half a million men withdrawn from productive work, and the -expenditure of millions of money, purely for the sake of competing -with the United States and Japan in foreign markets?—always realising -that the war must end some time, that Germany must once more begin to -manufacture, and that competition would be as severe as ever in less -than a decade? No; if we can capture some of Germany's export trade, -that will be a mere incidental in the struggle for national existence, -and the profits represented thereby will but ill balance the lives and -money which will have to be sacrificed in the meantime.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, Mr. Asquith took the opportunity, when speaking at -the Guildhall, to make it clear that Great Britain and the British -Dominions were not actuated by materialistic aims in entering upon the -greatest campaign in history.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> There was something to be considered -besides profits. Having referred to the sacking of Louvain, Mr. Asquith -went on to say:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>That is only a phase—a lurid and illuminating phase—in the contest -in which we have been called, by the mandate of duty and of honour, -to bear our part. The cynical violation of the neutrality of Belgium -was, after all, but a step—a first step—in a deliberate policy of -which, if not the immediate, the ultimate and the not far-distant aim -was to crush the independence and the autonomy of the Free States of -Europe. First Belgium, then Holland and Switzerland—countries, like -our own, imbued and sustained with the spirit of liberty—were one -after another to be bent to the yoke; and these ambitions were fed and -fostered by a body of new doctrines, a new philosophy, preached by -professors and learned men.</p> - -<p>Free and full self-development, which to these small States, to -ourselves, to our great and growing Dominions over the seas, to our -kinsmen across the Atlantic, is the well-spring and life-breath of -national existence—that free self-development is the one capital -offence in the code of those who have made force their supreme -divinity, and upon its altars are prepared to sacrifice both the -gathered fruits and the potential germs of the unfettered human -spirit. I use this language advisedly.</p> - -<p>This is not merely a material; it is also a spiritual conflict. Upon -its issue everything that contains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> promise and hope, that leads to -emancipation, and a fuller liberty for the millions who make up the -mass of mankind, will be found sooner or later to depend.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The Prime Minister proceeded to combat the absurd suggestions that the -Anglo-French Agreement of 1904, and the Anglo-Russian Agreement of -1907, were likely to prove a menace to the German Empire:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Let me now just for a moment turn to the actual situation in Europe. -How do we stand? For the last ten years, by what I believe to be happy -and well-considered diplomatic arrangements, we have established -friendly and increasingly intimate relations with the two Powers, -France and Russia, with whom in days gone by we have had, in various -parts of the world, occasions for constant friction, and now and again -for possible conflict. Those new and better relations, based in the -first instance upon business principles of give-and-take, have matured -into a settled temper of confidence and goodwill. They were never in -any sense or at any time, as I have frequently said in this hall, -directed against other Powers.</p> - -<p>No man in the history of the world has ever laboured more strenuously -or more successfully than my right honourable friend, Sir Edward Grey, -for that which is the supreme interest of the modern world—a general -and abiding peace. It is, I venture to think, a very superficial -criticism which suggests<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> that, under his guidance, the policy of this -country has ignored, still less that it has counteracted and hampered, -the Concert of Europe. It is little more than a year ago that under -his presidency, in the stress and strain of the Balkan crisis, the -Ambassadors of all the Great Powers met here day after day, curtailing -the area of possible differences, reconciling warring ambitions and -aims, and preserving, against almost incalculable odds, the general -harmony.</p> - -<p>And it was in the same spirit, and with the same purpose, when a -few weeks ago Austria delivered her ultimatum to Servia, that the -Foreign Secretary—for it was he—put forward the proposal for a -mediating Conference between the four Powers who were not directly -concerned—Germany, France, Italy, and ourselves. If that proposal had -been accepted actual controversy would have been settled with honour -to everybody, and the whole of this terrible welter would have been -avoided.</p> - -<p>With whom does the responsibility rest for its refusal and for all -the illimitable suffering which now confronts the world? One Power, -and one Power only, and that Power is Germany. That is the fount and -origin of this world-wide catastrophe.</p> - -<p>We are persevering to the end. No one who has not been confronted, as -we were, with the responsibility of determining the issues of peace -and war can realise the strength and energy and persistency with -which we laboured for peace. We persevered by every expedient that -diplomacy could suggest, straining almost to the breaking point our -most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> cherished friendships and obligations, even to the last making -effort upon effort, and hoping against hope. Then, and only then, -when we were at last compelled to realise that the choice lay between -honour and dishonour, between treachery and good faith—when we at -last reached the dividing line which makes or mars a nation worthy of -the name, it was then, and then only, that we declared for war.</p> - -<p>Is there anyone in this hall, or in this United Kingdom, or in the -vast Empire of which we here stand in the capital and centre, who -blames or repents our decision? (Cries of "No!") For these reasons, -as I believe, we must steel ourselves to the task, and in the -spirit which animated our forefathers in their struggle against the -domination of Napoleon, we must, and we shall, persevere to the end.</p></blockquote> - -<p>At the Guildhall, as in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister -referred to the noble example shown by the Belgian people in summoning -all their available forces to repel the aggression of a Power which had -been presumed to be friendly. He said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>It would be a criminal mistake to under-estimate either the magnitude, -the fighting quality, or the staying power of the forces which are -arrayed against us. But it would be equally foolish and equally -indefensible to belittle our own resources whether for resistance -or attack. (Cheers.) Belgium has shown us by a memorable and a -glorious example<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> what can be done by a relatively small State when -its citizens are animated and fired by the spirit of patriotism. In -France and Russia we have as allies two of the greatest Powers of the -world engaged with us in a common cause, who do not mean to separate -themselves from us any more than we mean to separate ourselves from -them, (Cheers.)</p></blockquote> - -<p>Having paid this tribute—how well deserved it was, and to what a -remarkable extent the German check at Liège influenced the subsequent -developments of the campaign, the world is now beginning to -realize—Mr. Asquith paid an equally warranted tribute to our own Fleet:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>We have upon the seas the strongest and most magnificent Fleet which -has ever been seen. The Expeditionary Force which left our shores -less than a month ago has never been surpassed, as its glorious -achievements in the field have already made clear, not only in -material and equipment, but in the physical and the moral quality of -its constituents.</p> - -<p>As regards the Navy, I am sure my right honourable friend (Mr. -Winston Churchill) will tell you there is happily little more to be -done. I do not flatter it when I say that its superiority is equally -marked in every department and sphere of its activity. We rely on -it with the most absolute confidence, not only to guard our shores -against the possibility of invasion, not only to seal up the gigantic -battleships of the enemy in the inglorious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> seclusion of their own -ports, whence from time to time he furtively steals forth to sow the -seeds of murderous snares which are more full of menace to neutral -ships than to the British Fleet—our Navy does all this, and while it -is thirsting, I do not doubt, for that trial of strength in a fair and -open fight which is so far prudently denied it, it does a great deal -more.</p> - -<p>It has hunted the German mercantile marine from the high seas. It has -kept open our own sources of food supply and largely curtailed those -of the enemy, and when the few German cruisers which still infest -the more distant ocean routes have been disposed of, as they will be -very soon, it will achieve for British and neutral commerce passing -backwards and forwards from and to every part of our Empire a security -as complete as it has ever enjoyed in the days of unbroken peace. Let -us honour the memory of the gallant seamen who in the pursuit of one -or another of these varied and responsible duties have already laid -down their lives for their country.</p></blockquote> - -<p>As not the least important object of the Guildhall meeting was to -stimulate recruiting, Mr. Asquith naturally referred to the army and -its work. At a very early stage in the war both Germany and France -had called up practically their last available man. Indeed, so hard -pressed did the German Empire find itself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> after five weeks' fighting -that arrangements, it was officially announced, were made for giving -instruction in rifle shooting to boys aged from sixteen to nineteen. -It was not, of course, intended that these lads should at once take -an active part in the fighting: but it was assumed that by the time -they reached their military age they would be familiar with the use of -weapons and more or less adequately drilled. Retired officers who were -too old to take part in the campaign were ordered to take the boys in -hand.</p> - -<p>To remedy the inevitable wastage in the French Army, as well as in -our own Expeditionary Force—which, a few days before Mr. Asquith's -speech, had already fought gallantly and lost some 14,000 men at -Mons and Charleroi—it was desired that armies should be raised in -England, trained, and sent out to the fighting line as required. For -this purpose Lord Kitchener had intimated that at least 500,000 men -would be required, and calls were made for 100,000 men at a time. The -oversea Dominions, and, above all, India—where the German Government -had vainly tried to bring about a disloyal outbreak—hastened to come -forward with offers of men; but all this did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> relieve the home -country of its responsibility. Speaking on this subject, Mr. Asquith -said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>In regard to the Army, there is call for a new, a continuous, a -determined, and a united effort. For, as the war goes on, we shall -have not merely to replace the wastage caused by casualties, not -merely to maintain our military power at its original level, but we -must, if we are to play a worthy part, enlarge its scale, increase -its numbers, and multiply many times its effectiveness as a fighting -instrument. The object of the appeal which I have made to you, my Lord -Mayor, and to the other Chief Magistrates of our capital cities, is to -impress upon the people of the United Kingdom the imperious urgency of -this supreme duty.</p> - -<p>Our self-governing Dominions throughout the Empire, without any -solicitation on our part, demonstrated, with a spontaneousness and -a unanimity unparalled in history, their determination to affirm -their brotherhood with us, and to make our cause their own. From -Canada, from Australia, from New Zealand, from South Africa, and from -Newfoundland the children of the Empire assert, not as an obligation -but as a privilege, their right and their willingness to contribute -money, material, and, what is better than all, the strength and -sinews, the fortunes, and the lives of their best manhood.</p> - -<p>India, too, with no less alacrity has claimed her share in the common -task. Every class and creed, British and natives, Princes and people, -Hindus and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> Mahommedans, vie with one another in noble and emulous -rivalry. Two divisions of our magnificent Indian Army are already on -their way. We welcome with appreciation and affection their proffered -aid. In an Empire which knows no distinction of race or cause we all -alike, as subjects of the King-Emperor, are joint and equal custodians -of our common interests and fortunes. We are here to hail with -profound and heartfelt gratitude their association, side by side and -shoulder to shoulder, with our home and Dominion troops, under the -flag which is the symbol to all of a unity that a world in arms cannot -dissever or dissolve.</p> - -<p>With these inspiring appeals and examples from our fellow-subjects all -over the world what are we doing, and what ought we to do here at home?</p> - -<p>Mobilisation was ordered on August 4th. Immediately afterwards Lord -Kitchener issued his call for 100,000 recruits for the Regular Army, -which has been followed by a second call for another 100,000. The -response up to to-day gives us between 250,000 to 300,000. I am glad -to say that London has done its share. The total number of Londoners -accepted is not less than 42,000.</p> - -<p>I need hardly say that that appeal involves no disparagement or -discouragement of the Territorial Force. The number of units in that -force who have volunteered for foreign service is most satisfactory -and grows every day. We look to them with confidence to increase their -numbers, to perfect their organisation and training, and to play -efficiently the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> part which has always been assigned to them, both -offensive and defensive, in the military system of the Empire.</p> - -<p>But to go back to the expansion to the Regular Army. We want more -men—men of the best fighting quality—and if for a moment the number -who offer themselves and are accepted should prove to be in excess of -those who can at once be adequately trained and equipped, do not let -them doubt that prompt provision will be made for the incorporation -of all willing and able men in the fighting forces of the kingdom. We -want first of all men, and we shall endeavour to secure them, and men -desiring to serve together shall, wherever possible, be allotted to -the same regiment or corps. The raising of battalions by counties or -municipalities with this object will be in every way encouraged.</p> - -<p>But we want not less urgently a larger supply of ex-non-commissioned -officers, and the pick of the men with whom in past days they served, -men, therefore, whom in most cases we shall be asking to give up -regular employment and to return to the work of the State, which they -alone are competent to do. The appeal we make is addressed quite as -much to their employers as to the men themselves. The men ought to be -absolutely assured of reinstatement in their business at the end of -the war. Finally, there are numbers of commissioned officers now in -retirement, who are much experienced in the handling of troops and -have served their country in the past. Let them come forward, too, and -show their willing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>ness, if need be, to train bodies of men for whom -at the moment no cadre or unit can be found.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Mr. Asquith concluded one of the most eloquent speeches he had ever -delivered with a warning to the optimists who had predicted a too easy -task for the allied forces, and recommended those present—and, through -them, the British Empire generally—to cultivate the virtue of patience:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>I have little more to say. Of the actual progress of the war I will -not say anything, except that, in my judgment, in whatever direction -we look there is abundant ground for pride and for confidence. I say -nothing more, because I think we should all bear in mind that we are -at present watching the fluctuations of fortune only in the early -stages of what is going to be a protracted struggle. We must learn to -take long views, and to cultivate, above all other faculties, those of -patience, endurance, and steadfastness.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, let us go, each of us, to his or her appropriate place -in the great common task. Never had a people more or richer sources -of encouragement and inspiration. Let us realise first of all -that we are fighting as a united Empire in a cause worthy of the -highest traditions of our race; let us keep in mind the patient and -indomitable seamen, who never relax for a moment, night or day, their -stern vigil of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> lonely sea; let us keep in mind our gallant -troops, who to-day, after a fortnight's continuous fighting, under -conditions which would try the mettle of the best army that ever took -the field, maintain not only an undefeated, but an unbroken front.</p> - -<p>Finally, let us recall the memories of the great men and the great -deeds of the past, commemorated, some of them, in the monuments which -we see around us on these walls; nor forgetting the dying message of -the younger Pitt, his last public utterance, made at the table of one -of your predecessors, my Lord Mayor, in this very hall: England has -saved herself by her exertions, and will, as I trust, save Europe by -her example.</p> - -<p>The England of those days gave a noble answer to his appeal, and did -not sheath the sword until after nearly twenty years of fighting the -freedom of Europe was secured. Let us go and do likewise.</p></blockquote> - -<p>As the published documents now at our disposal sufficiently show, the -German Government matured its preparations for the greatest war in -history in what they believed to be the certain hope that Great Britain -would not intervene. It was fully believed at Berlin that our domestic -differences would prevent any designs at helping Belgium which the -Government here might wish to carry out. The sudden change in national -feeling, which reconciled political opponents like Sir Edward Carson -and Mr. John Redmond, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> Mr. Asquith and Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Winston -Churchill and Lord Charles Beresford, could not be comprehended on -the other side of the North Sea, and completely upset the plans of -the German Government. This loyalty to the nation, taking the place -of loyalty to party at a time of national emergency, was demonstrated -in the House of Commons as soon as the crisis became acute. At the -Guildhall, too, Mr. Bonar Law once more proved how ready the Opposition -were to sink their differences with the Government, and to support -the Liberal Ministry in its endeavours to bring the campaign to an -honourable conclusion.</p> - -<p>When Mr. Asquith, after an enthusiastic burst of applause, had sat -down, Mr. Bonar Law rose, amid an equally enthusiastic demonstration of -welcome, and said:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>It would, indeed, be impossible for me to add anything to the force -of the appeal which has just been addressed by the Prime Minister -to our people. But I am glad to be here as representing one of our -great political parties in order to show clearly that in this supreme -struggle, and in everything connected with it until it is brought to -a triumphant close, the head of our Government must speak not as the -leader of a party but as the mouthpiece of a nation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> - -<p>We are a peace-loving people, but never, I believe, in our history has -the whole nation been so convinced as it is to-day that the cause for -which we are fighting is righteous and just. We strove for peace by -all means up to the last moment, but when, in spite of our efforts, -war came, we could not stand aside. The honour and the interests of -Great Britain-and believe me, they go together—alike forbade it. It -was inevitable that we must be drawn into this world struggle, and the -only question was whether we should enter it honourably or be dragged -into it with dishonour.</p> - -<p>This war is a great crime—one of the greatest in history. But it is -a crime in which as a nation we have no share. Now, as always, for -nearly a generation, the key of peace or war was in Berlin. The head -of the German Government had but to whisper the word "Peace," and -there would have been no war. He did not speak that word. He drew the -sword, and may the accursed system for which he stands perish by the -sword!</p> - -<p>War has come, and we are fighting for our life as truly as Belgium or -France, where the tide of battle, with all its horrors, is rolling on. -As Cromwell said of his Ironsides we can say with equal truth to-day: -"We know what we are fighting for, and we love what we know."</p> - -<p>We are fighting for our national existence, for everything which -nations have always held most dear. But we are fighting for something -more—we are fighting for the moral forces of humanity. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> are -fighting for respect for public law, and for the right of public -justice, which are the foundation of civilisation. We are fighting, as -the Prime Minister has said, for Right against Might. I do not attempt -what Burke has declared to be impossible—to draw up an indictment -against a whole people—but this I do say, that the German nation has -allowed itself to be organised as a military machine which recognises -no law except the law of force, which knows no right except the right -of the strongest. It is against that we are fighting to-day.</p> - -<p>The spirit in which this war was entered into was shown clearly in the -words addressed to our Ambassador at Berlin by the German Chancellor. -"You are going to war," he said, "for a scrap of paper." (Cries of -"Shame!")</p> - -<p>Yes, but a "scrap of paper" with which was bound up the solemn -obligation, and with that obligation the honour, of a great nation—a -"scrap of paper" in which was involved also the right to independence, -to liberty, the right even of existence, of all the small nations of -the world. It is for that "scrap of paper" that the Belgian soldiers -have fought and died, that the Belgian people, by what they have done, -and by what they have endured, have won for themselves immortal fame. -It is for that "scrap of paper," and all that it means, that we, too, -have already watered with the blood of our sons the fair fields of -France, and for which we shall conquer or perish.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Like Mr. Asquith, Mr. Bonar Law emphasised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> the fact that the war was a -spiritual and not a materialistic conflict; and he denounced in no less -vigorous terms the atrocities which had been perpetrated by the German -Army on its way through a friendly country. After his reference to the -"scrap of paper," he went on to say:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The words which I have quoted show not merely the spirit in which the -war was entered into, but the spirit in which it is being conducted -to-day. When reports first reached us of German atrocities in Belgium -I hoped for the sake of our common humanity that they were untrue, -or at least exaggerated. We can entertain that hope no longer. The -destruction of Louvain has proclaimed to the world in trumpet tones -what German methods are. It has fixed upon German honour an indelible -stain, and the explanations which it has been attempted to give of it -have only made that stain the deeper.</p> - -<p>War at the best is terrible. It is not from the ordinary soldier, -it is not from below, that restraint can be expected. It must come, -if it come at all, from above. But here the outrages have come not -from below but from above. They are not the result of accident, but -of design. They are part of a principle—the principle by any means, -at any expense of the lives of defenceless men or helpless women and -children, to spread terror in the country and to facilitate the German -arms. This is a moral and a spiritual conflict. Believe me, in the -long run, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> moral and the spiritual are stronger than the material -forces.</p> - -<p>The object of this meeting, and of the speech to which we have just -listened, is to appeal to the manhood of our country to rally once -again round the old flag. That appeal will not be made, is not being -made, in vain. Our people had only to realise, as at first they did -not quite realise, what were the issues at stake to come forward with -all the spirit of their fathers. That lesson is being driven home now -by influences stronger far than any speeches. It is being taught by -the heroic steadfastness of the Belgian people. It is being taught now -by the knowledge that but for the close shield of the Navy—the shield -which if we fail to conquer cannot save us—our fate to-day would be -the fate of Belgium. It is being taught, above all by the accounts, -meagre though they are, of what has been done by our soldiers on the -field of battle. With that mistaken estimate of themselves and of -others, which is one of the explanations of this war, the Germans, -before and after the outbreak, have spoken of us as a decadent nation. -Do they say that to-day?</p> - -<p>Let the long-drawn-out fight that began at Mons give the answer. There -our troops, pitted against the choicest bodies of the German army, -outnumbered by nearly three to one as I believe, were undefeated and -unbroken. When the story of that fight comes to be written, it is my -belief that it will form as glorious a page as is to be found in the -whole annals of our history. The men will come.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> - -<p>There is no doubt of that. Everywhere I find the same spirit. Everyone -is asking, "What can I do to help my country?" The men will come.</p> - -<p>There is one thing more only which I should like to say. Many of those -whom I am addressing are, like the Prime Minister and myself, unable -to take our place in the fighting line. It is not right, it is not -fair, that we should make an appeal for sacrifices to the patriotism -of those only who are able and willing to fight our battles. An equal -sacrifice is demanded of those who remain behind. Let us not as a -Government merely, but as a nation, realise our obligation and make -a vow and keep it, that no dependent of any man who is fighting our -battles shall go hungry while we have bread to eat. And let us realise -also, as we have not always realised in the past, that our soldiers -are the children of the State, and that they have the first claim upon -the resources of our nation.</p></blockquote> - -<p>When Mr. Balfour had supported the leader of the Unionist party there -were loud calls for Mr. Churchill, who made a very brief but pointed -speech on the Navy and its work:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>My Lord Mayor and Citizens of London,—You may rely with good -confidence upon the strength and efficiency of our naval defence. -That defence will enable you to live and to work and draw the means -of life and power from the utmost ends of the earth. It will give you -the time, it will give you the means<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> to create the powerful military -force which this country must wield before this trouble is brought to -its conclusion.</p> - -<p>Certain I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer.</p> - -<p>You have only to persevere to save yourselves and to save all those -who rely upon us. You have only to go right on, and at the end of the -road, be it short or be it long, victory and honour will be found.</p></blockquote> - -<p><i>Apropos</i> of the German atrocities at Liège, the brutal character of -the German troops, and Mr. Bonar Law's reference to the fact that the -outrages were instigated from above and were not to be blamed wholly -on the soldiers themselves, a word may be added regarding one or two -philosophical misconceptions which have arisen as to the origin of -this modern trait in the character of the German people. It is often -asserted that the philosophy of Nietzsche has been responsible for not -merely encouraging but developing the German belief in physical power -and brute force; and amid the host of "professors," on whom blame is -cast for urging on the Teuton to develop his country at the expense of -his neighbours, Nietzsche has frequently been singled out for special -mention as a man in whose works the Kaiser has always taken an especial -interest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> - -<p>This belief is quite erroneous. Nietzsche, who poked bitter fun at the -clumsiness and stupidity of his countrymen, who cracked jokes over the -musicians and philosophers most dear to the German heart, and who, -before all else, repudiated Prussianism lock, stock, and barrel, was -certainly not a writer likely to appeal to the Kaiser or to any of the -makers of modern Germany. The reader cannot fail to be impressed by -the striking fact that the "professors" who have written in support -of German development have one and all disclaimed any connection with -Nietzsche or his teachings. The thinker who is really responsible, even -more so than Treitschke, for Germany's attempt to burst her confines -and to increase her possessions, is a man of a very different order.</p> - -<p>A year or two ago there appeared the English translation of a book -by Houston Stewart Chamberlain, "The Foundations of the Nineteenth -Century." This was a book dealing generally, in so far as a connected -thread ran through it, with racial problems, and the author's -admiration for the Teutonic race was expressed without limits. -Chamberlain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> came of English stock, but he developed German sympathies, -lived in Germany, and wrote in German. For the Aryans, gradually -turned into the Teutons and modern Germans, Chamberlain claimed all -the virtues of mankind; and his net was spread wide. The Founder of -the Christian Church was of Teutonic stock, according to the teachings -of the Chamberlain school; and so was Dante. The Latin races, on the -contrary, were held to be decadent—it was only a matter of time before -they would have to disappear and make way for the strong, virile race -from the North.</p> - -<p>This book created a profound impression at the time of its publication -in Germany—and in German, although the author had been an Englishman. -It was read widely in Court circles, by the "professors," and by -military men. It was brought to the notice of the Kaiser, who ordered -several hundred copies to be sent to him. These—the number was said to -be as many as eight or nine hundred—were distributed, by the Imperial -command, to heads of schools, burgomasters, and the like, throughout -the length and breadth of the German Empire. To the views of the -Chamberlain school Nietzsche<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> was unalterably opposed; and his choicest -fulminations were directed against the group of thinkers who wrote with -unstinted admiration of the Teutonic race. To use his own expression, -the victories of 1870-1871 had given the Germans an inflated conception -of their own importance in the world, and the material wealth that -accrued to them during the next two decades ruined completely the old -German philosophy and culture which had been the pride and hope of such -men as Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, and Schopenhauer.</p> - -<p>Next to Chamberlain, the greatest influence in the modern development -of Germany was the famous historian, Heinrich von Treitschke. Like -Chamberlain, Treitschke distorted some facts to suit his purpose, and -neglected others which would have spoilt his theories; but there is -no doubt about the vigour of his thought and the lucid style in which -he wrote. He lived from 1834 to 1896, and specialised on historical -subjects from his 'teens. His view was that the Germans were the -greatest people on earth, that it was their duty to the world to -subjugate other peoples and races, and that nothing should prevent the -fulfilment of this task. These<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> opinions, enunciated at first in a -series of brilliant historical essays, found their most dramatic, one -might almost say their most sensational, expression in Treitschke's -"History of Germany in the Nineteenth Century," a work which has for -many years been regarded in Germany as scarcely less important than the -Bible itself. It was Treitschke who first poured contempt on the French -as a race of "decadents," and who prophesied that the most difficult -reckoning would be with England.</p> - -<p>These two men had, and still have, innumerable followers; nor -should we overlook Bismarck's speeches. But there was a third and -independent influence who must not be overlooked, either. This is -General von Bernhardi, whose book "Germany and the Next War" has now -become notorious, as much in the original as in the English and other -translations. With a curious smattering of philosophy and religion, -General von Bernhardi advocated the opinion that war was not merely -difficult to avoid, but that it was desirable and necessary for -maintaining the virility and strength of a nation. For this reason he -did not profess to shrink from a European campaign, no matter how dire -the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> effects of it might be; and his book contains a full <i>exposé</i> of -what the German plans should be, on land and sea, on the outbreak of -war. He has full confidence in the German army, and no less confidence -in the German navy; and he is determined that the power of Prussia and -the Prussian system shall be used to secure for his country the place -in the sun to which he thinks she is entitled. He ridicules Peace -Conferences, Geneva Conventions, and the like—for war is war, and not, -as the German Ambassador in Washington has just told us, an afternoon -tea-party—and war is to be waged ruthlessly against France and this -country. "France," writes General von Bernhardi, "must be crushed so -that she can never again cross our path."</p> - -<p>It is obvious to any reader who compares the thoughts and sentiments -in all these works with the Kaiser's speeches that his Majesty is a -careful student of them. To him both Heine and Nietzsche, who preferred -the old to the new Germany, are enemies of his Empire; but men like -Bernhardi, Treitschke, Chamberlain, Bismarck, and Frederick the Great -are safe guides. The Kaiser has, throughout his speeches, made many -references to Frederick the Great, whose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> literary works deserve -more study than is usually accorded them in England. They contain -the views of a man who, bullied in childhood by a coarse father, -had to fend for himself and to make his own discoveries in war and -social administration. His experiences are summed up, now and then, -in a series of snappy epigrams which are even more to the point than -Bismarck's. Within his limits, the Emperor William II. is at least -original, and it would hardly be fair to accuse him of plagiarism; but -he has, at least, had recourse to his great ancestor for inspiration.</p> - -<p>A survey of the influences at work in modern Germany, then, must -include the writings of the men just referred to, and often of their -followers as well. When these writings are considered we shall be able -to realise why Mr. Bonar Law had to refer so pointedly to the Belgian -atrocities and their instigation "from above." The Kaiser himself -has declared more than once that war must be waged ruthlessly; and -Treitschke, Bernhardi, Frederick the Great, Bismarck, and Chamberlain -unite in holding weakness up to ridicule and in emphasising the -necessity for brutality, in the face of these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> teachings, which have -influenced the ruling caste in the German Empire for more than a -generation, we need not wonder if the invaders of Belgium and France -have been urged on by their officers to excesses which have called -forth the censure of the civilised world. When the Emperor himself -advises his soldiers to "leave a name like Attila," we may be sure that -his officers will not be behindhand in enforcing the instruction.</p> - - -<p class="center"><i>Wyman & Sons, Ltd., Printers, London and Reading.</i></p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Campaign Round Liege, by J. M. 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