The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-10-11
GARRISON ESCAPES WHEN
GERMANS TAKE ANTWERP

London, Oct. 1o.-Antwerp has fallen
into the hands of the Germans except
for a few outlying forts which cannot
affect the outstanding racts, but its
capture, important and stirring as it
has been, was robbed much of its in
trinsic value, 1t is contended here, by
the escape of the garrison.
1t appears the defenders held on long
enough to enable them to take full
stock of the situation and evacuated
the citadel when it became evident the
doom of the town was sealed. Toward
the close Of the defense only a suffl-
cient garrison to work the remaining
available guns was left.
At midday Friday the advance force
of the Germans entered and the full
surrender OF. the city evidently occurred
at half past two o'clock in the after
noon. Beaten back from their last de-
fences, the Belgians blew up their
heavy batteries and withdrew to join
their comrades who previously had
evacuated their positions. The forts
around Contich, six miles southeast Of
Antwerp, are said to be still intact and
the duel between them and the Ger
man artillery is reported as still pro-
ceeding this Saturday morning. The
outcome cannot be in doubt, it having
been conclulively proved in the past
two months that permanent forts m
an exposed situation stand no chance
against modern, siege Howitzers.
The real extent or the destruction
within the walls of Antwerp will be
slow in reaching the outside world
from bipartisan sources for the "ea-
son that communication with the city
is either cut, or entirely in the hands
of military authorities. From the
Hague it is asserted that the cathe-
dral of Notre Dame has not been dam
aged. Public buildings also may nave
escaped. 1t is to be noted that the
reports of destruction almost invari@
ably have been obtained from excited
refugees.
The strategic Importance Of Antwerp
to the Germans arose largely from the
fact of it's menace to their lines of
communication. With the Belgian army
withdrawn to a position half way be-
tween Antwerp and 'Ostend, the pres
sure will be removed temporarily. But
at the same time there would appear
to be little obstacle to the Belgians ef-
fecting junction with the allies work
ing to the northward in West Flanders.
1t is assumed in London that If Ger
many considers it convenient to her
plan of campaign, she will not hesitate
to utilize the neutral waters, of the
Scheldt; but except as an airship, and
possibly a submarine base, it is con-
tended that she can derive no advan
tage from this waterway
CITY SUFFERED TERRIBLY.
OF one thing there is no doubt-Aat-
bardment and losses among the Civilian
population have been heavy. The city
was crowded, not only with its normal
population of more than 100000 per-
sons, but with other thousands who
had sought refuge there on account Of
the German invasion. All stories CO.
incide in relating the terrible suffering
and mental torture of these unfortu-
mates struggling to leave the danger
zone. Many are said to have been
by the destruction of a pom
toon bridge over the river Scheldt.
While the vast bulk of refugees are
burdening Holland, thousands later will
come to England where other thou
sands already are being cared for.
Just how much damage has been
done to Antwerp, particularly to edi-
fees Of historic interest, it will take
some time to determine. Some refu-
gees says the Cathedral of Notre Dame
has been badly damaged while others
say this is not so.
All reports agree that the Germans
the city by way of suburb
of Berchem.
With Antwerp taken. the Germans
will now be able to detach the con-
force used during the siege
Of the city and transfer these men to
their right wing near the French Bel
gian frontier, which has been sorely
pressed.
The moral effect of the fall of Ant