New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-11

The secretary Of the Admiralty
makes the following announcement;
In response TO an appeal by 'he
Belgian government. a marine brigade
and two naval brigades. together with
some heavy naval guns manned by =
detachment of the Royal Navy, the
whole under command of General
Paris. K. NJ. A., were sent by his maj
esty's government to participate in the
defence of Antwerp during the last
week of the attack.
"Up until the night OF Monday last.
October ), the Belgian army and
Marine Brigade successfully defended
the line of the Nethe River, but early
on Tuesday morning the Belgian forces
on the right of Maines Pere we're
forced by a heavy German attack, COW
cred by very powerful artillery, to re-
tire, and in consequence the whole OF
the defence was withdrawn to the inner
line of forts, the intervals betweca
which had been strongly fortified. The
ground which had been lost enabled
the enemy TO plant his batteries %
lombard the city.
"The inner line Of defenees was
maintained during Wednesday and
Thursday. while the city endured a
ruthless bombardment.
British Losses Only 500.
The behavior of the Royal Marines
and naval brigades in the trenches and
in the field was praiseworthy in a high
degree, and remarkable in units so
newly formed. and, owing to the pro-
lection of the intrenchments, the losses,
in spite of the severity of the fire, are
probably less than 800 out OF a total
force of 5000.
"The defence should have been man
tanned for a longer period, but not long
enough to allow of adequate forces be-
ing sent for their relief, without preju-
dice to the main strategic situation.
The enemy also began on Thursday
to press strongly on the line of COM
munications near Lokeren. The Bel
gian forces defending this point fought
with great determination, but were
gradually pressed back by numbers.
I'm these circumstances the Belgian
and British military authorities in
Antwerp decided TO evacuate the city.
The British offered 70 cover tho retreat.
but General de Guise desired that
they should leave before the last di-
vision of the Belgian army.
Entrain After Night March.
After long night march to Saint
Giles the three naval brigades en-
trained. Two out of the three have ar
rived safely at Ostend, but. owing 10
circum stances which are not yet fully
known the greater part Of the first
naval brigade was cut of by German
attack north of Lokeren, and 1000 Off
GERS and men entered Dutch territory
in the neighborhood of Hulst and laid
down their arms, in accordance with
The laws of neutrality.
"The retreat Of the Belgian army has
been successfully accomplished. The
naval armored trains and heavy guns
were al brought away.
THE retreat from Ghent onward Of
the naval division and of the Belgian
army was covered by strong British
reinforcements.
"Vast numbers Of the on-combatsnt
populrt ton of Antwerp men, women
and children-are streaming in flight
in scores of thousands westward from
the rUined and burning city"
The Admiralty also reports in the
same statement that the naval ayis-
tion park, having completed its attack
on Dusseldorf and Cologne, already re-
ported, has returned safely to its base,
protected BY armored cars.
London, Oct. 10. Antwerp and the
forts surrounding the city are now IN
complete possession % the Germans,