Evening star., 1914-10-08

Schoonaerde. where the only remaining
bridge not under the shelter of tn
Antwerp forts is a tempting bait, bu
he never approached within infantr
striking distance This in spite of
continuous bombardment with the ide;
of sileneing the Belgian batteries an,
OF Smelling the infantry from thei
trenches which were within easy rang
of the river bank. AS a matter of fac
the German field guns were even les
effective than yesterday when. enf1lade,
and outranged, they were compelled t,
withdraw further south toward tn
main position at Alost
| To-day the enemy's shell fire imposed
a severe strain on the Belgian infantr,
in the trenches. Hour after hour shrap
mel burst over them, inf1ictfng consid
cradle, though not a serious, number
of casualties. Under this trying ordea
the gallant defenders stuck to thei1
| trenches and accounted for every one
of the enemy who dared to show him.
| self on the opposite bank within rang,
| of their rifles.
An instance of the tenacity with
which the infantry stuck to their posi-
tion was reported to me at Berlaere
where the commanding officer and his
aid -de-camp were in one of the most
| exposed positions. Sandbags protected
| them for some time, but at last the
aid camp was struck by shrapnel
and had his face practically blown
away.
"Unperturbed by this terrible proof
Of the danger of his position, the com
manding officer stuck to his post, and
for further shelter placed the corpse
of his Junior over his body In this
position ne lay. firing whenever pos
sible. from o'clock this morning until
In the afternoon.
During the day the Belgian gunners
devoted several rounds to shelling the
/ m n ~f
naerde. They took aim at the German
factory in the town, and quickly get
ting the range showered shells over
the building, which was set on fire and
destroyed"
King Albert With Troops.
A dispatch to the Exchange Tele-
graph Company from Antwerp states
that King Albert remains in the city
during the bombardment
The military governor, Gen. de
Guise' has posted proclamation
recommending that the inhabitants
make their cellars habitable and take
precautions against the falling of
shells and the outbreak of fires.
The Ostend correspondent of Reuters
Telegram Company wires that it is be-
lleved in well informed quarters that
Antwerp will be able to hold out
Volunteers are enrolling daily, he saws.
The Telegraph's correspondent in
Belgium under date Of Sunday says:
The Germans, who have been re-
pulsed In every effort to cross the
Scheldt, are concentrating all atten-
ton on an approach to Antwerp from
the southeast. AS this dispatch is
sent they are massed in force in the
circle comprised between the rivers. In
occupying this territory they suffered
enormous loss.
FOLLOWING the first repulse by the
beiglans the enemy brought I'D heavy
guns from the direction Of Malines and
concentrated their fire on the BELGIAN
infantry occupying the first defense
lines. In the face of this artillery at
tack the defenders found it Impossible
TO hold this line without losses in
commensurate with any ADVANTAGE to
be gained. Consequently they wisely
retired in good order. with unreduced
forces.
The Belgians fell back and are now
holding a front which the enemy so
Tar has been unable to pierce The
nooding Of the surrounding country is
the hardest obstacle in the way of the
Germans. In Antwerp some excitement
was caused by the news of the German
advance.
The Germans made further attacks
on the Belgian lines Friday night and