The Washington times., 1914-08-22

Paris dispatches, while conceding
the capture Of Brussels, call 1t a
trap" into which the Germans were
led. Perhaps 30. But II 1t Is q
trap" 1t turns out to be q father
expensive one for Belgium. which
has to pay 1000. 900 to the conquerors
for her Kings double dealing in that
he made supreme" appeal to King
George Of England ito save his coun-
try from the German invaders, who
violated Its neutrality" while all the
time the Berlin foreign office had
proof-posltive that the Belgian gov
ernment had been in secret commu-
nication with Paris a long time be-
fore there was a possibility Of war
being declared. That this was act
ually so was determined when the
Germans who attacked Lies. found
themselves confronted by French sol,
diers and ofris.rs sighting in the Bel
gian ranks.
Belgium thus has to blame her
King, and not the Kaiser, for its
misfortune. I stated here yesterday
that the German soldiers have not
touched any Of the priceless objects
of art or Flemish architecture for
which Brussels is famous, and that
the Inhabitants. more sane than their
ruler, at once concluded to 20 about
their business, Just as though NJ
enemy were within the gates Of the
beautiful city.
In this connection It seems strange
that thus far nothing has been heard
Of Prince Victor Napoleon. who mar
ried q Belgian princess, and who is
q steady resident Of the Belgian cap
ital and q citizen Of Belgium. Has
the Bonapartist pretender no fish to
fry in this International connagra-
tion7 No doubt he has-on the quiet
and i will appear in good time.
when France will be prostrate-after
a long struggle-and It will not be ID
favor Of the present government.
either.
After sending out the dispatch de-
claring the taking Of Brussels to be
a well-engineered trap. Paris wires
to Rotterdam that the Belgian
ss;.va tcxsra Antwerp without further
The city Of Namur has been in
vested partially by the Germans,
when its heavy artillery opened upon
the forts yesterday at noon. The
westward movement Of the invaders
on both banks Of the - Msu'e leu river
fight. Namur is situated on the
Sambre river. at It's confluence with
the Meuse. It has about 5000 in
habitants. In 1866 its frowning
citadel. on a high cliff dominating
the strategic river Junction. was
raised. Since then new fortifica-
sisting o. nine steel forts which en-
circle the town in a belt covering
forty-five miles. The main forts
are st. Herbert. Audoye. Suarlee
and Cognelee. the smaller one are
Dave. Maijert. Malonne. Marchevo-
lette and Emines. Namur. without
a doubt, is the strongest Belgian de-
Tense on the Meuse river.
1t does pot appear to be reason
able that the Germans. whose main
desire Is to reach France and Paris
as soon as possible, should waste
more time by an attack upon so
strong a fortress. I am inclined to
believe that this calling into action
be a feint to mislead the allies as
to the real intentions.
There are many rumors as to Ant
werp, which Is being rapidly put into
a warlike condition and vlctualized
for a siege. Will the Germans really
attack this exceedingly well fortified
seaport other then by a mere show
Of operations? This Is not to be
foretold. But Just the same, Ger
man troops have been seen only
sixteen miles from Ostend. This
being the case, why the German
general stan should bother with con-
siderfng SO long-drawn a procedure
as the investiture Of Antwerp. does
not appear feasible. Neither Brus-
sells nor Antwerp is what the Kaiser
is after, unless as Incidents OF his
we'll matured plans. Belgium had to
be punished, but what he is after Is