The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-08

London, Aug. ST-The only man who has yet got back to London after wit messing the first attacks of the Ger mans on Liege is BenjaInin Ha11ets a member of Belgian zinc firm, who reached here yesterday after travel ing forty-eight hours without food MT. Hal1et said:
 -sThe hrsti intfmatfon had that the sGermans wore invading Belgium was 8 notice in a L1iege evening newspaper on Monday advising Englishmen to call on the EnsIish Consul there at once. I saw the consul, and he in advancing on Lfege and warned me to return to England Immediately.
 All the men in the city, and many women, too, cIamored for rifles, The supply was insuh1cient to go around Food was plentiful, but nobody both cred much about eating, or sleeping either.
 q heard the sound of heavy firing in the direction of Wise on Tuesday, and finally saw red glare against was burning.
 As grim determination not to sur render sLiege to the Germans until it's last defender has been killed, inspired every citizen spoke to. There are about 10000 Russians in Liege, and most of them have volunteered to serve with the French or Belgian armies. Ie There were many heartrendfng scenes in the streets as the troops marched out to meet the invaders. I heard one old woman say through her tears:
 ( He's my only son, and it will break my heart to have him killed, but I'll be satisfied if he kills three Germans drst'
 Despite their yalor and resolution. had no idees the Iiegois would be able to make such a magnificent and vvon- derful defense against such an over whelming force as the Germans brought up. saw the opening of the terrific struggle on Wednesday and tthen came away. I was compelled to leave owing to business engagement l here, otherwise wanted to stay. The temptation to remain and see the re- suit was tremendous, almost irresist1- b1e, i'll as 1t made me.
 E The Germans had theft big guns far away across the Rdver Mense out. of sight A small detachment came in with a white flag ItSwas General won Ernmich, the German command er,4 who came to demand the surrender Iof the city, saying he merely want lwould not hurt sou1 but be friendly with everybody, and pay cash at the peoples own prices for everything that l was needed.
 I about getting what he wanted, it was that big German general He hadn't Iany chance of getting anything when he started. but every word he said OF ly added fuel to the deternination of the I Idege men to resist him to the end and then drop him in the Mouse. Some il had hard work holding themselves back from doing 1t then and thereg Fl They had to keep their eyes on the
 white flag. or they would have fo<got- ten it and given sway to their anger.
 When General won EInmich after aT1d Hi mans had practically given tho Bel T gfans everything they have irlcludiny
 existence, began referring, in a threat lentng tone to the power Of the Ger
 the Belgian officers shifted on stheir fleet But when he started sayfnsg
 what would happen zto every Liegeois if the city did not at once do as the Kaiser required, General yon Emmich q was curtly told that his request was
 refused, and the Belgian officers nov ed away, breaking off the interview. i London, Aug. 8-A despatch to the
 Exchange Telegraph from Lisbon says
 that at a special neetinesa.,f parHa- nnent today the declaration was JYlasie
 that Portugal would place herself lIn-
 condftionally on the side of England.
 The declaration was received with
 enthuiastic cheering in France and
 FngIand.d Premier Mashada, in an-
 nouucing the attitude of the govern,
 .tAccord1T1g to our alliance. we have
 duties which we will in no way fail
 It is reported that the var office
 has ordered the mobilization of three
 military divisions.
 ssGeneral von Emnich had barely
 ridden back across the bridge over the
 River Mouse. and was still in sight cantering across the beautiful valley when there was a long roar, a cracking crash and splash. The bridge had beer blown up. General von EmInich was
 seen to turn on his horse and watcf
 the cloud of dust which went up into
 the air far above the cloud of smoke l from the explosives.
 tsThe next hour was, think the
 busiest have ever seen. Women an6 children, weeping, were hurried away
 in every possible kind of vehicle an6 many on foot, staggering along. tryins : to run and hardly able to walk be : cause they were carrying so man. . things. The men and many women
 too, were taking up positions to whicl they were sent by those who were il charge. The soldiers were hurryint I at the double to their positions. Ther t came an astonishing silence. Tn, : Germans were coming
 From the tops of the old disuset s fortresses, from almost anywhere il F a hill, the German troops could b. l. seen approaching, Just as the frs : line came into view, the guns of tn, German artillery, posted fomewher, T far behind them, started blooming. Tn, ? shells could be heard coming as the.
 hummed through the air
 They were not aimed at the city, bu : at the forts which lie in a crooked lin,
 quite some distance out. Some of tn, : shells went wide, buried in the earth : and then kicked up a. vicious. spitefu j. kick. Some hit the forts, but buriet
 themselves in the sand outworls anc
 .sputtered out. The forts did no
 reply
 s Ahead of the German column gal
 1oped some wagons. They pulled III
 alongside the river near the wreck : : age Of the b1own-up bridge. The sol 'II diers looking in the distance like bus z ants at work, seemed to fetearIy,,