New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-21
Women and Children
Flee in Terror from
Invading Cavalry.
BELIEVE INCREDIBLE
STORIES OF CRUELTY
German Raids Reach River Dyle
in Furious Sweep to Sur
round Brussels.
IRv cable 70 The Tribune. |


London, Aug. 20.-"The Daily News"
correspondent, telegraphing from Brus-
sells, says:
To-day the Germans occupied Lou
vain, which till this morning was the
headquarters of the Belgian army. To-
morrow they may be in Brussels.
"The first hint / got of what was
afoot was on returning from Antwerp
early this afternoon. At the cross
roads below the railway line / met a
whole company of Belgian infantry,
with artillery, marching away from
Louvain. They were moving in perfect
order, and except for dust the men
we're spick and span. The truth was
they had not been in action.
Early in the day I had noticed an
enormous number of men loaded on
motor cars. and it had been whispered
that the Belgian army was to be trans
! ferred.
Immediately on my return 20 Brus-
sells | hurried out toward Louvain.
/ Soon | met with many indications OF
what had happened.
Belgisns Fight Stubbornly.
"A force of about 5000 men, or per
haps more, had been left in the
trenches to meet the enemy and cover
the retreat. With these the Germans,
who advanced by three roads-from
Diest, Tirlemont and Hsmmeyille, on
the Eghezee Road-hsd sharp en-
counter. The Belgians fought stub
bornly. BY all accounts their losses
we're far smaller, as they have been in
each encounter, than those OF the in
vaders.
( There is story among the refugees
that Louyain has been set on fire, but
] that seems hardly likely. At all events,
from a distance Of about two miles |
saw no trace Of any burning TO any
extent.
AT this point | was stopped by an
enormous crowd of refugees focknS
along the Brussels road, on foot and IN
vehicles. and by Red Cross cars. The
sight was pitful. All these people
were leaving their homes and their all
to the enemy. By far the greater num-
her Of them were women, with young
children whose fathers were at the
front. Some were aged men and
women.
All had been driven out OF villages
near Louvain by fear, begotten OF the
stories. which are circulated freely, of
German atrocities. These stories, in
| fact. have of late been the only news
that has seemed to be permitted to go
uncensored. II would have been far
better if they had been blue pencilled
with the rest.
Uhlsns' Story.
cone woman with two children told
me how the Uhlans made their supper
Of children il they could not get enough
"a eat. and she evidently believed IT..
/ Old men recounted the ancient tale, as
old as war itself, of how the enemy
roasted people head down over a slow
fire. and they were convinced Of its
truth.
"Fcar and ignorance had seized the
mob As ! was going out a peasant
fired his double -barrelled gun at my
car. mistaking my fishing hat for a
German helmet. He successfully blew
nv tail lamp all 10 pieces.
Lest his indiscretions should lead
/ him into far worse trouble, | stopped
the car, got the gun from him and
/ broke il across the breech. For. quite
undoubtedly, the German soldiers will
retaliate on any civilians who use arms.
II Is devoutly TO be hoped that the no
tice in the streets Of Brussels, telling
every one 10 give up mis- arms TO the
police has been obeyed. Otherwise
there will be serious trouble.
brussels is curiously quiet. Big
crowds are gathered around the rail
way stations TO watch the wounded
passing through. But they are very ST.
lent. | do not think the panic IN the
city will be great.
ain Antwerp this morning there were
hundreds of fugitives near the station.
Continued on page 3. column