OSTEND OCCUPIED BY THE GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 5

OSTEND OCCUPIED BY THE GERMANS

PANIC AMONGST THE REFUGEES TERRIBLE SCENES AT THE WHARVES (Rec. October 18, 5 p.m.) London, Odtober 17. An official message from Berlin (states a report from Amsterdam) announces that tho Germans have occupied Ostend. There.were riotous scenes at Ostend when steamers were taking off refugees, who were flocking on to the wharves.., Three British soldiers took 'charge of the gangways and insisted that women and children should be taken first. Nevertheless, there was a swaying crush, in which many people were injured. A wail was raised when it was announced that no more (vessels' were available. Thousands of people remained, and a panic occurred when it was reported that the Germans had occupied Bruges and were marching on Ostend. Women fainted, children shrieked, and men ran demented. A Taube aeroplane' increased the terror by dropping a bomb near the refugees. The panic abated with tho arrival of additional steamers. — ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. October 18, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, October 17. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent reports that the Germans ( entered Ostend on Thursday morning. A great commotion was caused amongst the crowds of refugees on the quays and in the.hotels by the invaders. Five, thousand Germans have been lodged in public buildings, and two thousand were left at Zeebruggo (on the coast, midway between Ostend and the mouth of the Scheldt). are no Germans between Heyst and Shiis. Sluis is seven miles west and a'little south of Zeobrugge, and Heyst is two miles distant from Zeebrugge. Tho three places are almost in a line. (Rec, 18, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, October 17, evening. Official.—The Germans in Western Belgium have not advanced beyond the. lines of Ostend, Roulers, and Menin. The Allies have occupied the approaches to Armentieres, and have again gained ground in the Arras, and St. Mihiel regions.' t ■ • Roulers is a town with a population of about 30,000, situated in West Flanders (Belgium), 12 miles N'.W. of Courtrai. Menin is about six miles W.S.W. of Courtrai. Armentieres is eight miles W.N.W. of Lille, just inside the French frontier. _____ GERMAN GARRISON AT ANTWERP. (Rec. October 18, 10.40 a.m.) Antwerp, October 16. The German garrison at Antwerp consists of 17,000 marines. The commander is demanding, as Antwerp's war contribution, provisions, wines, and cigars; valued at £2000, daily. . • . Amsterdam, October 16. A war tax,of £400,000 has been imposed upon Bruges. (Rec. October 18, 8.25 p.m.) Rotterdam, October 17. Visitors from Antwerp state that the Germans are energetically reconstructing the Antwerp forts. Amsterdam, October 16. A German Headquarters telegram states that the Germans took five thousand prisoners at Antwerp, and that the booty included five hundred guiiß, a huge quantity of war munitions, food, and wool, of a total value of ten million marks (about £500.000); and copper and silver valued at half a million marks (about £25,000). There were 34 German steamers in the port. Some were burned, and the engines of others had been destroyed. The docks had been rendered unworkable.