Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-25
GER MAN REVERSES
RENDER UNLIKELY
ANTWERP INVASION
Investment of Belgian City
Would Take One Month
and at Least 100000 Men.
Food Sup ly Always
Available.
ANTWERP, Sept. 25.

ANTWERP, Sept. IS
A month ago or even less. a siege OF
this city seemed not improbable, but
things have Jared so badly with the
German army since its retreat from Paris
that this contingency is no longer con-
sidered. The mere preliminary invest
ment of Antwerp would last one month
and require at least 200, 900 men, and these
the Kaiser cannot spare just now. much
as he may be inclined to get even with
Belgium for daring to dispute the passage
of his troops through her territory.
That the scat of government should be
changed from Brussels here was to have
been expected, for retirement on Ant
werp had always been foreseen as an
essential part of the defense of Belgium.
As early as 1889 as soon as the fortif-
cations of Antwerp. erected in 1860 by
General Brialmont approached compile
tiNn. the principal port of the country
had been officially chosen as the military
capital of the kingdom, as the "reduit
national" where the Government would
seek refuge in case of invasion.
At that time there was no thought
of barring tho road of the Meuse. The
field army's action was limited to the
northern part of the country, taking Ant
werp as the base of its operations After
the first reverse it would have sought
considered impregnable.
This consisted of three lines of de-
fenses-the advanced line, with nine forts
scattered on the south. and on the west.
Is miles from Antwerp, the second line,
with II forts surrounding the town at a
radius of about four miles and the third
line being the wall of decentralization
itself.
LESSON FROM FRANCo-PRUssIAN
WAR,
The scare of 1901. when the Franco
Prussan War ragged showed the danger
of this plan Of defense. In order to
prevent an armed invasion of Belgian ter
rltory after Sedan, the field army had to
be moved toward the southern frontier,
in spite of the advice of experts. After
fierce quarrels and long discussions, Cen
eral Brlalmont's ideas prevailed in 1883,
and Llege and Namur were fortified in
order TO guard the Meuse road and to
shelter the main army during the first
stage of mobilization.
Meanwhile the progress of siege artil-
lery had necessitated a transformation of
the fortitications around Antwerp. The
military commission of 1900 insisted
strongly on the urgency of such a work.
II was pointed out that the advanced line.
In spite of the flooding OF part of it's area,
was far from complete, a gap OF more
than II miles being left open TO the
enemy, toward the east, between Schooten
and Lierre. II was also noticed that the
second line could not have resisted a pro-
longed bombardment and that the third
enceiente had accordingly become useless.
II was finally decided by the Chamber.
I'm 1905, TO complete the first line by the
construction of 80 forts and redOubts, to
transform the second line TO an "enceiente
continue" and to demolsh the walls.
ANTWERP PRACTICALLY SAFE.
1t would be difficult 10 say exactly If
every particular of the new program has
been carried out to the satisfaction OF
military experts After the Agadir coup
very strong criticisms OF the War Office
were made because the first line of de-
fense was still far from being complete.
The general. Van Sprang, who command
ed the place, admitted that In case OF an
attack, he would have had TO abandon
the first line. But since then very great
efforts have been made, and II we may
Judge by the results at Liege, the posi-
tion Of Antwerp must be very strong
indeed.
As long as England Is mistress Of the
seas Antwerp can never be short Of food.
Holland would, no doubt oppose the en-
trance OF warships in the Schelde, but
she has already allowed, and will con-
tiuue 10 allow, the entrance Of freight
ships.
All these circumstances point to an in
va sion OF Antwerp, even II the Kaiser's
troops are victorious IN France, as both
unlikely and Improbable.