Brussels' Fate

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 79, 22 August 1914, Page 5

Brussels' Fate

Abandoned to Enemy GERMANS MAKE UNCONTESTED ENTRY, PITUBLE SCEXES. THE DEVASTATING GERMAXS. Received 23, 12.20 a.m. London, A'ugi| a t < gjj,( cvening)t sols' 10 Germans }laVe occupied BrusAugust 21 (morning). 'Mr. Donohuc, the Daily Telegraph's corp'spondent, says the abandonment of Lrusscla was the result of a conference between the commander of the Allies and the civic authorities, as the only method of saving historic monuments from German savagery The decision was highly displeasing to the civic guards who were manning the entrenchments. When thev were disarmed, the majority of the civic guards marched out and entrained for Ghent m order to be re-armed for fightin" elsewhere. ° The Mayor of Brussels has warnnd the townfolk that the city is at the mercy of the enemy, and urged them to give no ground for hostile action. The townsfolk awaited the coming of the Prussians bravely, tliough they had been witnessing tha arrival of hal'f-clad and homeless peasants who had fled br- | fore the Prussian bayonets. It was decided not to defend Brussels. The wounded were entrained for pla«es of safety. [ The citizens, often ten deep, stoodj bare-headed while the wounded were car- | ried out, and cheered the departing ! trains. b | Later there was a considerable exodus of the male population, fearing that they would be made prisoners. Refugees from the countrv are now [encamped in the public squares. The roads from Louvain are still packed with retreating soldiers and fugitives in carts, of which many are drawn ■by dogs.

The majority have lost their money, clothes, horses and cattle, the Germans pitilessly firing • farms, villages and crops. l .. A party of Uhlans occupied (Brussels on Thursday afternoon. The streets were deserted. Some citizens have draped the Belgian flag with crepe. . INVADERS' MIGHTY HOSTS DEFENDERS OUTNUMBERED AT LOUVAIN. THIRTY MILES OF BELGIANS. Received 23. 1.30 a.m. London, August 21 (morning). The occupation of Brussels w&s due to the Germans throwing two army eorps against Louvain, which was the weak point in the line. The invading force, with a front of thirty miles, is covered by a great cavalry screen, wherewith the French and Belgians were hotly engaged on Tuesday. The French dragoons repeatedly crept tip on the cavalry screen, but when they penetrated beyond the advanced posts they discovered a large force of infantry and retired in good order, with practically no loss. On Wednesday the German army eorp.j advanced steadily. THE BATTLE RAGING. BELGIAN GARRISON RETREATS FROM DIEST. LOI'YAIN FALLS TO GERMANS. Received 22, 1 a.m. London. August 21 (morning). The first shock was encountered at Diest, where the old forts and water moat proved but small protection against the heavy shell fire. The garrison retreated, and the Germans advanced cautiously, fearing a surprise The Belgian cavalry, which was covering the retreat of the rearguard, had several brushes with the enemy, who repeatedly sought to cut off the Belgian cavalry. The latter's impetuosity led them to charge the enemy, incurring heavy losses. The Germans then attacked Louvain. whence the Belgian headquarters had been removed on Wednesday.

THE RETREAT ON LOUYATN. AFTER A TENACIOUS STRUGGLE. BELGIANS ADMIRABLY PERFORMED THEIR DUTY. Received 21. ">.lO p.m. London, August 20. Reuter's Ghent enrres]K)Tnlent statethat a fierce action \va-s fought Acrschot on Wednesday. Two German aeroplanes reconnoitred the IMgian positions. The German infantry, with machine-guns. attacked an inferior Belgian force, which resisted desperately. Two regiments which had aiieady fought splendidly at Liege were in thfc forefiwnt. and tenaciously held their ground for two hours, inflicting severe losses. Finally the, Belgians, ibeing assailed ill froni and on the right flank, began to retreat to Lcuvain, covered by .Major Gilson's force'. , 'Hie Press Bureau states _ that the Belgian retirement was tactically necessary, and luul been anticipated for some days. Belgium lias already admirably ft rfonmed th.' duty of delaying the Gerrian advance oncl enaWing tllie Allien to complete their concentrations. ■Brussels, August 2 n . The allied armies now form a vast semi-circle from Diest curving bv .Ouatre liras and Wavre to Givct. The French on Tuesday were occupying both sides of the Meuse from Godinne. between Namur and Dinant. to the French frontier. There were constant skirmishes with the German cavalry about Godinne. The Belgians during Tuesday gradually drew in a long line of troops and stiffened it. and are now holding a strongly entrenched second line covering tMf approaches to Ijouyain. Brussels and Antwerp. It is chosen ground and a splendid battlefield, with broken country veil* ing its strength from the enemy. It is officially pointed out at Brussels that the public must expert to see changes in the position of the army along such a long line, but modifications of the original position jneed give 110 ground for anxiety., The German attack oy Tuesday developed at six in tn« liaiißMMitrn-af urmr fr" nf ettvalrv

and infantry, supported by artillery am machine guns, attacked the seven milfront about Haelen. The Belgian cavalry at Geetbeetz, o: the Tirlemnnt-'Mol! railway offered i determined resistance. They dismount ed and occupied trenches, and bravel- - withstood a hail of bullets for t\v< f hours. At tlaelon a party of Germans got ii behind and shot the Belgian horses'. Tin ground was fought for inch by inch, ant numbers of Germans were killed during their relentless mardh. Thp Belgians al so suljjered severely, and when the re t'eat was ordered the. Belgian cavalry did their best to assist their comrade.' who had lost their horses. At one poinl 240 Belgians 'held up 2000 Germans. When the Belgian cavalry had retired the Germans shelled Dies't and Tiriemont, pillaged the railway stations and bombarded the town with big guns, the inhabitants fleeing in terror and leaving everything. The cavalry at Tirlemont was particularly brutal in attacking the panic-stricken populace, shooting and sticking them at random. One woman states: "They shot my husband before my eyes and trampled two of my children to death." The Germans, who were obviously well served with spies, pounced on Gembloux directly the troops and French cavalry left. The Germans destroyed the main railway, but were soon driven out. All through Monday the French were pouring through Namur, and detraining outside the town. They screened themselves with provision bags against observation by aviators. The way to Xamur was blocked, but the Germans ivere allowed to enter a gap in the north, ]>y which they reached Gembloux. The general impression in Brussels is that the allies are not making an efl'ort to concentrate'upon the defence of Brusthe Germans are not in sufficient to warrant-such an important change of plans. Belgian officers assert that everything i 3 turning out as anticipated. It is officially pointed out that the first task of the Belgian army is to gain time. Tlie object of the present operations is not to cover certain districts or towns. Meanwhile the Belgians are showing wonderful pluck and zeal in improvising fortifications to protect Brussels against raiding parties. Private citizens are assisting the civil guards in entrenchng, and have already constructed a big trench, with barbed wire defences on either flank. The Belgians at the outset of the. war purchased an enormous number of motor-cars, and changed the whole conditions of transport. An official note published in Brussels indicates that British troops are on the way. Their gun carriages garlanded and followed by cheering people, The size of the British provision train astonished the (Belgians. The locality of the British march was not disclosed. [ Brussels. August 20. The remova] of the Court and 'Government 'to Antwerp was si heavy blow to Brussels, but there was no panic or ontrush of citizen:-, who. cont'nue to dine •quietly in cafe-, maintaining a, calni and resolute attitude. Abso'irtf confidence is reposed in the Arm>.\ It is stated that Antwerp is aide to resist a big army for an indefinite period. Rotterdam. August 20. Telegram? from Lie«<> show that. .Piiinces Eitel and August are now at Liege. It is stilted thai a large German force crossed t&ie Meti-e between Liege i'nd N'amur. (Press Association Extraordinary.) Brussels. August 20. The Press Bureau state.- that the Belgian army has been forced to fall back and communication with Brussels is difficult. GERMANS DEFEATED. WITH HEAVY UiSSES. ■ . Press Association.—Extraordinary. Received 21. fi.lo p.m. liondon. August 21. An Exchange telegram slates that the Allies defeated the Germans, with heavy losses, at Tirlemont. [Tirlemont is a town of about 18.000 people, 25 to 30 miles eastward of Brussels.]