New-York tribune., 1914-10-09
Drive Germans Before
Them in Hand-to-Hand
Fights at Antwerp.
DEFEND CITY TO
THEIR UTMOST
Crossing River Nethe Said 10
Have Cost Foe 10000 Men
Thousands Leave City.
rBy cable TO The Tribune ]

I Of the German troops DesleRlnS Wv ~
sent an officer carrying a whl'e hHs w
inform the town authorities that NV
besieCers We're going TO begin the pom,
bardment of the city at 9:3o a. Ill. NJ ~
of this intention naturally spread lkc
wildfre, and there was an imme1la'e
rush of civilians from the place. some
of the fugitives travelled to Ostena' ou'
many made for the Dutch frontier. l ne
commandant Of the city issued notiee
that ANYBODY who wished to leave 'he
city could do so freely. 49,.
IL must be distinctly understood thsl
while Antwerp was being besleged no
authorization whatever was given 10
any one TO return to the city. Al mlu-
dav the seal Of the government was
transferred from Antwerp TO Osteho'
This eventuality had been provided lor'
Despite the exodus of so many peopie'
there was an air of quiet commence
that the Germans would never capture
the city. as many Of the forts were sun
holding out with great stuDoorhheSS'
and the threatened bombardment was
regarded as a desperate manGuNre 10
try TO force these to capItulate IN oroeI
TO save the city itself from damaFe' II
so. the Germans had a rude awakening
for the city is defended TO the u''ei
most Despite the fact that so mani
hastily left the city. It is sun IuIl ot
people. In the last few weeks scores ol
persons fed here for safety from thc
more eastern towns. which the Germans
DESTROYED. The bombardment. there
fore. is horrible business. and the
result is the needless slaughter OF num-
bers Of non-combatants. 1t was gem
erallv hoped and believed that the Bel
gian army would be fully capable OF re-
pelling any attempt Of the Germans 10
break through the lines Of defence.
Appealed TO Young Men.
Every effort was made TO strengthen
the defenceS and reinforce the army
boldinc the Germans at bay. The mil
itary Commandant of Antwerp issued
an appeal TO the young men OF the cry
| in the interest of the national detence'
He said il was absolutely necessary
for the army 10 be reinforced.
81 make a patriotic appeal to al
Young men between the ages OF elgh-
teen and twenty" he said. Young
ner. vour country has need OF you.
Peply TO my appeal. Do not let your
country be exposed 10 the mercy OF 'ne
, invader. Do not remain inactive all
these long months. Those who enlist
will be trained in that part OF me
I country which is not invaded by the
enemy
/ For some days flags with red and
white diagonal stripes had flown from
| the tops of several churches and
/ other buildings. Those floating from
/ the cathedral and the Tower or -.
/ Jacques are particularly conspicuous
/ These flags indicated that the bulid-
! ings served no military end. aAd u was
Z go. M a.
/ singled out for destruction. IL was
said that The Germans had declared
! thev would endeavor TO spare as much
as possible the churches and other
! important buildings not used as look
! outs or unon which mitrai!leuses we're
not mounted.
Shortly before dark on Tuesday
evening Zeppelin was reported to be
+ coming over the city, and al hgnts
were Immediately put out TIL" ZcD-
rclin did not appear. but all the lights
went out at dusk thereafter and all
skops were closed at p. m. There
were rumors that the Iron Cross and
$4,000 marks were offered by the
Kaiser TO the first man TO enter Ant
wcrp.
For some days the fighting before
Antwerp has been practically a ire.
mcndous combat OF artillery, and, OF
course. the victory may be on the slde
Of the heaviest guns, but one always
has 10 consider the man behind the
gun. and the Belgians fight Win mat
/ heroism that has made them famous
/ throughout Europe. For twenty-four
/ hours the German army scarcel! made
| any advance, though It's 42-centimetre
/ guns were in position.
Village BOmbarded.
The Germans fercely bombarded the
village of Luith. The Belgisns held IT
until il was in flames and then evac-
uated IT, In the east at Lierre the
position remained unchanged for a
moment, but the heavy German artil-
! lery fire in that quarter was telling.
On the other hand, some progress by
the Belgans was reported at Rumpst
and Newndouck, southwest of Ant
werp, where the Belgian field guns
caused the Germans to retire kilo-
metre or two behind the Nethe. The
Germans placed mitrailleuses and guns
on every high building commanding the
line of the River Nethe, although they
protested against a similar act on the
part of the Belgians. The latter replied
by blowing up every high building on
the line on which they believed the Ger
mans would advance.
lie Matin" announced that at the
point of the bayonet the Belglan'
silenced two German batteries. Ex-
cellen. work was done by Belgian av'
iatorS in surveying the enemy's posi-
tions, despite the fact that the winC
was very high in the last two days
Volumes OF German shrapnel greeted
their appearance. but no casualtie:
were reported. Near Termonde tbs
Germans fought desperately 10 cross
the Scheldt. 1t was OF the utmsst i'm
pOrtance 10 the Belgians TO keep tn,
line omen between Antwerp and Ghent
Crossing the River Nethe on the east
cost the Germans. it is said. at least
10000 men. On the south, that is, in
the region Of Contich, Boom and Willie
brock. the German attack appeared
TO have been brough, 10 standstil
for time.
Neither side gained lauch advantage
on Tuesday on the line which extend,
along the Nethe. The enemy found
themselves opposed by most stubborn
Toe. The Germans made desperate ef-
forts TO break the line between Duffel
ana Llerre, but every time they tried
10 cross the river they were literally
: moved down by Belgian mitrailleuses
IN some parts hand 10 hand encounters
with bayonets were the order OF the
day, ana II was on these occasions that
the bravery OF the Belgans was prin-
clpally demonstrated. Louvan and
iermonde were practically avenged
with many shrewd bayonet thrust.
In the east the Germans showed CON
siderable activity, but the Belgisns