Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-20
ALLOFNAMUR
DESCRIBED IN
BELGIAN PAPER
City Played ITS Part and De.
tenders Did Their Duty,
Says Correspondent
IBy Latest MALL

PARIS, france. IL indepenuence
Beige publishes the Following extracts
from 4 letter written to the Flandre
Liberaie on the SUBJECT of the article
In the Times relative to the fall Of
Namur, remarking at the same time
that the present is not the moment
either to emphasize or discuss the
same:
ITO begin with. The Michele in ques.i
ton 1.-THE military governor OF the
placeJ is not the late minister OF war,
but another Michel. He is one of the
most brilliant officers that the artil-
lery had produced.
"Namur held out four days and a
half. The Germans first attacked the
northern section, comprising the forts
of Maizerait. Marcheyelette and. Cog
melee. They were using shells OF II
and % centimeters. The effect of the
latter was terrible. and from the sec
ond day the guns in the forts we're put
out Of action. The Fourth day all the
forts were attacked, but It is not
known whether they held out at ALL
except for one, the fort OF Suarlee,
which was stu firing at the moment
OF and during the retreat
Breaches Well Defender.
The Germans evidently knew that
the breaches were so well defended
that they were impossible. Contrary,
therefore, to the tactics they had en-
ployed at Liege, they did not attack
the breaches but, once the northern
forts were destroyed, turned their
guns upon our ffefd artillery defend
ing the breaches. This fire lasted IL
hours, annibiiating our artillery. which
was not even able to reply That de-
stroyed, the Germans entered the
northern position. Lpt without passing
the breaches, which could have been
defended. When the staff major learn
ed that. he tried to telephone to the
troops Of the other sections to rally
and tight whilst retreating. In order
to. cover the section which had been.
ousted; but probably owing to the
work OF a spy. the telephone had been.
cut.
From that moment Namur had
played her part. Once the forts were
taken, or were about to be taken, re-
treat was inevitable, for one division
holding out against two army corps
would have meant complete destruc-
ton and surrender. It became neces-
sary to try to save the troops and
spare them to their country, as had
been done at Iiege. !
Unfortunately, In Consequence Of
the breaking down OF the telephone,
the troops Of the various sections could
only be reached by means OF couriers. !
and the retreat, Instead OF following
= general plan, was affected in hap
hazard Fashion, each colonel making q
way for himself as best he might; /
hence disorder was inevitable
Michel did absolutely all that he
could do and all that he ought to have
done he acted as Leman acted. Once
the forts were partially taken and it |
was no longer possible TO defend the
breaches, they both ordered the re-
treat, as Il was their duty to do. Ma
muir and Liege being only the heads
Of bridges and In no sense of the
word enfrenched camps. Their part
was to hold out at least three. days in ]
order to cover our mobilization, and /
that was all.
Shells Fail Thirty Minute.
This is exactly the history OF the
affair Of Namur, as It has been related
TO me by those who took no inconsid.
erabie part In the operations It Isl
estimated that during the lombard
ment, which lasted II hours, the Ger
mans made use Of every kind of gun
they had, for the shells fell at the
rate Of about 30 minute: every two
seconds there was an explosion And
what explosions and what destruction
with Those powerful gunsl For the
rest, the division Withdrew by no
means In disorder.
The major portion. with which was
Michel himself. fought as it retreated,
md TIE troops which covered the re-
.reat sustained heavy losses, but made
he Germans keep their distance Thei
.etreat was hurried and 1t had to be,
n order to save The remainder of the,
the baggage was lost as fori
he artillery, it no longer existed.
1t viii thus be seen that Namurl
)layed her part; she was crushed un.l
Ter an avalanche or fire and steel.
Her defenders did their duty, their |
Whole duty. as did those OF Liege, but |
hey we're less fortunate.
The first Transatlantic shipment OF {
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