New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-20
INVADERS COVERING
BELGIUM RETREAT
Fortifying, 1t Is Believed,
to Protect Retirement
if Necessary.
by cable TO The Tribune. /

Antwerp, Sept. 19.--The second battle
Of Tcrmonde,. which was fought with
desperate courage on both sides on
Thursday, resulted in victory for the
Belgians. The enemy retired, leaving
several hundred dead Coming through
from Client via Termonde yesterday it
was seen that the partial destruction
of Termonde last week had been con-
verted into total ruins, for the Ger
mans fired every building possible.
During the firing the Germans tried the
old trick of throwing down their arms
and holding up their hands, and when
the Belgians approached to take them
prisoners unmasking mitrail!euse,
which then turned on a deadly fire.
The result of the fighting at Termondc
yesterday afternoon Is not yet known,
but the visit of German aeroplane
here on Thursday was not repeated.
Interesting details of the recent Bel
gian advance as it was seen from the
German side are told by Belgian who
was in Brussels all last week. The ac-
count is verified in important details
by reports from a scouting officer who
penetrated right up 10 the German de-
fensive lines. The German force hold
ing Brussels and Louvain is about
$4,000 strong and effectively intrenched
behind the segment of circle begin
ming southeast of TermOnde and end
ing close to Wavre.
The trenches are deep, rooted in and
galleried, being reinforced by iron
rails and cement. Such grave fear was
entertained by the German COM
mander during the attack that the
German etat major for the Brussels
district was removed from the city and
stationed somewhere south. At one
roint the Belgian advance got within
twelve kilometres of Brussels, and the
Belgian shells fell around the German
observation balloon.
Germans Are Reinforced.
The inhabitants of Brussels went
out to the northern heights and
watched the advance, and when no
German observers were present
cheered at the bursting OF each Bel
gian shell. A temporary cessation of
Belgian operations came as great
relief of the Germans, whose position.
despite the reinfOrcements they had
wrung out Of the headquarters staff,
was fast becoming desperate. The
German force has been slightly rein
forced again and moved up as a line
from Wavrc, and is shaping as il for
an advance between Alost and Ter
monde for the strengthening of its
defence line thcr'. Two heavy pieces
have passed through Brussels from the
south and gone toward Malines
The centre Of The German defensive
position is north Of El,yorde, where
they have field fOrii.iCations having two
fronts, one toward lermouQe and one
toward the canal, passing from Lou
vain to Malines. On tines" works TWEEN
ty-eight guns are mounted. The whole
position of affairs suggests a temporary
tOrtiticatlOn TO cover a lin" a. retreat.
Later yesterday afternoon e. Ter
monde the Belgians and Germans faced
each other without action being taken
on either side. The correspondent got
into the town by side route, which
trayersed bridges made up If boats
and crossed gaps N roads ia flooded
areas by plankEg. 4 small rear guard
Of Belgian infantry was holding the
ruins Of the town with admirable
sanCfroid.