BELGIANS-RETIRE ON OSTEND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2278, 12 October 1914, Page 5

BELGIANS-RETIRE ON OSTEND

BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADE ASSISTS /TERRIBLE ■ SCENES IMPROVED A MILLION RUSSIANS ADVANCE. BY SHORTEST ROM TO BERLI BRITISH AEROPLANE RAID The outstanding item of news to-day is the evacuation of Antwerp by tho Belgian forces, and coupled with it is the pitiable 6tory of the terrible sufferings of the non-combatant population of the city. It is an agonising narrative, and in a measure explains why the Belgian commander preferred to evacuate the forts rather than submit tho city and its inhabitants to the terror of further bombardment. A British naval force assisted in the defence of Antwerp, and a portion of this foice wae compelled to retire into the neutral territory of Holland, where, under international law, they were called on to lay down their arms. The British and Belgians have now retired in the direction of Ostend, to which town tho seat of Government has been removed. .The German losses before Antwerp are stated to have been very' heavy. The fighting in Franco has been very desperate, as will be 6een from the story covering the period from the 4th instant. The Allies have gained a little ground both on their Left and Right Winge. The Russians 'continue to progress, ami the big Central Army, a million strong, is now setting out by the shortest route for Berlin. A successful raid on the German Zeppelin airship sheds at Dusseldorf 'by.British aeioplanes is a sensational item, bearing tho, official stamp of the'Admiralty, ; 'and , another item not without interest as affecting ' future possibilities, is tho death of the King of Rumania.