The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-02
SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF ANTWERP
TOLD BY ASSOCIATED PRESS MAN


tention TO the vicinity OF the harbor
works. and OF the monumental public
buildings. such as the place. the city
hall and the Church of Our Lady. plac-
ing their shells as close as possible to
the buildings without actually hitting
them.
How accurately this was done in the
case OF the city hall Is shown by a
shell hole in the pavement at the side
entrance TO the building and in a de-
molished house across the street.
Some miscalculation was evidently
made with the Church of Our Lady,
which has a shell hole eight or ten
feet In diameter in one OF the transept
windows and the adjoining wall about
thirty feet above the floor. Other
wise this church, the pride OF An
twerp, is unchanged.
The artillery park, with which The
fortress was reduced. was far stronger
than was publicly known. containing
in addition TO the widely heralded
16h-inch mortars a large number Of
l21nch krupp siege guns. the exist
ence OF which had hitherto not been
mentioned and which were in affi-
cheney only slightly inferior 10 their
larger sisters. Two Austrian automo-
bile batteries OF 12inch guns were also
attached TO Won Beseler's army. maxi
Ing the victory in a way, an Austro-
German one
Effect Of the Great GUNS.
The enect OF these great guns. seen
in the forts of Waelhem. Wayre-St
Catherine and the so-called railroad
redoubt. protecting the line OF the
railroad from Brussels TO Antwern
Is even more striking than on the
iorts at Liege and south OF Verdun
Two OF the big armored turrets al 81
Catherine were struck fairly against
the fortress as already stated in head.
quarters bulletins. was directed
against the southeast sector OF the
Tort girdles between Malines and
Lierre.. The marine division under
Admiral Schroeder conducted the at.
tack against the middle of this line
the land troops being placed on either
nank or the sailors and marines Pa
hind them lay the heavy artillery an
TAR back as to be out OF reach Of
shells from the forts.
Fire was opened on September %
and by nightfall OF September 20 fort
Waelhem was considered ripe for
storming. A night attack was order.
ed Volunteers we're called for pio-
neers. marines and sailors comneted
Tor the dangerous honor. A forIorn
nope storming party was selected Tor
the advance. given life preservers ana
hand grenades and sent forward 20
swim the mOat. cut the wire entangIo.
ments and cover the advance of the
main storming column. When Within
100 yards OF the fort however Tire
Germans were received with sucb a
murderous fire. particularly from Rel.
I'm canister. that further advance
Vas impossible
Bombsrdrent Resumed.
The German lines fell hack zoo
yards 10 give the artillery a free eeid
and at daybreak the bomba rdrnent
was resumed. At $3.50 D. m. the white
flag appeared on the fort. The com.
mander. Major White. said that HE
guns we're all out OF action and thai
ne could no longer hold his men 40
their work. These had even followed
the retiring Germans beyond the fo4
IN counter attack after the upsuc.
cessiul attempt 10 storm but after
seeing their comrades torn 10 niece
by the exploding shells or buried nm.
der the up-torn walls refused TO mar
me works longer. even though. az
was stated. the commander had sbot
twenty Of them
The remnant Of the garrison. about
200 men. were allowed. IN rrneidors.
ton Of their brave defense. .o march
out With the honors Of war. The ON
GERS were allowed 20 retain their
swords.
Port weavrest Catherine was also
dimculi nut for tho German forcos
20 crack. a moat about 20 Yards wide
ana elaborate wire acknowledgements
'charFed with n high tension electric
current. according TO German Ar.
COUNT. making the fort apparently al.
most impregnablo 10 direct attach
Neverihelcas. volunteers In plenty
were found for the task Tho can
turo OF this fort and Of the railroad no.
doubt brought the attackers 10 tho
second line ~ defense. tho Nethe
working Ike beavers since the ont.
break Of the war. the Belgiana had
converted this natural obstacle into
feritabio fortress. Successive lines
~ trenches. shelter pits and bomb
proofs had been built for the Infantry
positions Tor the field guns were ecaf.
iored cvcrywhorc. before the lines
were dug wolf holes" deem roniraf
piia. nilcd ~ the brinf with mud. which
hid sharp steel spikes 20 ennaie any.
one stopping into them Finv fonr