New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18
MILITARY DEGENERATION or ANTWERP
BEGIN EY GENERAL BRIALNONT.

When Belgium iua.iy won her independence ;Ae
Publication. Of Antwerp were not strong. but IN
'Sg General Bralmont started the series of well
blamed onSlolds that began the military re-
generation of the city and Of Belgium. Antwerp
Then became d fort of such Importance that an
army Of 100000 men was deemed necessary for
rs reduction. T. was also believed that the city
could hold out for months against the most try
ING c5ds.
erai Bra.mont il is stated. was respons-
be 70. the marked change in Belgums defences
By o'scontuuug 'bc use OF the greater number
Of Qualifications bu.lt By Wellington after the
battle Of Waterloo. When Brialmont set TO work
The line Of forts about Antwerp was demolished
% make way Tor a more extensive line Of strong
holds including The villages Of Berchem and
sou1gerhout In addition TO this line, which
runs about the city iu a continuous mound tun-
yelled by numerous gateways, eight forts were
ouilt running from Wyneghem to Hoboken.
Vhers were then added in locations where .hcy
could command the suburbs. and when the ad-
vance IN modern artillery became SO marked that
Vas seen Antwerps defences would soon be
'''oie'e work was at once commenced upon the
V"er line Of forts that has been lately reduced
y inc German howitzers Counting the modern
~lenees with the line of 1873, Antwerp's varioae
eeoaots and fortresses number nearly half
hundred
onhER TINES, OTHER ADMINISTRATORS
" THE PAST WIPED OUT BY ICONOCLASTS.
Inc city OF Antwerp is not only one Of the
most interesting in Belgium. but in the entire
'0tid It has been reduced by fire and sword on
-'uy occasions bat 10 spite of its various calam-
'es there have been preserved number OF
priceless old buildings. The Cathedral of Notrc
D'me Is one Of the finest examples of Gothic archi
N''ufe IN the Netherlands. Through all the violent
vines mat have taken place about its walls it has
Ven spared by the various armies that have desc
-Fu The city The one exception TO its immunity
ue ~ the violent revolution against the Rom
laih ~ TIE sixteenth century. Then, &C
'uiIg 10 Motley. every statue hurled from
'chc' every picture torn from the wall, every
1eriuily painted window shivered 20 atoms,
F ancient monument shattered every scupt-
uecoraion, however inaccessible in appear
i hurled 70 the ground. mdefatigably, auda-
!, sly endowed as IT seemed, with preternatu-
| 4 strength and nimbleness, the furious Icono-
-" elambered up the dizzy heights, shriekng
'naueung like malignant apes as they tore
Hreslo '"'''
Yearly three hundred years were required for
~ 'u'ding Of this great monument Within it
49, nave been on view number Of beautiful
sh0'es OF which the most famous is Rubens's
. n eh' from the Cross" "The Elevation Of the
~. and THE Assumption" also by Rubens,
i Al hanging there last month. The cathedral
4, vn'ans the tombstone Of Christopher Plan
49,, sHO was compelled nine times TO ransom his
B,...s Establishment, that is still intact in the
"A MUSEUM, in the southwestern quarter OF
"efp. The stained glass Of Notre Dame
nparauyely modern, owing to the outrages
q "onoclasts It's tower, rising TO height
l,,,.." IMAM four hundred feet, is prominent
Tor miles in the fat country. In the