BRUSSELS ABANDONED BY THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2235, 22 August 1914, Page 7

BRUSSELS ABANDONED BY THE ALLIES

> .: GERMANS .ENTER THE CM ':j' ' ONLY WAV TO SAVE HISTORIC MONUMENTS • By Telegraph—Press Assoclatlon-Ooprilglit > ' (Heoi August 22, 0.20 a.m.) ' • , , , Lonttort,'August 20, evening. The Germans have occupied Bru&sola. . ' (Rec. August 22,-.0.5 a.m.)' • r-London, August 21, morning. Mr. Martin Donohoe v the correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle," telegraphing from Ghent, says the abandonment of Brussels was the result of / a conference between the commander of tKe Allies and civic authorities. It was/decided that this .was the only method of, saving the historio. monuments : of the city from German savagery. The decision was highly displeasing to the civic guards who were maiming the entrenchments when they were disarmed, and the majority of thorn marched ' out and entrained for Ghent in order to be rearmed to fight elsewhere. -.: . The; Mayor of Brussels warned the townsfolk of the city .that they were •at the mercy of . >the enemy,: and urged them to give no ground for hostile action. The townsfplk_ awaited the coming of- the Prussians bravely, though they had beon witnessing the arrival of thousands of half-clad and homelesß 1 peasants who had fled before the, Prussian bayonets; , . The men decided not to defend Brussels. The wounded were entrained for , , places of safety. ~The citizens stood bareheaded, often in rows ten deep, while the wounded Wei© Carried out, and cheered the departing trains. There was a considerable exodus of.the male population later on, as the men feared that they would be thade prisoners.. Refugees from the country are now encamped "''."id the publictsquares. ' ; _ The, loads from Louvain'are still packed with retreating Boldiere, and fugitives in carts, many of which are drawn by dogs. The majority of these have lost money, clothes, and only their horses and cattle were saved. The •' Germans are pitilessly'firing farms, villages, and crops. ■/ A party ■of TJhla.ns occupied ;Brusseh on Thursday afternoon. The streets were deserted. Somo of the citizen.s draped the Belgian flag in orape. TWO GERMAN CORPS THROWN AGAINST LOUVAIN. ; , (Rec. August 22j 1.30 a.m) m London, August 21, morning. The occupation of Brussels was due to the Germans throwing two army • corps against Louvain, which'waG the weak point of i.the' Allies' Tine. . This forte, with a front of thirty miles, was covered by a great cavalry screen, with which the French and Belgians were hotly engaged. " ~.. On Tuesday the French dragoons repeatedly held up the cavalry screen, but when they_ penetrated beyortd tho advanced posts and discovered a largo force of infantry, they retired in good order, and with practically no loss. On Wednesday the German's army corps advanced steadily. ' ■ -■ 1 A S '■ . ' . , FIRST SHOOK OF ENCOUNTER AT DIEST. (Rec. August 22, 1 a.m.) m \ ■ ' .• London, August 21, morning. Tlie first shock was encountered at Diest, where tlio old forts and water rnoat proved too small, a protection against the heavy shell fire. IV garrison retreated,, ahd'the Germans advanced cautiously, feariilg a surprise, . The Belgian cavalry, which was covering tlio retreat of the rearguard, had several brushes with tile enemy,.who repeatedly sought to cut off tlio Belgian „ cavilry. I'ho latter's impetuosity led t'heui to charge the enomy, incurring heavy losses. Tlio Germans then attacked Louvain, midway between Tirlemont aud Brussels, to which the. Belgian headquarters had beeu moved on Wednesday.' * . — ■.> ' : 1 The news that Brussels has been Sccupied by the Germans follows closely upon a report that the seat of Government had been removod to Antwerp Brussels is both the. capital of Belgium and of tlio province of Brabant. It is situated about seventy miles from tlio sea at Ostend, anil occupies tlio plain or valley of the Senile and the sides and crest of the hill lviim to tlm east and south-east of that'valley. _ It is now extending over the'bills to tlm west of the valley and to the north is tlio town or communo of Lriclton wliioh is practically part of the city. Brussels is not defended by fortifications Enormous improvements were effected in the city during the nineteenth century. The Sftlitie tvas bricked in and fine boulevards took the place of slums ; The city contains many beautiful buildings, ancient and modem, and is not«d also for its churches and monuments. Tlio improvement and bcautification of the city has continued in recent years. Numerous fine avonues liavo been formed, thoso leading to'tlio outlying suburbs being bordered by many fashionable villas ; and country-houses. Brussels is admirably equipped with up-to-date, tramways and with railway facilities and waterways are projected which will ultimately make it accessible to sea.goiiig vessels. In addition to being tbo seat of government, Brussels is a famous centre of art and learning and boasts many prosperous manufactures. In 1912 Brussels and its suburtis bad a'.population of 663,647. To British people Brussels is inseparably associated with, the campaign which: fulminated at Waterloo. Outside the city at Evera is" tlie chief cemetery, frith fine .monuments to the British officers killed at Waterloo /removed from" the chiifch in that, village), to. the French ivho 'die 406 Belgian soil in 1870-71, aud another to the PruJsiau6.