Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-10

London, Oct. 9.-The correspondent
of the Post at Antwerp, in describing
the events leading up to the presen'
situation at Antwerp says:
sAbout a month ago the German
commanders began to realize the dan
ger of having the Belgian army pc
cupying fortified position which con
tinually threatened the German lines
of communication. The Germans
threw out feelers to ascertain If Bel
g;um would agree to keep her army
in Antwerp in return for the German
promise not to attack the town.
."The Belgians Indignantly rejected
all such proposals and replied by gal
liant sorties which, however, failed OF
complete success. The taking OF
Alost renewed the German conviction
of the necessity for an aggressive cam.
paign against the Belgians which be-
gan after further German proposals
for an agreement were rejected by
the Belgians.
Accordingly the Germans brought
up some of their heaviest field pieces
and opened fire with the bombardment
of Malines. For week afterward the
Germans each day bombarded some
open town outside of Antwerp with
the, idea that the fleeing civil popula-
ton from these villages would wreck
the morale of the Antwerp garrison.
"On Tuesday Fort Wavre-St. Cath
arines was put out of action. Later
on the same day Fort Waelhem was
damaged and became ineffective.
Whatever the German shells struck
they destroyed. On Thursday Yep
pelin attack on Antwerp failed. Fort
kessel succeeded in furnishing the
Germans severely and the Germans
shelled Boom and Lierre sending the
industrial population fleeing in panic
to Antwerp. BY this time at least 5O,-
900 refugees were in Antwerp.
Thursday evening the German in
fantry attacked Lierre, Duffel and
Termonde, only the Duffel attack be-
Ing successful Up to this stage, con-
fdence had been general, but it now
beger % waver Friday the lombard
me1lt of Lierre continued and the
authorities began to consider the pos
sibility of Antwerp being occupied by
the enemy.
"On Saturday the situation showed
q slight advance by the Belgians and
on Sunday the German attack seemed
to be slackening in it's intensity. On
Monday the German artillery made a
furious attack on Lierre and the city
council urged the governor to continue
the defense of the city without regard
to property interests, and this is now
being DONE
Antwerp on Fire.
London, Oct. 9.-The bombardment
Of Antwerp has been terrible, says an
Ostend dispatch to the Reuter- Tele-
gram Co.. under date of Thursday
'The Germans threw incendiary
bombs the dispatch adds, with the
result that many parts of the town be-
tween the railway station at the
south and the palace of justice are
In flames.
1T is rumored here that the Ger
mans have been repulsed on the left
bank of the river Nethe
"A German aeroplane flew over
Ostend this afternoon at o'clock.
More Forts siIenced.
The Hague, Oct. 9.-The lombard.
ment of Antwerp's inner forts and
the outlying parts of the city started
at 1890 Thursday morning. At noon
the city was burning in four places.
1t is reported that inner forts numbers
four and six have been silenced.
The exodus of the panic-stricken
people. of Antwerp continues. 1t is
reported that the dikes have been
opened.
Germans Getting Aid.
Antwerp. Oct. 9.-The Germans on
Saturday spent 16 hours in terrific
artillery duel in an effort to ford the
Nethe. The Belgians held their
Continued on page 81