New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-13
Nosegays in Rifle Muzzles
as Germans March
Into City.
NO SIGNS SEEN
OF PLUNDERING
All Belgian Men Between 1S and
80 Years Old To Be Sent
to Germany.

! sterdam:
! have been able 10 get the details
! of the German occupation OF Antwerp
from Dutch friends who have been
there since Friday. As neutrals they
/ can 20 there with little risk, though TOT
an English journalist to make the trip
would be to invite execution as a spy
| Up 70 tho present the Germans have
done no plundering, and the city IS wen
policed by armed guards. Soldiers are
using the city's brigade appliances 10
extinguish the fires that still smoul-
der in buildings wrecked by shells, but
the water supply seems inadequate.
Many instances of hurried flight are TO
be found in the bundles Of clothing ana
other property left in the streets by the
refugees, who fopnd they had brought
from home more than they could carry
away. In streets on the outskirts are
Belgian guns still in position at hastily
formed barricades. The Germans seem
anxious for the population to return
promising their safety should they be
have peacefully. Some of them already
have returned, but there does not ap-
pear to be any general tendency In that
direction.
Tho German soldiers entered the
town singing. Many were decorated
with flowers, having noscgays IN theT
TUNES and the muzzles OF their rihe'
and in their horses brides, but TINS
triumphant entry was for spectacular
purposes only, and most OF the troops
afteryard marched out again TO en-
camp on the outskirts. There are no"
only a few German soldiers in the city
except in the square before tho Hotel
de Vile.
Some of the Buildings Raced.
Regarding the damage inflicted by
shells, am able 70 furnish the iol-
lowing details from the testimony or
observers, but the list must not be
taken as being complete. The buildings
destroyed include the Palais de Jus
tice, the synagogue, tram shed, 81
Joseph's Church. hippodrome, Minerva
motor works, house so in Avenue des
Arts and Tinchant's cigar factory 10
Place dc Meir Serious damage was
done in the Avenue Moretus, Avenue
du Sud, Rue de rEsplanade, Rue de la
Justice and Avenue Quentin. The other
damage done was chiefly in the south
ern part OF the town and in the sub
urbs of Bercnem ana Gutenberg.
It was a pathetic experience while
compiling this list to be surrounded
by A group OF refugees anXiously ask
inc what news there was of the streets
in which their homes had once been.
One man who a few days ago had
fourishing business in Antwerp gave
a sigh of relief when | showed him his
premises were not on my list.
Details Of a trip to Antwerp follow
ing the occupation by the Germans
are provided by a correspondent of
"Handelsblad." The Dutch command
or at Putten asked him to inquire Of
inc tTUhA fOiilNaiufi a. -A44NN ~ ~
General Won der SChuetz, whether ref
ugces could return and whether they
would be guaranteed not 20 be in dan
ger. Motoring TO the city, the CORE
spondent found General SchuetZ in
stalled in the Hotel de Vile, and after
delivering the message was handed the
following in German, Dutch and
French:
The undersigned. the commander OF
Antwerp, declares that the return Of
Inhabitants to their homes is not pre-
vented. No harm will be done to them
END private property will be respected
on condition they refrain from hostile
acts. Members of the Civil Guard if
unarmed. can safely return, and will
not be made prisoners"
To BE Sent TO Germany.
It Was stated also that Belgian men
between eighteen and thirty years Old
would he sent to Germany. The cor
respondent was then asked 10 lend his
car to the German officer. He agreed
10 drive the officer where ne wished on
condition that the car was not TO be
used for hostile purposes. The CORE
spondent was assured that the inten-
tion was only to make a trip TO the
for surrender with any one still hold
ing out
Accordingly. a lieutenant and three
soldiers got into the car and it moved
off outside the city. They passed
trenches with barDed wire barricade5
and many batteries OF heavy guns
which had been spiked by the defend
ers before their flight; also heaps of
Belgian uniforms and kits that had
been thrown away. Presently they ar
rived at the deserted forts. Two Ger
mans on guard said they could 20 no
further, a. the bridge had been blown
Up.
Then the lieutenant hoisted his
handkerchief a. white flag, a. lie was
doubtful whether the district was vet
clear of Belglans. The party then
passed along lanes unmarked on the
German maps.
ITO all my questions said the cor
respondent, "the lieutenant evasively
answered by asking whether my car
was fast enough for his purpose Only
when | spoke of franc-tireurs did get
something out OF him. | said: Surely
they won't touch the Germans IN Ant
wcrp, a. there is 10 one left there
lie replied that there was rumor that
half the Belgian garrison had been
left behind, hidden in houses and
ready to reappear IN civilian clothes
and cause the Germans difficulty"
The party drove all around Antwerp
along the inner line Of forts, and at
last reached Cappelin, where the lieu
tenant entered the Town Hall Such a
crowd gathered around the car while
We waited that the burgomaster came
on the steps of the hall and said that
the appearance Of the Germans must
not brighten the people. / told him o.
my conversation with the commander
at Antwerp, and he at once informed