DEATH OF BELGIAN HERO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 20, 19 October 1920, Page 7

DEATH OF BELGIAN HERO

1 THE DEFENDER 01? LIEGE. (llec. October 18, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, October 17. Obituary: General Leiuan, Defender of Liege.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. General Leman's gallant aiul stubborn stand against the Germans when they violated Belgian territory in the first days till August 15 that Fort Loncin, where tho invaders, but thrilled the rest of the world witU admiration.- It was not. till August 15 tlmt Fort Lorein, where General Leiuan had. his quarters, was blown to pieces by German howitzers, its heroic defenders 'buried under its ruins, and the gallant General made prisoner., The story' of the last days of Fort Loncin was told by General Leman in a letter he addressed to the Ivinjr of the Belgians immediately after he .was made prisoner: "Your .Majesty is not ignorant that I was at Fort Loncin on August 6 at noon. You will learn with regret that the fort was blown up yesterday at 5.20 p.ni, the greater part of the garrison being buried under the ruins. That I did not lose my life} in that catastrophe is due to my escort, who drew me from n stronghold whilst I was being suffocated by gas from the exploded powder. I was conveyed to a trench, where I fell. A German captain gave, me drink, and I was made prisoner and taken to Liege. I am certain that I have shown carelessness in this letter, Iml I am physically shattered by tho explosion at Fort Loncin. In honour of our arms I' have surrendered l neither the fortress nor the forts. Deign pardon, Sire. In Germany, where I am proceeding, my thoughts will be, as they always have been, of Belgium and the King. I would willingly have given my life the better to serve them, but death was not granted to me." General Leman, to whom General von Emmich returned his sword in recognition of his gallant defence, was first confined at Magdeburg, in Germany, but in April, 1915, he was removed to Blankenburg, where ho remained for two years and a linlf. He was released in December, 1917, when ho was sent to Switzerland. There is tho evidence of the General's own statement that he might have been liberated long before but for his proud refusal to promise not lo servo his country against Germany during tho I war.