Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-16
THOUSANDS AWAIT
SHIPS TO FLEE IN
Inhabitants Of 0stend Leaving as
Fast as Vessels Provided to
Carry Them to England.
WOUNDED MEN LINE THE DOCKS
Those with BsgEage VIII Not ne
Induced to Leave IL Behind.
saying IL IL Every
thing Left.

| palance. The government has left.
King Albert and the main military
quarters left Tuesday and 10000
panic-stricken people await the
coming of the Germans, who are
known to have strong force within
twenty miles of the city.
The inhabitants are fleeing as
fast as ships can be provided to carry
them to England. Hospitals were
emptied today and the docks we're
lined with injured soldiers. Hun
dreds we're carried on filters. while
those less severely wounded hobbled
on canes and crutches, supported by
Red Cross nurses, doctors, nuns and
priests.
Wounded Have Preference.
The wounded were given preference on
the transports provided for the be
leaguered city, while Is, 900 struggling PEG
pie were massed upon the docks and
terminals, attempting to find places on
the refugee ships. German taube flew
over the harbor and struck terror 90 those
below, many of whom had come here from
Antwerp and who feared the airships
might drop bombs on the docks and on
the great glass sheds which covered the
railway and steamer terminals.
The Belgians guarding the docks opened
! fire on the alrghips and continued the
! fusillade for ten minutes. This created
still greater CONSERVATION among the
thousands OF women and children, many
of whom had sat for three days or the
cement floor of the great terminal sheds,
their nerves at the breaking point.
Escape Cut OFF.
1 Escape is cut off from all sides by
land. and thousands were still gathered
miserably on the docks when the last re-
lief ship left late this afternoon. No
steamers leave Ostend at night because
] of danger from mines. still the crowds
| await on the piers, awaiting the dawn
and more ships. Even the refugees who
managed to find deck space on the
| crowded transports were not relieved Of
! the terrible strain under which they have
been laboring for the watchful taube
| flew over the steamers. observing their
movements as they sailed out OF the har-
| Dor.
The aeroplane did not drop bombs, how
ever, 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 Ger
mans were aiming at the hospitals.
Night One of Terror.
| Last night was one OF terror to the resi-
dents OF ostend and the thousands OF
refugees fleeing before the German in
vasion. Wounded soldiers were brought
here by the score from Client. It is re-
ported that they were engaged Monday
| near Client in serious battle with the
! Germans The alles are said 20 have
/ had small force against a large German
force and were obliged to withdraw to-
ward the west Consequently there is
virtually no obstacle to the German ad-
vance on Ostend.
Firing in the direction OF Client was
heard plainly in Ostend on Monday and
Tuesday. The terrified refugees who were
az the siege Of Antwerp blancned as they
listened to the bombardment ana in
creased the fear among the residents Of
Ostend by describing the horrors attend
ing the fall of that fortress.
Join Waiting ThroBs.
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
ever-growing line of men, wom,n and
children, clamoring for chance to es-
cape
All taxicabs and cab. horses were taken
by the army long ago, so there was little
means OF communication. The tram cars
were comrnandeered by the hospitals and
civilians had little chance TO ride. The
hotels near the quay which remained
open were crowded with refugees who
had money and who begged for the OPP
portunity 20 rent even a chair.
The same surgeon said that In his
opinion the entire Belgian army should
have six weeks respite to recover from
the shock OF its constant service under
unprecedented hardships. The American
consul, Henry A. Johnston, has the at
fairs OF the allies under his care and is
on the docks day and night assisting
his charges. Americans are not numerous
at Ostend, but few have been coming
in daily from Antwerp, Client and
Bruges. The British consul left Ostend
several days ago. the consuls represent
ing the other allies accompanying him.
Tuesday night brought insistent reports
that the Germans would enter Ostend
on Wednesday at dawn with the result
that few persons In the city slept Before
daybreak every street of Ostend was
alive with Belgians making their way 10
the water front.
Leave I'm Fishing Boats.
Hundreds OF fishermen took their faml-
lies and friends away in their small boats,
which sailed out OF the shipping basin
in q steady stream loaded down with
frightened women and children carrying
their personal effects wrapped in table
cloths and blankets.
The failure OF the Germans TO arrive
at daybreak afforded only a light relief
to the anxious crowds. Rumors were
current that German cavalry was less
than twenty miles away and the appear
ance OF the taube in the sky was taken
as an indication that the Germans were
perfecting their plan for entering the
city.
Practically no government Of any sort
remains at ostend; the departure OF King
Albert and military headquarters left
only the civil guard and policemen who
are attempting to preserve order, but
there IL lack OF direction. as the burgo-
master. head OF the municipal govern
ment. has also left.
The crowds mass about the ganEways