The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-09
RESULT OF STRUGGLE AT ANTWERP WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT. BEARING ON THE WAR
Little Army of Belgium Making Last Stand With in the Strongly Fortified Forts-Eyes of World Awaiting Result

London, October s.--I0 p. m.)-whiIe the immense armies of the beIIfgerent powers of Europe are engaged in a death grappIe along lines hundreds of the numbers engaged, fierceness and stubbOrnness. have no precedent in his- tory, the little army of Belgium is making last stand behind the forts of Antwerp, one of the strongest for tified positions in the world.
 For the moment at least the struggle around the chief port of Belgium attracts the most attention for the result of the engagement there must have a consid- era ble effect on the bigger battle be- tween the Anglo-French and German fcices which extends from the Swiss frontier across France. almost to the North sea.
 The Germans, while attempting to cross the Scheldt, southwest of Antwerp, made their main attack from the east and broke some days ago, with the aid of their 16-inch guns, through the first line of forts Between the first and sec- ond belt of forts, according to their OWE accounts, they defeated the Bel
  guns.
 Shells Fall in City
 Last night shells began to fall in the city itself and from reports comins through Holland the railway stations. the palace of justice and several oil tanks have been damaged.
 At the same time six Zeppelin dirigi bles flew over the city, dropping bombs. ttt it has been impossible as yet to ascertain the damage they have done.
 King Albert has called on all men of military age to assist in the defense of the city. Thousands of others, women and children and old men have left Ant Werp hurriedly Among the few nonbel- iiseients remaining are the American consul general Henry W. Dlederich, and his staff
 The towns of Holland already are crowded with refugees The mayor of Rotterdam has sent out warning that tbere Is no more room there for the harassed Beigians, and steamers for Eng land are crowded with refugees.
 More than 5000 refugees arrived at Folke- stone today and were taken in charge by committees Many are penniless.
 Five German army corps are taking part in the siege of Antwerp, which is defended by the Belgian army. The outer forts, like those of other fortresses which nave lditcu SlHcb the war began, nave not been able to withstand the fire of the big German guns, but the Belgians are still hopeful that with inner forts, flooded area and mobile field army, tley may hold the city until assistance may come by the defeat of the Germans In France.
 An Enormous Task Such feat, all realize, is an enormous task, but the official communication is- sued in Paris late today gives the allies hope that the long awaited decision is about to be reached. Not for many days has such an encouraging report from the allies point of view been published by the French general staff
 The strong German endorsements which appeared on the Belgian frontier ih the region of Lille, according to this report, nave made no progress at any point while lat certain points the en- emy have moved back, north of Arras where the fighting is developing under conditions favorable to us''
 While, they are fighting even further north than this and the French communi- cation says operations have developed almost to the North sea, around the Rove where the Germans captured important forts from the French last week. the ffench have regained some of the posi- tions they were forced to abandon. From the north of Aisne, where two forward movements by the Anglo French troops have been mentioned within the last few days, the Germans seem to have withdrawn some of their own men probably to strengthen their extreme righ; around which the allies have been trying to work ever since the battle began, near ly four weeks ago
 On the center between Rheims and the Mouse, the armies are resting on their arms. awaiting their turn to take the offensive. But on the heights of the Mouse. between the fortress of Verdun and St Mihiel, where the Germans crossed the Mouse couple of weeks ago, the contest still goes on. The Germans have withdrawn to the north of Hatton- ciiattel. They still however, hold St. Mihiel and some positions north of that town on the right bank of the river