The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-15
OF OSTEND
 HANGS IN BALANCE;
 PEOPLE TERRIFIED
Panic Stricken Refugees Crowd Port Seeking Safe ty in Flight-City Now
 Without Government

Ostend, October I4.-tNia London. October I5. t2,I0 a. m.)--ostend's fate hangs In the balance. The government hns left. King Albert and the n,aiu mii- itars headquarters went Tuesday and G0,oN psnic-stricken people await .c- tiop by the Germans. who arc known Of the city.
 The inhabitants are fleeing as fast as ships can be provided to carry them to England. Hospitals were emptied to- day and the docks were lined with in iurcd soldiers Hundreds were carried on filters, while those lessf severely wounded hobbled on canes and crutches or were supported by Red Cross nurses, doctors. nuns and priests
 The wounded were given preferences on the transports provided for the be- leagnred city. while 25.oo0 struggling people were massed upon the docks and terminals attempting to find places of refuge on steamers. A German Taube flew over the city and struck terror to those below, many of whom had come here from Antwerp. and who feared the aeroplane might drop bombs on the docks and great glass sheds which cover the joint terminals of the Pathways and steamers.
 Fire on Aeroplane
 The Belgian soldiers guarding tho docks opened fire on the aeroplane and the fusiilade lasted 10 minutes This created still greater consternation among the thousands of women and children. many of whom had sat foi three days on the cement floor of tho great terminal sheds. their nerves at the breaking point.
 Escape Is cut off from all sides and thousands we're still gathered miser. ably on the docks when the last relief ship left late today No steamers leave Ostend at night because of the danger from mines still the crowds remained on the piers awaiting the dawn and more ships.
 Even the refugees who managed to find deck space on the crowded trans ports were not relieved of the terrible strain under which they have been laboiing, for the watchful Taube flew over the steamers. watching their movements as they sailed out of the harbor
 The aeroplane did not drop bombs. however. as one had on previous days when civil and military hospitals were so narrowly missed by exploding shells that the Belgians charged that the Ger mans were aiming at the hospitals.
 Last night was a nightmare to the' reside nts of Ostend and the thousands of refugees fleeing before the German invasion. Wounded soldiers were brought here by the score from Ghent It is reported that they were engaged Monday near Ghent in a serious battle.
 Etrinu Naar Chant
 Firing In the direction of Ghent was heard plainly in Ostend Monday and Tuesday. The terrified refugees who Were at the siege of Antwerp blanehe1 as they listened to the bombardment and increased the fear among the res idents of Ostend by describing the hor- TOTS attending the fall of that fortress
 Most of the business houses in Ostend closed yesterday and professional men, merchants and hotel keepers joined the throng that dared not leave the. water front for fear of losing places in the ever-growing line of men, women and children clanorng for a chance to escape.
 All taxicabs and cab horses. in Ostend were taken by the army long ago, so there was little means of transportation. The tram cars were communicated by the hospitals and civilians had little chance to ride. The hotels near the quays remained crowded with refugees who had money and begged for the opportunity to rent event a chair The next scare was
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