Evening star., 1914-10-04
u|EGEFORTS EASY
MARK FOR ENEMY
Well Built, Germans Concede,
But Not Sufficiently Hid
den From View.
GREAT SIEGE GUNS SOON
REDUCED THEM TO RUINS
Are Now Being Restored Under Di-
rection Of Experts of the
Kaiser's Army.
of the Associated Press

Correspondence of the Associated Press
LIEGE, September 14.-Surprise is Of
ten expressed that so much money and
effort are spent in getting plans of
fortresses in time of peace. and the
vigilant efforts made to prevent espion-
lines and weak spots Of fortress must
be disclosed as soon as a serious attack
is launched against 1t in time of war.
A visit to the battered d-shell-rent
forts Of Liege under the guidance of
German artillery and engineer officers
now engaged in restoring the Belgian
fortresses indicates one reason at least
for this mystery. This Is to prevent the
enemy from learning in advance the
location of the gun turrets. Liege proved
that these turrets, despite the heaviest
armor and many feet of cement wall
protection, are vulnerable to modern
artillery once their exact location is es-
tablished
Scenes of Devastation.
Each fort visited showed scenes Of
titanic devastation and destruction.
Great gaping holes were opened in the
earth wherever the shells from the
big siege mortars landed, debris of
stone and cement fragments Uttered
the surface within the fort inclosure
to a depth of foot or more, the ce-
ment walls of the revolving gun tur-
rets were battered, cracked and smash
ed, and their armor plate roofs showed
great dents where shells had landed.
but with few exceptions the turrets
were still intact despite the heavy
bombardment. The guns were put out
of action not by shells penetrating the
turrets. but because the turrets them
selves jammed. making the aiming of
the cannon impossible.
The German shells. even those of the
dreaded 163a Inch surprise mortar.
had bounded off the armored roofs.
leaving deep marks and splashes where
they had exploded. but without pene-
crete casing had cracked Off fragments
which filled up the space between tur-
het and casing, effectively jamming
the turning machinery.
German artillery experts declare that
the gun turrets in German fortresses
have the same general construction
and the same weakness, but point out
that in case of attack much time would
be spent in locating the turrets, for
which hidden positions are skillfully
chosen.
At Liege the forts were located on
the summit of ridges. with the gun
positions in plain view for miles, SO
that the German artillery, even with
fortresses, could drop their shells upon
the turrets as upon the bulfs-eye OF
gigantic target.
On Summit of Ridges.
The German experts pointed out as
another serious defect the absence of
observation posts from which the fire
of the forts could be directed and con-
trolled. In each fort was a species of
coming tower. serving also as search
light turret. but so low-lying as to
be useless in directing the fire.
The forts themselves, in the opinion
of the German officers, were well laid
out and well designed for forts of their
age-twenty-f four to twenty-six years
but the Belgians since then had done
little to keep them up to date. Only of
late had they awakened to the neces-
sity of undermining the forts by put
ting in better system of fire control.
more telephones. etc. and had placed
orders with German firms for the nee
essary electric wiring and plant and
for additional cannon. These are now
being installed, but by the German
pioneers, with the aid Of the original
fortress plans, secured when Liege fell
Opposed to Annexation.
A most interested spectator during
the inspection trip was Dr. Earl Lieb-
knecht. the socialist deputy whom the
foreign press reported executed early
in the war. He enjoyed the special IA
vor of the army officers in charge of
the party. Their explanations were ad-
dressed to him; the governor of the
fortress Liege. Gen. Goleve. came to
welcome him. After his inspection of
Liege DIR. Liebknecht departed for
Louvain and Brussels, where he was
received with the same favor.
DIR. Liebknecht will not hear of the
annexation of Belgium or any part of
it, condition of peace on which the
super-patriots have already set their
hearts. The minute that an attempt is
made to incorporate Belgium or any
part of it In Germany, that minute the
boasted unity of the German parties
will disappear" he said to the repre-
sentative of the general staff who ac-
companied him in the automobile ride
around the fort girdle.