Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-15
ALL OSTEND PANIC STRICKEN
AS GERMANS MARCH ON CITY
Sixty Thousand Terrorized People JAM
med Along Water Front, Awaiting
Ships to Garry Them to England.

OSTEND, October IA, via London, Oc-
tober 15.-Ostends fate hangs in the
balance The government has left;
King Albert and the main military
headquarters left Tuesday and 10000
panic-stricken people await the action
of the Germans, who are known to
have a large force within twenty miles
of the city.
The inhabitants are fleeing fast
as ships can be provided to carry them
to England. Hospitals were emptied
today and the docks were lined with
injured soldiers. Hundreds were car
ried on filters, while those less severe
ly wounded hobbled on canes and
crutches, supported by Red Cross
nurses. doctors, nuns and priests
The wounded We're given preference
on the transport provided for the be-
Ieaguered city, while $4,000 struggling
people were massed upon the docks
and terminals attempting to hnd
places on the refugee ships Ger,
man Taube flew over the harbor and
struck terror to those below, many of
whom had come here from Antwerp,
and who feared the aeroplane might at
tempt to drop bombs on the docks and
the great glass sheds which cover the
Joint terminals of the railways and
steamers.
Belgians Fire on Aeroplane.
The Belgian soldiers guarding the
docks opened fire on the aeroplane and
continued the fusillade for ten min
utes. This created still greater con-
sternation among the thousands of
women and children, many of whom
had sat for three days on the cement
floor of the great terminal sheds, their
nerves at the breaking point
Escape is cut off from all sides by
land, and thousands We're still gath
cred miserably on the docks when the
last relief ship left late this after
noon. 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 Ia
boring, for the watchful Taube flew
over the steamers, observing their
movements as they sailed out OF the
harbor.
The aeroplane did not drop bombs,
however, as one had on previous days.
when both civil and military hospitals
were SO narrowly missed by exploding
shells that the Belgians charged that
the Germans were aiming at the hos
pitfalls.
Last night was a nightmare to the
residents Of Ostend and the thousands
of refugees fleeing before the German
invasion. Wounded soldiers were
brought here by the score from Client.
1t Is reported that they were engaged
Monday near Client in serious bat
tie with the Germans. The allies are
said to have had a small force against
a large German force and were obliged
to withdraw toward the west. Conse-
quently there Is virtually no obstacle
to the German advance on Ostend-
Gums at Client Plainly Heard.
Firing in the direction of Client was
heard plainly in Ostend Monday and
Tuesday. The terrified refugees who
were at the siege of Antwerp blanched
as they listened to the bombardment
and increased the fear among the resi-
dents of Ostend by describing the hor-
rors attending the fall of that fortress.
Most of the business houses in -Ostend
closed yesterday. and professional men.
merchants and hotelkeepers Joined the
throng that dared not leave the water
front for fear of losing places in the
children clamoring for a chance to es-
cape.
All taxicabs and cab horses in Ostend
were taken by the army long ago, so
there was little means of transporta-
ton. The tram cars Were comman-
deered by the hospitals, and civilians
had little chance to ride.
The hotels near the quay, which re-
manned open, We're crowded with refu-
gees who had money and who begged
for the opportunity to rent even q
chair.
Tuesday night brought insistent re-
ports that the Germans would enter
Ostend Wednesday at dawn, with the
result that few persons in the city
slept. Before daybreak every street
of Ostend was alive with Belgians max
q n he fa~ fror HIN,
dreds OF fishermen took their families
and friends away in their small boats,
which sailed out of the shipping basin
in steady stream, loaded down with
frightened women and children carry
ing their personal effects wrapped in
tablecloths and blankets
The failure of the Germans to arrive
at daybreak afforded only /. slight re-
lief to the anxious crowds. Rumors
were current that German cavalry was
less than twenty miles away, and the
appearance of the Taube in the sky was
taken as an indication that the Ger
mans were perfecting their plan for en-
tering the city.
No Government Remains.
Practically no government of any sort
remains at Ostend; the departure of
King Albert and military headquarters
lett only the civil guard and police
men, who are attempting to preserve
order, but there is lack of direction. as
the burgomaster. head of the municipal
government, also has left.
The crowds mass about the gangwavs
or the vessels, making the work of en-
UWaIhins the refugees more difficult
omen and children are trampled in
ne stampede. as of frightened animals
At every rumor
Bundles of clothes. trunks and bags ara
tackled everywhere in confusion nreven1
'ng the Tree movements of the crowds
women and children first" is tie an
,i9uncement the ships officers make in
flemish and French as the pangu,i,,.s , -
pwered This rule has been enforced
OF several days. but with the Creates
mort women cling to their husbands and
other male relatives defantly blocking
ne gangways. All attempts To de-
ne refugees to drop their bundles ami
iiasten aboard the boats are unavailing
IL Is all We have left was the pitiful