The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-15
THE FATE OF OSTEND
 HANGS IN BALANCE;
 PEOPLE TERRIFIED
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fnsistent reports that Germans would enter Wednesday at dawn, with the re- suit that few slept. At daybreak every street of Ostend was alive with Bel rians making their way to the water front Hundreds of fishermen took their families and friends away in their small boats, which sailed out of the shipping lasin in a steady stream. loaded down carrying their personal effects wrapped in tablecloths and blankets.
 Failure of the Germans to arrive at daybreak afforded only slight relief to the anxious crowds. Rumors were cur- rent that German cavalry was less than 20 miles away and the appearance of the Taube in the sky was taken as an indication that the Germans were per fecting their plan for entering the city city.
 Only Civil Guard
 Practically no government of any sort remains at Ostend the departure of King Albert and military headquarters left only the civil guard and policemen. They are attempting to preserve order, but there is lack of direction; as the burgomaster head of the municipal government, also has left
 The crowds mass about the gangways Of the vessels. making the work of em- barking the refugees more difficult. Wom- en and children are trampled in the stam- pede, as of. frightened animals at every rumor.
 ssWomen and children first" is the an- nouncement the ship officers make in Flemish and French as the gangways are lowered. This rule has been enforced for several days, but with the greatest eff fort; women cling to their husbands and other male relatives. defiantly blocking the gangways. All attempts to persuade the refugees fo drop their bundles and hasten aboard the boats are unavailing
 "It is all we have left" was the reply of an aged and infirm woman staggering under heavy luggage.
 Amazingly Changed
 Ostend today is amazingly unlike the gay Atlantic city of Belgium which form- erly attracted most of the fashionable pleasure seekers of the world The shut ters are closed on the great hotels facing the splendid bathing beach. Rich and poor alike. residents of Ostend and refu- gees of all classes from the interior of Belgium are huddled together. For days the food of women and children has been bread and coffee provided by committees which are attempting to keep down tho hunger of the people in spite of the fact that all ordinary activities have heen sus- pended. Now even bread is becoming very scarce. The relief boats to Folke- D stone are so crowded and hurried that they have little time to consider the ques- tion of meals and frequently they are un- able to offer even a cold lunch to the refugees crowded into every available inch of deck space.
 Marked attention is shown the wounded soldiers by the refugees who gathered about the filters on the decks and on sllipboard offering cigarettes, chocolate and any other delicacy which the almost empty lunch baskets afford Many of the soldiers speak only Flemish. while their nurses know only English or French and must rely on refugees who under stand all three languages to make known the wants of the sufferers. Little chill dren often bridge the language chasm and with rare sympathy assist the nurses
 Soldiers in Tatters
 Belgian, English and French soldiers alike have endured such hardships during the recent campaign that the uniforms of the wounded soldiers are in tatters. This is especially true of the Belgians, whose once bright red and blue uniforms are now faded and in shreds-as unkempt in appearance as their unshaven faces.
 My poor Belgian boys have such dis reputable looking uniforms when they come to me-" Red Cross surgeon re- marked, that I try to get some sor. of civilian clothes for them to tone them up. Of course. we cannot get new uni forms now, but the poor chaps are dis