The Alaska daily empire., 1914-12-07
LAND
 OF FIERCE 3S

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 W lae, as@ ! NEW yORK.-Look at the map ol 1 Continental Europe md t con teadt l ly bo aeen why Belgium haa been ! the theatre of European wars lrom iha time og caosars invasion and oven ! before geographically and ge2gra l phicalyl it iorms 9 natural gateway No wonder England, France and Ger mony always have been Jealous oyor the possession of Belgium Tho na. ton that possesses Belgium would l have every advantage in an interna. ! uonal conflict It is due mainly to this very iealously that Belgium hea remained an Independent state. vi ! ! can't have it you can't has been Che attitude of each power SO Bel ! gium. small and weak as it appeared Co be- has enjoyed extraordinarily in dependence, and nations have viee with each other to win her friend ship, SO valuable is it esteemed in war time. Today as often in che past. events that are to decide tho fu ture of Europe arc transpirlne in Bel gium.
 In Belgium was fought the battle of Waterloo July 1S, 1S15. On the same day was fought the battle oi Wayre. won by the French. As it wes however. Grouchy's victory was use less; he might have saved the day for Napoleon had be arrived in time
 The battle Of Ligny was fought in Belgium June 16i 1915. just two days ! before the battle of Waterloo. That was Napoleon's last victory.
 on the same day on Belgium soil was fought the battle of Quatre Brae' won by the British and Allies but their success was rendered fruitless ! by the Prussian reserves at Ligny
 The battles of Jemmapes. Novem- Der 6, 1792. between the French and Ausuians was one of the most im- portant of che French revolution. It was followed by the annexation of the Austrian Netherlands to France.
 Fontenoy fought May n, 17l5. in the war of the Austrian succession. resulted in a victory for the French over the combined forces of the Brit lsr Dutch and Austrians. it was the last victory of France.
 Oudenarde, fought July n, l7OS, resulted in the defeat of Che French by the English and lmperialists. It was one of the great victories of Mar. ieborough and Prince Eugene over Louis KY.
 Families. fought Mas 23, t70S. was victory for the English and allies over the French. and was followed by the French evacuation of the chief towns of the Netherlands.
 Neerwiden, July 24, 1893, in the wars Of Louis XIV resulted in g brilliant victory for the French over tho English.
 Ostend was the scene Of one of the most memorable sieges in history. It lasted from July, 1601, to September 1604. and cost upwards Of l.O00.00O lives. It was in the war of the lib. eration of tho Netherlands. The siege ended In the surrender of the fortress Co the Spanish under Sinola but the Spaniards lost upward of 7O.000 men. Scarcely @ house in che town was left standing.
 The siege Of Maestricht lasted from March 12 to June 29, 1579, and re- suited in the capture of the city by the Spaniards who mossacred 5000 men. women and children. Maestricht has been the scene of several other disastrous conflicts.
 Antwerp likewise, has been the scene of conflicts. In 1576-7 an en- gagement between the local German and Spanish troops resulted in the death of 10000 persons and the sur render of the citadel by the citizens Tn 1888. the citizens defeated an at-I tempted seizure of the city by the Duke of Anjou On August l7, 15S5' the citadel capiulated after Q thirteen months siege. one of the most eyent-I ful in history, to the Duke of Parma, Spanish viceroy of the Netherlands. The citadel was captured In 17f6 and 1792 by the French; in 179S by the Austrians in 179t by the French. In 1909 Bonaparte protected the city against Lord Chatham's attempt toI destroy the port and Che forts. lnl 1874 it was defended against the Eng-l llsh by Carnot and surrendered only after the conclusion of peace May 5. In 1880 during the Belgian reyo- lutlon the city was bombarded from the citadel by the Dutch general Chaase. who finally was forced to sur render his stronghold December 2S, 1882. after a seize by the French army of 50.0O0 men under General Gerard. 1 This ended the contest with Holland, l and on December 30, 1882, the citadel, ! almost wholly destroyed by the bonn was occupied by the Bel-l gian troops.
 Brussels, the Capital, received itsl present name in 1O44 when it was surrounded with walls and became the residence of the Duke of Brabant This city was the principal scene of