The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-10-15
People of Belgian City Panic
Stricken with Germans
20 Miles Away
DOCKS LINED WITH
WOUNDED SOLDIERS
Thousands Struggle for Places on De-
parting Conveyances-Aerop Fly
ing Over City Struck Terror to
Those Below.


ing Over City Struck Terror to
Those Below.
LONDON, Oct. 10. - Ostend' 5 fate
hangs in the balance. The government
aas left; King Albert and the mainly |
military headquarters left Tuesday and
$1,000 panic-stricken people await the
action of the Germans, who are known
to have a large force within 20 miles
of the city.
The inhabitants are fleeing as fast as
ships can be provided to carry them to
England; hospitals were emptied yes
terday, and the docks were lined with
injured soldiers. Hundreds were ear
ried on litters, while those less severe
ly wounded hobbled on canes and
crutches, supported by Red Cross
nurses, doctors, nuns and presses, The
wounded were given preference on the
transports provided for the beleaguer-
ed city, while 1000 struggling people
were massed upon the docks and ter
minals in an effort to find a place Of
refuge on the ships.
\ German Taube flew over the har-
Dor and struck terror to those below,
many of whom had made their way to
Ostend from Antwerp in fear that the
acroplane might attempt to drop bombs
on the docks and the great glass sheds
which cover the joint terminals OF the
railroads and steamers. The Belgian
soldiers guarding the docks opened fire
on the aeroplane and continued the
fuslllade for 10 minutes. This created
still greater CONSERVATION among the
thousands of women and children,
many of whom had sat for three DAYS
on the cement floor of the great termi-
nal sheds, with their nerves at the
breaking point.
Escape Cut Off by Land.
Escape is cut off from all sides by
land, and thousands were still gathered
mserablv on the docks when the last
relief ship late Yesterday afternoon.
No steamers leave Ostend at night be
cause Of the danger from mines Still
the crowds remained on the piers,
where they will pass another anxious
night awaiting the dawn and more
ships Even the refugees who managed
to find deck space on the crowded
transports were not all relieved of the
terrible strain under which they have
been laboring, for the watchful Taube
serving their movements as they sailed
out of the harbor. The aeroplane did
not drop bombs, however, as one OF
them had on previous days. when boti
civil and military hospitals were 81
narrowly missed by exploding shells
that the Belgians charged that the Ger
mans were aiming at the hospitals.
Tuesday night was a horrible night
mare to the residents of Ostend anc
the thousands of refugees fleeing be
| fore the German invasion. WOUNDED
| soldiers were brought there by thu
score from Client It is reported tina
they were engaged Monday near Chen
| in a serious battle with the Germans
| The allies are said TO have had Il small
/ force against a large German force, an,
were obliged to withdraw toward tn
west. Consequently there Is virtual,
no obstacle to the German advance o.
Ostend.
Firing in the direction of Client wa
heard plainly in Ostend on Monda.
and Tuesday. The terrified refugee
who were at the siege of Antwer
blanched VAS they listened to the BON
bardment and increased the fear anon
the residents of Ostend by describin
the horrors of that fallen fortress.
ostend Business Houses Closed.
Most of the business houses in Osten
closed Tuesday, and professional mer
merchants and hOtelkeepers joined tn
throng which dared not leave the W.
ter front for fear of losing their place
in the cver-growing line Of men. wome
and children clamoring for a chance I
= escape. All taXicabs and cab horse
:, in Ostend were taken by the army Ion
: ago. so there was little means of tran,
, portation. The tram cars We're con
numbered by the hospitals and ciyi
ians had little chance to ride. Th
hotels near the quay, which RENAME
/ open, were crowded with refugees VII
+ had money and who begged for the Of
= lportunity to rent even chair.
Tuesday night brought insistent r
ports that the Germans would entt
Ostend on Wednesday at dawn. wit
: the result that few persons in the cit
slept. Before daybreak every sire.
Iof Ostend was alive with Bel.ians ma
ing their way to the water front HUI
dreds of fishermen took their famii1
and friends away in their small boat
which sailed out of the shipping bas
in a steady stream loaded down wit
e. frightened women and children carr
ing their personal effects wrapped
tablecloths and blankets.
The failure of the Germans to arri,
at davbreal1 afforded only a slight /
lief to the anxious crowds Rumo
k were current that German cavalry VI
}, less than 20 miles away and the a
J. pearance of the Taube in the sky W
t taken as an Indication that the &c
$ mans were perfeeting their plan f