Antwerp Disaster.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 120, 14 October 1914, Page 5

Antwerp Disaster.

FURTHER NEWS OF THE OPER- ■> ATIONS. BRITISH INSPIRE THE BELGIANS. WHAT THE CAPTURE MEANS TO GERMANY. LITTLE STRATEGIC GAIN. London, October 12. Antwerp messages dispatched prior to the capture record the demonstrations following the arrival of the British troops. The whole population was raised from extreme depression to exultation and the Belgian soldiers for the first time sang triumphant marching songs and afterwards fought with dogged and careless gallantry. They DCcame new men.

The British troops occupied advanced trenches near the NetVe, where they were exposed to a continuous and galling shrapnel fire without a chance to return the fire with their rifles. Accordingly the, men were brought back half a mile from the river to better constructed trenches. During the night of October 5 the* Germans crossed the river, but were beaten back by the firo of the English marines. Belgian officers spoke with the deepest emotion of the gallantly of the Britishers. On October C the British guns were mounted on the inner ring of forts, but it was iacre»»ingly evident by October 7 that the Germans were only awaiting an opportunity to bombard the city and that there was no hope of saving the town. The Timcs,-in a leader on the seizure of Antwerp, says it will only become of appreciable value to the enemy if they make Belgium the theatre of a defensive campaign in the west should they be driven out of France. Antwerp will considerably strengthen their chance of fighting in Belgium rather than in their own country. By holding Belgium they will compel the Allies to fight on a long front, extending from Antwerp to Belfort, but the chief scene of operations will still be Belgium. The Times' naval correspondent states that while Germany respects neutral rights and international law Antwerp cannot ,be used as a base for naval operations against ourselves. On the other hand, should the Germans violate the neutrality of Holland our hands are untied. There is nothing whatever in the changed situation from a naval aspect to cause apprehension. London, October 12.

| Correspondents agree that the German attacks between the outer and in-, ner forts at Antwerp were carried out with an utter disregard of. life, in face of mines and all other means of defence.

Long after their entry the Germans, fearing mines, continued firing up and j around the ruins of the blown-up forts. I Five trainloads of Germans, wounded around Antwerp, have been sent to Aix-lc-Chapelle. The Daily Telegraph has opened a shilling fund as a Christmas gift to King Albert for tho Belgians. Ostend, October 12. Huge stores of cement were found in the houses of Germans in Malines. They must have been there for a long lime, and have been intended for the foundations for the siege guns. WHY THE CITY CAPITULATED. TO PRESERVE ITS AROinTECIURAL ASSETS. Received 14, 12.50 a.m. London, October 13. ilr Donohne, in a message to the Chronicle, says that while many of the military authorities in .Antwerp favored the continuation of resistance, mothers pointed out the possibility of a severe bombardment and the destruction of architectural beauties. The municipality pleaded the cause of the menace to the city, and questioned whether any good would come of prolonging the struggle'. Their entreaties carried the dav.

BRITISHERS WITH A MACHINE-GUN. iPLAY HAVOC WITH MASSED GERMANS. LAST GUNNER ACCOUNTS FOR 120. Received 13, 11 p.m. London, October 12. During the lighting outside of Antwerp on Thursday a party of Britishers with a, machine-gun began to play on a point where they knew Germans were massed. Twenty-six Britishers fell while serving the gun. Then the Germans appeared. The sergeant was the last man left. He sprang to the gun and shot down 120 of the enemy before ho himself was killed.

THE TAGEBLATT THUNDER.

"MADE IX GERMANY." I MCCII LEFT TO THE IMAGINATION. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, October 12. The Berliner Tagcblatt, referring to the capture of Antwerp, says: '"We get nearer the British, and they themselves can imagine what that means for them." NO WIXE FOR THE GERMANS. TEX NIGHTS OF HORROR. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 13, 5.40 p.m. London, October 12. Belgians who have arrived in England state that before, leaving Antwerp they were careful to smash every bottle of intoxicants, because the Germans drink and then commit excesses.

A correspondent at Rotterdam declares that the last ten nights at Antwerp were the most terrible of the. war. The siege of Liege was nothing by comparison. After entering the city, the Germans immediately attempted to bridge the Scheldt, expecting quickly to overtake the retiring troops.

"TO THE DEATH." OFFICERS DRAW THE LAST LOTS. Received 13, 9.35 p.m. London, October 12. Telegrams give details of the Antwerp disaster. Four officers at Fort St. Mario drew lots to decide who should remain and fight to the death. The lot fell on a naarried man with a family. Another officer volunteered to take his place, and the offer was reluctantly accepted. The thwje officers then farewelled their heroic comrade. HAS ANTWERP BEEN OCCUPIED-TWENTY-FOUR FORTS. RESISTING ENERGETICALLY. % Received 13, 11 p.m. Paris, October 12. The Germans only occupy the suburbs of Antwerp. Twenty-four forts on the Scheldt still resist energetically.