BELGIUM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 124, 19 October 1914, Page 5

BELGIUM

GERMANS OCCUPY OSTEND. THE GERMAN GARRISON* AT AKTWERP. Received 18, 4.40 p.m. Amsterdam, October 17. An official statement from Berlin states that the Germans have occupied Ostend. Received 18, 4.40 p.m. Amsterdam, October 17. The German garrison at Antwerp consists of 17,000 marines. The commander is demanding as Antwerp's war eontribution provisions, wines, and cigars valued 'at £2OOO daily. [ Received 18, 4.40 p.m.

London, October 17. The Daily Mail correspondent reports that the Germans entered Ostend on [Thursday morning. There was great ■commotion among the crowds of refugee* on (he quays and in the hotels. Till; invaders, 5000 Germans, are lodged in the public buildings. Two thousand wuro left at Zeebrugge,

There are no Germans beyond Heyost and Sluis.

THE REFUGEES FROM AXTWERP. REFUSE TO TRUST THEIR CONQUERORS. Received 18, 3.35 p.m. Amsterdam, October 17. Only 15,000 inhabitants are left to Antwerp, mostly old men, women and children. The refugees in Holland fear to accept the German advances to return, desiring some guarantee that the promises that they will not be ill-treat-ed will bo kept.

It is stated at The Hague that the Dutch Government has arranged terms with the 'Antwerp military authorities, whereby the refugees may return to Antwerp, but the Belgians will be liable for military service, and to be treated as prisoners of war.

THE .GERMANS' WESTERN LINE.

Received IS, 5.5 p.m. Paris, October 17 (evening)

Official.—The Germans in western Belgium iriaviy not advanced beyond the lino Ostend to Routers, to Menin. (Roulers is about 20 miles S.S.E. of Ostend, 25 miles from the coast; Menin is TO miles almost due south of Ostend, on the French frontier, and 30 miles from the coast.)

SCENES AT OSTEND.

MAD RUSH FOR STEAMERS. Times and (Sydney Sim Service*. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. London, October 17. Riotous scenes were witnessed at Ostend when the steamere were taking o!T the refugees. Flocking the wharve3, three British soldiers took charges of gangways and insisted on women and children being first. Nevertheless, in the swaying and crushing many were maimed. A wail was raised when it iras announced that no more vessels weie available. Thousands remained. A panic occurred when it was reported that the Germans had occupied Bruges and were marching on Ostend. Women

fainted and children shrieked, whilst men ran about demented. A Tftttto monoplane increased the terror, drojH ping bombs near the refugecß. The pani* abated upon the arrival of additiofigl steamers. i BOOTY AT ANTWERP. <W FIVE HUNDRED CANNON AND f VALUABLE MUNITIONS. Received 17, 3.40 p.m. ' Amsterdam, October 18.

German headquarters, in a telegram, state that the Germans took 5000 prigi oners-at Antwerp. The booty included 500 guns, a huge quantity of war munitions, food and wool, of a total value of ten million marks, together with coppe* and silver valued at half-a-million marks. Thirty-four German steamers were in port. Some were burned, and others had their engines destroyed. The docks had been rendered unworkable.

HOSPITAL SHIP ATTACKED. 5 BY A GERMAN AIRMAN. Received 18, 3.35 p.m. I London, October 17. ' tho Belgian Red Cross transported a large number of wounded from Ostend to Great Britain between Monday and

Thursday. > A Taube aviator bombed the Red Cross, vessel Paris, lying at an Ostend quay, despite the fact that wounded on stretchers were placed on the deck. The bombs missed tho Paris by 50yds.

RE-FORTIFYING ANTWERP. '*:

Received 18, 8,25 p.m. i Rotterdam, October, 17. Visitors from Antwerp state that the Germans are energetically reconstructing the Antwerp forts.

TERRIBLE rLIGHT OP BELGIUM. ,< "WE NO LONGER EXIST." i i London, October 16. • Terrible stories are told of the agony of the people flung out of Belgium. Many are wandering aimlessly and arc destined to live on charity till the end of the war. A citizen of Bruges said:

"What in God's name do we look forward to at the end of the war. The cities are smoking ruins. All tie pea« sants will have to start life again elsewhere.' Our country is wiped out, and we no longer exist."

THE INTERNED BRITISHERS. ! FRONTIER PASSED IN A MIST. ' Received 18, 5.40 p.m. ! London, October 17. The Times' correspondent in the North of Franca writes: "Conversations with Belgian officers shew that the internment of British, troops was due to crossing the frontier during a mist at night, the result of an unfortunate topographical mistake. The move waß not directed for any military reasons, and the troopg eould have withdrawn again to Belgian territory without the Germans obse"ing them, but the British love of fair play prevailed."