Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-05
BRITISH GUNS ROAR
CHALLENGE TO FOES
BESIEGTNG ANTWERP
English and Belgian Troops
Fight Side by Side Within
Defenses of Temporary
Capital.
ANTWERP, Oct. 5,

! ANTWERP, Oct s.,
British and Belgian troops are now
fghting shoulder to shoulder in the de-
fense of Antwerp, according to a state
ment made at the War Office today
The Belgian field artillery is now CO.
operating effectually with the English
heavy artillery. According to report
from the front. the British forces took
up an intrenched position along the
| Nethe River, opposite the main German
army. The Germans attempted to cross
the stream, but were beaten back by
artillery.
Although It was known that British
forces had landed at Ostend, the official
announcement today gave the first inti-
nation that British troops and English
artillery are aiding the defense OF the
temporary Belgian capital.
1t Is reported. but not officially con-
flrmed, that the British marines landed in
Ostend, transported heavy naval guns to
Antwerp to reinforce the fortresses The
German bombardment of the works south
and southeast of the city is going on
without cessation, the invaders using their
heaviest howitzers and siege artillery
against the forts The War Office claims
that the Germans have not been able to
force a breach at any point and are losing
heavily in unsuccessful assaults.
Even IL the Germans should succeed In
piercing the first line of fortncatlons
they would find q surprise awaiting them
on the second line" was the significant
remark made today by q number of the
General Staff. This led to the belief
that there is a strong mixed force OF
English and Belgians massed along the
second line of works.
Henry w. Diederich, the American Con-
sui General in Antwerp, has transmitted
to Brussels through an American corre-
spondent map of this city showing the
churches, museums and hospitals, and
request that these be spared from bonn
bardment so long as they are not using
for war purposes.
The Belgians say they have inflicted
a defeat upon n German force near Duff
fel, about l2 miles south of this city.
The Germans had so MY killed that
they asked for an armistiCe to bury their
dead but the Belgian commander, fear
Ing ruse. refused to grant it.
Despite the continued bombardment of
the southern forts, the General Staff, in
an official statement, denied the German
contention that the fire of some of the
minor forts has been senced.
THE situation continues excellent"
said the statement. Every single fort
in the defenses of Antwerp is in action.
At no points have the Germans made
gains. We can hold out indefinitely"
LONDON. Oct. 5.
That the Germans have made a breach,
In the southerly outer chain of Antwerp
defenses is believed certain here The !
Belgian declaration that "all of the forts
are still intact dsregards, 1t Is be- |
leVed here, the Ste. Catherine Wavre |
and Waelhelm positions on the extreme |
southern end of the line The fact that /
the Germans claim that these forts have |
been "smothered'' and that the Belgians
admit they "have been forced to with
draw north of Nethe River" taken to-
gether, mean that even though the forts
still hold out, they have been isolated.
But these are simply the outlying lines,
and their loss Is not considered here as
seriously menaCing the safety of Ant
werp. Nevertheless, there is a constantly
growing belief that, unless the siege can
be lifted by the Allies cooperating with
the Belgians, within a short time Antwerp
inevitably must surrender.
THE Germans are losing heavily at
antwerp in attempting to cross the
Nerthe River" says a Central News
Agency dispatch from Antwerp. 'Fiercc
cannon and rifle fire, together with cleo
-rifed wire cntanglements. have ahso-
utely shattered the Germans. The whole
southern section of the line presents a
terrible scene, cOrpses covering the
ground"
AMSTERDAM, Oct. s.
Refugees from Belgium are pouring into
Holland. They declare that Antwerp is
about to fall. Ten steamships that ar
lived at Flushing Sunday was filed with
'esidents of Antwerp.
The passengers included 100 nuns from
L!erre, Villages around Maestrcht are
HE'D with panc-stricken refugees.