BELGIUM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 89, 10 September 1914, Page 5

BELGIUM

BELGIANS RETREAT FROM NAMUR. TALES BY THE SURVIVORS. FRENCH ASSISTANCE FAILS TO MATERIALISE. GERMANS PROFIT BY THEIR a LESSONS AT LIEGE. A DISASTROUS RETREAT. i Received 9, 11.40 p. m , Ostend, September 8 (evening). Reutcr reports that the survivors from • Xiimur state that General Michel and [ staff made two mistakes. They allowed the enemy to eome too close without attacking, and waited too long for help from the French, which they were unable to send to their assistance in time. The Belgians waited on the Meuse for a week for the Germans on the other hank to attack, happy in the belief that every day's delay Was a, gain on the j.path to victory, whereas the Germans, j benefitting, by the lesson at Liege, instead of hurling regiments forward, , waited for the arrival of enormous siege guns. Screened by a curtain of cavalry, and .finally covered by a fog, they placed ;E guns at two points out of raifge of the Belgian guns, and concentrated their fire on a 'single 'section: The Germans had been, accurately informed of the Namur defences. A survivor relates that ho spent ten hours in a Belgian entrenchment, lying flat. 110 stood a terrible ordeal, unable to see the enemy or fire a shot. If he had put his head above the ramparts, it would simply have been, mown off. Whole regiments were decimated. Meanwhile, the guns were turned upon the . forts at Maigeret and Marchovelctte, armed with old-fashioned guns. Maigeret fired ten shots, and received 1200 shells at the rate of 20 a minute, and Boon surrendered. * General Michel and his staff were so confident that the fortress would hold out that they had not provided for the eventuality of retirement. Great confusion ensued. The narrow road was : choked with, a swirling torrent of men, ' horses, and vehicles. Many wounded !: were left behind. The Germans followed ] close at, their heels. The stores of the fortress, field artillery, and many motor- 1 cars fell into their hands. RELENTLESSLY PURSUED AND PUNISHED. Received 9, 11.15 pjn.l London, September 8. The retreating force hoped to join a 3 French reinforcement at St. Gerard from * Dinant, but the French were over- ] whelmed at Dinant, and could only send i two regiments, which bravely fought '• their way through, with heavy losses. ' The Germans, moving more rapidly, ■, cut off the Franco-Belgian retreat at ] Bois Lesvillicrs, where the German ma- ' chine-guns disabled some of the Belgian guns, and made u clean sweep of several motor-cars filled with officers. At last the retreating army cut its way through at terrible cost, the regiments being hopelessly intermingled. The \ retreat was continued, ever harassed and pursued. 1 They then tumbled right into the path ; of the French retreat from Charleroi, and this further demoralised the Bel- ! gians, who eventually reached Philippe- 1 Iville, where they re-formed, and from there reached Rouen in seven days. The Namur garrison and field army numbered 20,000, and only 12,000 escaped.

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. ATROCITIES PROVED. Antwerp, September 8.. The Commission of Enquiry'gathered 1 evidence of German atrocities at Vise, Oysmael, Acrschot and Louvain, and in the vicinity of Malines. The "Germans j I empty the public treasuries, become in- j Itoxicated, discharge rifles in the streets , and empty houses, afterwards declaring I that the inhabitants fired, which is the pretext to murder, burn and pillage. They shut the men in the churches while they outrage the women, take hostages, and demand ransoms. They force men, women and children to march in front of the troops displaying white flags in order to lead the enemy to approach. They have shot ten priests. SHORTAGE OF FOOD. ' Paris, September 8. At Ghent the burgomaster negotiated for the conditions of avoiding an entry by German troops, mainly by the provision of food. The Germans are endeavoring to occupy fresh provinces to secure fresh food. Belgian, September 8. The Vossische Zeitung asserts that Germany is taking control of the Allies' banks in Belgium as a counter-move to Britain's attempt to starve Germany. GERMANS LEAVING LIEGE. Antwerp, September 8. The Germans are. streaming from Liege towards Germany. The inhabitants .have been forbidden to leave their ouses for three days. Sailors are guarding the railways, which seems to indicate that the supply of reserves is exhausted. , GERMANS AT GHENT. Received 0. 9.30 p.m. ' Ghent, September 9. The German general informed ■ the ' Burgomaster that he had no-intention " of taking the town, and no money war ' tax would be Ipvied. There are aboul I £2,000.000 worth of forage and auto> ' mobiles st Bfir'pghen and on the Alost Gudenardfi Toad. ,