Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-09-03

OF the fate Of his wife and children.
AFTER evacuating Louvain the Bel
sians retreated to a high, wooded
country and found an excellent defen-
siVe position. Meanwhile, having
cleared Louvain and occupied the
Town. the Germans pushed forward
with great celebrity, their cavalry OPEN
Ing out In fan shape and spreading
across the country. They ran against
the enemy In a strong position ana the
Belgian artillery punished them Sc
verely.
Germans intrench Selves.
Reinforcements were hurried up
and the Germans, with a 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-
cradle Improvement as compared with
what saw last week they were I'M
able to make any impression on the
8elgians, 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. A Belgian pa
troll which pushed It's way cautiously
forward found the town deserted by
the enemy.
Owing to the fear that they might
be outfanked II they held on the Bel
CLANS In the afternoon received imper-
alive orders to evacuate their posi-
ton.
ITO prevent its being cut off the
force holding Wavre was also ordered
to carry out a simultaneous retire.
ment."
Fighting at Tiriemont.
The fighting at Tirlemont is de-
scribed by the Ostend correspondent OF
the Express, who says he witnessed
II from a 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 It 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 striking sight to the &C
compartment of the ceaseless thud
thud of bursting shells. with their
puffs of cottonlike smoke, tearing W
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. Riderlese horses
came along, both German and Bel
gian. 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 but
valiant. This woman. clad in mourn
ing. was the symbol OF the Belgian
populace.
AT some OF the barricades alonf
arrived simultaneously. making tn,
defense difficult. All about Tirlemon
and Louvain the refugees continually
lnterfered with the work of the troops
The road to Brussels always wal