The Washington times., 1914-10-09
Antwerp HOLDS OUT
UNDER HEAVY FIRE
Garrison Resists Assault, and
King Leads Troops Against
Germans.
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continued from FlrSt Page.D
fire. and after accounting for a few OF
the advancing infantry. withdrew to the
main Belgian lines.
simultaneously, the Germans COM
menced action all along the riverside
line, extending to Termonde and uyter-
gen, a village in their occupation a few
miles east of Grembergen. They met
with a vigorous defense and both their
artillery and infantry at one point were
repulsed by bayonet charges.
Again and again the kaiser's troops
advanced. This time with augmented
strength they succeeded in breaking
through. During the morning the Ger
mans had brought UP several batteries
Of 4-inch guns. These outranged the
Belgian artillery and forced its retire
ment. The Belgian gunners continued
however. to harass the advancing in
fantry.
1t was noticeable that a Taube aero
plane directed the German operations.
AS soon as 1t became known that the
Germans had crossed the river the BEL
gians brought up troops to hold them
back under cover of the batteries, whicn
we're sheIltng the main position on the
opposite side.
kt half past l o'clock a hotly contest
ed battle was engaged along the whole
line Mitrailleuses played conslderaple
part in the fighting. Many OF those
employed by the Belgians are drawn
On both sides the shrapnel fire was
heavy.
Resume Bombardment.
The Germans bombardnent OF Ant
werp and its forts were resumed with
even greater fury. According to the
Berlin Lokalanzeiger, the big siege guns
bombarding Antwerp were brought
from before Maubeuge.
Several ;sixteen-inch shells fell close 10
Antwerp's famous cathedral A bomb
from an aeroplane ignited the oil tanks.
To prevent a confiagration the oil, M
mensely valuable, was let out
The refugees say the Germans at
tempted to force their way through the
breach made in the outer line of Forts:
and to advance on the city by way OF
Contich, six miles southeast or Ant
werp. They were met by the BelgianJ,
who drove them back ten kilometcrs
with very heavy losses.
The line from Termonde to Alost.
fifteen miles northwest Of Brussels, Is
still in the hands Of the Germans ans pNi eIt
Len Lede has been retaken by the Bel,
gians. The Germans have been forced
to take a defensive position on the right
bank of the Bender river. They are
piyoting on ASsch, six miles northwest
of Brussels, where, II appears, they
have made a fortified camp.
The precise strength of the German
force attacking Antwerp is not known.
The most authoritative estimate places
it at II, 900 men, about three army corps
very we'll provided with artillery, a
large number OF field guns, some heaVy
pieces 26-centimetre and apparently one
Of 42-centimetre, which is rarely used.
This force is throwing all its weight
upon the line of the River Nethe, from
the confluence of Grande Nethe and the
Petite Nethe at Lierre to the river s
junction with the Rubel near Rumpot.
The German shell fire imposed Sc
we're strain on the Belgian infantry In
the trenches. Hour after hour shrapnel
burst over them, inflicting considerable.
though not a serious number Of cas-
ualties. 80
An instance of the tenacity with
which the infantry stuck to their posi-
ton was reported at Berlaers, where
the commanding officer and his aide
de-camp were in one Of the most e1,
posed positions. Sandbags protected
them for some time, but at last the
aide-de-camp was struck by shrapnei
and had his faoe practically blown
away.
Unperturbed by this terrible proof OF
the danger of mis- position. the COM
rnanding officer stuck to his post. end
for further shelter placed the corpse
of his Junior over his body. In this
position he lay, firing whenever pos,
sible. from O'Clock this morning until
this afternoon.
The military governor OF Antwcfp'