Gilpin observer., 1914-09-03
HOW WAR HOSTS OF GERMANY
SWEPT THROUGH BELGIUM

onionS' 1o neQ IN complete lBnofauC0
OF the fate of his wife and children.
After evacuating Louvain the Bel
CLANS retreated to high, wooded
country and found an excellent defen-
sive position. Meanwhile, having
cleared Louvain and occupied the
town. the Germans pushed forward
with great celerity. their cavalry open
Ing out in fan shape and spreading
across the country. They ran against
the enemy in strong position and the
Belgian artillery punished them se-
verely.
Germans intreneh Selves. d.
Reinforcements were hurried up
and the Germans, with view to hold
ing on, started to intrench themselves
They seemed to be meditating vigor-
GUS attack on the Belgians. The Ger
man guns next came into action. but
though their shooting showed consid-
erable improvement as compared with
what I saw last week they were un-
able to make any impression on the
Belgians. whose front was protected
by farm lands and marshy ground.
Later in the afternoon the enemy
had enough Of this encounter and
withdrew their advanced forces to the
other side of Louvain. Belgian pa
troll which pushed its way cautiously
forward found the town deserted by
the enemy.
Owing to the fear that they might
be outfianked II they held on the Bel
CLANS in the afternoon received imper-
ative orders to evacuate their posi-
ton.
ITO prevent its being cut of the
force holding Wavre was also ordered
to carry out Simultaneous retire
/ ment"
Fighting at TIrIemont
The fighting at Tirlemont Is de-
scribed by the Ostend correspondent Of
the Express. who says he witnessed
1t from church tower at Tirlemont.
Until lunch time on Tuesday" he
says. "Tirlemont was quiet and nor
NAL. Suddenly about one o'clock
came the sound Of the first German
gun. The artillery had opened fire.
from the church 1t was possible
to see distinctly the position Of the
German guns and the bursting of their
shells. The Belgians replied from
their positions east Of Louvain.
Wheat Fields Torn Up.
1T was a striking sight to the ac-
compartment Of the ceaseless thud.
thud of bursting shells. with their
puffs of cottonlike smoke. tearing up
the peaceful wheat fields not far away.
Gradually working nearer. the
| shells began to strike the houses In
Tirlemont- This was signal for the
populace. which heretofore had been
confident the Belgian army would pro-
tect them. to fly blindly and unrea-
soningly. All they knew was that the
Germans were coming.
From the tower the scene was like
the rushing Of rats from a disturbed
nest. The people fed in every direc-
ton except one.
"The firing was heavy. The wounded
began to come in. Riderless horses
came along. both German and Bel
CLAN. These were caught and mount
ed by civilians glad to have SO rapid
a mode of escape.
Belgian Woman Leads Retreat.
Il remember watching a black-clat
Belgian woman running straight dowr
the middle Of road away from the
Germans. Behind her came the retir
ing Belgian troops. disheartened bu.
valiant. This woman. clad in mourn
ing. was the symbol Of the Belgian
populace.
AT some of the barricades aloni
the route the refugees and soldiers
arrived simultaneously. making the
defense difficult. All about Tirlemon'
and Louvain the refugees continually
interfered with the work Of the troops
The road to Brussels always wai
crowded with refugees"