Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-10


through Alost toward the Scheldt.
THE previous attacks of the Germans
on the river were all made under. cover Of
violent artillery assaults. which repeat
eddy proved futile. The last of these open
attacks was On Monday evening and was
defeated by the vigorous defense OF the
allies.
Bridge BuiIt an Night.
After this defeat the Germans changed
their tactics Instead OF making an ad-
vance in force on the Schoonaerde posi-
ton they crept up during the night to-
wards a riverside point further east.
Here they threw across a pontoon bridge
and at o'clock this morning about 500
infantrymen were seen crossing under
cover of a heavy artillery fire.
They were observed by the Belgian
patrols who Immediately opened fire. The
defenders, however, We're In very small
! numbers and after accounting for few
Of the advancing Infantry they withdrew
TO the main Belgian lines.
simultaneously the Germans COM
menced al action all along the river side
line. extending from Termonde to Uyther-
! den a few miles east of Grembergen
They met with a vigorous defense, in
which both the artillery and infantry par
ticipated and at one point they were re-
pulsed by a bayonet charge. Again the
enemy advanced, this time in augmented
strength and succeeded in breaking
! through.
! During the morning the Germans
| brought up several batteries OF heavy
guns. These outranged the Belgian ar
! IA
continued to hsrass the advancing in
fantry. 1t was noticeable that a Taube
aeroplane directed the German operations
"As soon as It became known that the
| Germans had crossed the river the Bel
CLANS brought up troops to hold them
back under cover Of batteries which were
Smelling the enemy's main position on the
enemy.
One Battery Forces Passage.
AT $50 o'clock this afternoon hotly
contested battle was engaged along the
whole line. The mitrailleuses played a
| considerable part in the fighting Many
of those employed by the Belgians are
drawn by dogs, several of which 1 saw
lying wounded in the roadside.
subsequently the Germans made des-
perate efforts to bring their artillery
over the pontoon bridge. This was
nercely contested by the BeIgians and two
| guns We're destroyed by shrapnel midway
across. One battery. however succeeded
| In forcing a passage. II was quickly
brought into action and concentrated a
vigorous fire on the area held by the
} Beigians TO the cast Of Berlaerre
J After several hours Of fierce fighting
the enemy brought up strong reinforce
ments from the south. They threw large
bodies Of infantry over the pontoon
bridge and, although many were swept
away by mitraiIleures. a considerable
number succeeded in passing over. They
occupied houses In Berlaerre ana fror
these vantage points kept up a rife fire
on the Belgian infantry.
AT the moment OF sending this dis
patch the battle is still in prosr.ss Al
though they have not yet got anv Ia-pa
body Of men across the scheldt the Ger
mans are Evidently making a determined
advance with a view, no doubt OF an
preaching Antwerp from the southwest I"
First Line of Defense Falls.
ANTWERP, Oct. s-CVia London \
The Germans on Saturday spent sixteen
hours In terrific artillery duel IN an
ettort 10 ford the Nethe. The BeIsians
held their ground magnifioently. ana
with great sacrifices prevented the Ger
mans from crossing. The Germans wera
evidently unwilling TO lose men in an
assault and decided to widen the breach
In the Qualifications by bombardins the
torts between the rivers Senne and
scheldt' which were unable to hold ont
against the steady downpour OF shells
Thus the first line oc Antwerp's de-
lenses was destroyed. Hor the final at.
tack the Germans are hurrying 2OO. mn
men to the scene OF battle from Aix T.
Chapelle via Brussels.
The Germans are boring a bois
p through the Belgian resistance like ths
boring of a tunnel through a mountain
In which progress no mercy is shown
Whatever nterferes-viIlages, churcheA
schools and faotorias-are wiped out witt
steady precision.
Miles of BlAckened Ruins.
The road from Brussels TO Antwerp Fl
one line Of blackened ruins. Some Of IN.
towns including Termonde, have bee,
completely erased. The population fle,
before the Germans like Americans be
fore a prairie fire. An endless process
sion OF peasants and shopkeepers, youns
old and invalids. with their chattel
loaded In hand carts and antIquidate,
wagons, and followed by countless chill
dren, dunnbly pursuing their parents
driving believing cattle, are slowI
moving in the direction Of Antwerp
+ cathedral tower. They have difficulty 4
avoiding the numerous military train
OF guns. wagons and automobiles rush
ing TO the front. and occasionally the
have 70 make way for ambuIances hast
\ ening toward the city with men wounde
l in the fightinE.
The refugees, on arriving In ANTWERP
are cared for by the civil guards and DO
scouts and taken to the public building
and the German shops. which, contrar
TO the accepted version, were not de
stroyed, but were temporarily take
over by the government The refugee