The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-10-14
ANTWERP IS IN
THE POSSESSION
OfGermans, Conquered BY
Big Guns.
TOOK TEN DAYS TO DO JOB
Mammoth Shells Of Colossal
HowitzerS OverpOwered
Forts and City.
HEAVY DEATH TOLL RESULTED

London, Oct. 10.-Antwerp and
the forts surrounding the city are
now i'm complete possession OF the
Germans, but the greater part OF
the Belgian army escaped.
1t took the Germans just ten days
to capture the strongest fortress In
the world.
The fall of Antwerp is evidence
that even the most powerful forts
are no match for the colossal how
itzers which the invaders have sue
cessfully employed against every
fortified place that stood in their
way. These huge guns open gaps
through which the besiegers find an
entrance for their field artillery and
infantry.
The Germans. after Smelling the
city itself for many hours, making II
untenable. entered the town through
the suburb of Berchem. to the east.
They had made breach in the out
er line of forts, some of which were
destroyed by their big guns, and
others blown up by the defenders.
The Germans followed similar plans
in dealing with the inner belt OF
forts, and at the same time threw
shells into the city, which set afire
many places.
The inner forts, like those further
out. soon succumbed to the enor-
nous shells, and on Friday morning
several of these forts had fallen, OPP
ening the way for the Germans into
the city. By midday they We're in
occupation of the town. and at $50
in the afternoon the war banner on
, the cathedral was replaced by IA
white flag. indicating surrender. A
few forts continued to hold out, and
il was not until IL o'clock this
morning that the Germans, accord
ing to their own official report, were
in complete possession of the city
and .ortress. When they arrived
yesterday they found that the Bel
gian field army and at least part of
the garrison had anticipated them
and like the King and royal family,
had escapeG.
The death roll resulting from
the attack on and defenses of Ant
werp had not been compiled. and
probably the full details never will
be known, but all accounts describe
il as being terribly heavy. The Ger
mans, although their big guns clear
ed path tor them. had to sacrifice
many lives in crossing the rivers
and canals and in driving out the
defenders, who held the entrench-
ments until the last.
The st',bbornness of the 4Belgians
and OF those who went to their as
s;stance cost them dearly also. so
that both sides will have long cas-
ualty lists There is no reliable in
formation as to the loss of life in
the city and the damage there.
Crowds OF refugees arrived in
London tonight. Most of them left
Antwerp Thursday night and their
acco ms of the attack are confused.
The Belcians themselves, besides
destroying forts. blew up steamers
at the docks and set fire to the Pc
troll stores and everything useful to
the invaders. They also took away
what the transports could carry.
Berchem. where the military and
other hospitals. the orphanage and
some public buildings are situated.
is reported to be entirely destroyed.
Even il this is an exaggeration 1t
must be badly damaged, as it was
burning at least two days.
Strong Qualifications.
As TO just what the Germans had
to encounter in their attack on Ant
werp. may be reckoned by the fol-
lowing description of the city's
strong sortifications, ascertained be-
fore the siege began;
The approaches to the outer line
OF works are guarded by entangle-
ments composed OF iron posts set in
concrete and connected by a mesh
work of barbed wire and by "trous
de loup." which are deep pits dug
outside the line OF forts to arrest
the advance of an enemy.
Many OF these "trous de loup." or