BELGIUM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 81, 31 August 1914, Page 8

BELGIUM

GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT. FORCING BACK THE GERMANS. MALINES RECAPTURED. _____ i BELGIANS EVERYWHEHE ACTIVE. GERMANS SENT TO CHECK THEM. Received 29, 7.30 p.m. London, August 28 (evening).

The Daily Chronicle's Ostcnd correspondent states that a Belgian army is gradually forcing back the Germans on Brussels. They have recaptured Valines (between Antwerp and Brussels). Eighty thousand have reached Vilvorde. The Germans are entrenching north of Brussels. A German army corps has been withdrawn from the south and brought along to check the Belgians. A great battle is impending. It is reported from Ghent that two Belgian divisions destroyed the fortifications erected to "hinder the Belgian advanco on Brussels in the event of a German reverse and. drove back the Germans until within sight of Brussels.

Tho Belgian Minister states that the Germans, after the cheek, withdrew to Louvain in disorder. The German guard mistook the retreaters for Belgians and fired at them. Afterwards they pretended filiat the inhabitants had fired, though the citizens were disarmed a week ago. Some of the men shot several notable citizens and ignited the town with bombs, including famous buildings. Louvain is now a iheap of ashes.

Antwerp, August 29.

The Belgians are indignant at German methods. At Kamur German trumpets blew the French charge when the French were five hundred yards away. Then when the French were breathless after 'charging for three 'hundred yards, they were cut to pieces by quickfirers. On another occasion a force was passing a steam anil!, in which were soldiers in Belgian uniform, when those in the mill cried out, "We are friends. Come along!'' But upon drawing near two hundred were shot. It is officially announced that Wie Belgians never meajit that Liegd and Namur should be permanent stoppingplaces. Their chief purpose was to enable the troops to rest.

THE FALL OF XAJITE.

GERMANS' ARTILLERY FIRE TOO POWERFUL.

Paris, August 28

The Germans at Namur had forty siege guns with a range of twelve mile?. The largest gun in the Belgian ■ forts Was B.lin. The Germans 'had 11.2 in guns. Tlie Germans entered the town between the Marchovelette and Champion forU. When the French arrived Namur was an inferno, and it was necessary to retreat. The French and Belgians while retiring were severely handled by the Germans and many were taken prisoners.

BOMBARDMENT OF MALINES. HISTORIC BUILDINGS DESTROYED. Received 3ft, 5.5 p.m, Antwerp, August 29 (morning).

The Germans bombarded Malines at midnight on Thursday. Most of the public monuments were hit. When the fire ceased tie authorities ordered tl.o civilians to evacuate the town. Many took refuge at Dufl'el. The bombardment was resumed on Eiiday. The Hotel do Ville and the Ctiurnh. of St. Tierre were totally destroyed. The Courts of Justice and the Cathedral of St. Rombaux were damaged. Tlie tower is still intact, but the famous peal was destroyed.

LOUVAIN LEVELLED.

GERMANS PILLAGING, DESTROYING,

AND MURDERING."

BITTERLY PUNISHED.

London, August 28.

The Press Bureau says that the Germans, on receiving a check, withdrew to Louvain and burnt the whole town to the ground.

Received jl), 5.5 p.m.' Copenhagen, August 2:1.

General Von der Goltz, German Military Governor of Belgium,- holds Card'inal Jannscu iiinl. 15 priests as hostages. They arc tr> be shot inmicdia.tcly if a single shot U fired against the Germans. Tho destruction of Louvain is ■fuli.v confirmed.

Refugees state, that the Germans arc i cliagrincl ov.-!n«- to their defeat of Tilesclay, when it was necessary to cover up their comrades' mistake. They commenced pillaging, destroying, and expelling the inhabitants at tile point of the bayonet. The murdered include, an Knglish and an American clergyman. The -building* destroyed include tho

magnificent Cathedral and the University library. The Berliner Tagoblatfc announces that Louvain has been bitterly punished for the civilian uprising. Received 30, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, August 20.

After the firing of Louvain, 72 residents were handcuffed and marched to Campenhont, where tihey were made to witness the shooting 1 of seven priests. The prisoners were subsequently driven as a screen before the German soldiers across country, and released when they neared the Belgian outposts. One refugee asserts that the Burgomaster at Louvain and a number of notables were shot. UNEQUALLED OUTRAGE. BELGIAN MiOTEST TO AMERICA.

Received 30, 5.5 pjm. Washington, August 29. The Belgian Minister conf'eux-d with Mr. Bryan, secretary of State, protesting against the destructi»n of Louvain. The Minister"called the Unite). States' attention to the outrage, which was unequalled in the woiicfß hisfcWy. Berlin, August 29. The Vossificho Zeitung, states that Louvain was destroyed because the whole population fired on the Germans, and women from the roofs poured .boiling oil on Germans. Received 30, &.o p.m. Ostend, August 29. Three Belgian Ministers have gone to the United States on a jnssion to President Wilson. It is believed they will urge action in connection with the 'violation of international Jaw.

• Received 30, 5.5 p.m. London, August 20 ('evening). The Press Bureau says th-j destruction of Louvain was an unpardonable act of .baiibarity' and] vaiuuiiiem. It can only bo supposed tihat ir. a desire to conceal. <t.o facts and cover the blunder of iia own men, the German commander seized upon the first idea occurring to tim as an excuse for an net unparalleled in the history, of civilisation. Louvain was miles from the fighting. International law recognises as the only legitimate aim of war the weakening of the enemy's army. The rules forbid the destruction or seizure of property not imperatively called for military necessities. By destroying Louvain the Germans have coc:;iiitt,ed a •crime wherefore there can be i o atonement. Humanity lias suffered a loss which can fcever be repaired.

GERMAN CRUELTIES,

INTENDED TO OVER-AWE THE NATIVES.

London, August 28.

Marconi intercepted a German ollifcial statement that owing to arms and ammunition having been .distributed among the civil population of Belgium the only means of preventing surprise attacks from civilians was to use unrelenting severity and to creato examples which, by their frightfulncss, would be a warning to the whole ;country.

GALLANT LITTLE LIEGE. NOT SETTLED YET.

Received 30,, 5.5 p.m. Antwerp, August 29. It is officially announced that seven' of the Liege forte are still resisting:

THE DEFENCE OF LONGWY. , E-.>eeiv«d ;.0. 0.0 p.m. Pairis, August 2». •- General Jcffr.9 lias conferred the 1 Legion <ci Fonor Dn Lle-ntcnajit-Oolonfi; Darche, Governor of Longwy. H? had a garrison of only eight" hiiimved- defenders,