New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-16
BELGIAN SOLDIERS
NEARLY FAMISHED
Remnants of Broken Army
Leave Country by
Way of OStend.
lRr CaAle 70 The Tribune. J

London, Oct 15.-"The Daily Chroni-
Gle" correspondent at Ostend sends the
following under date OF yesterday;
"when l left Ostond to-day the Ger
mans had been hourly expected, having
passed forward very rapidly from
Bruges. They were still engaged with
the rear guard of the defending force.
Il perhaps is little TO be wondered at
that tho Belgians after all these long
months Of fighting were dispirited, war
worn and somewhat disorganized.
These brave little soldiers have fought
as no other army ever fought before.
They have sacrificed everything for
their country. For two days there has
been severe fighting on the line from
Client to Bruges and thence toward
0stend.
CAS- one who had been with the Bel
eian soldiers throughout the war, and
who has had occasion 10 admire their
pluck and courage and their heroic
self-sacrifce, il was with deep feelings
of pity that | saw the disintegrated sec
lions Of the army arrive in Ostend
from all parts of the theatre of war.
They had fought and bled, but their
spirits still were unbroken. Here were
men in tattered clothes, some wounded,
the majority starving, having been
without food for days, but there was no
complaining, and after having talked
with many of the officers and men l
came away impressed with the convlc-
ton that a defeat, while it had sad
oened their hearts, could never conquer
them.
"The Germans, now that Antwerp has
fallen, have been enabled to throw
against the allied line a large part or
the army which il had utilized IN the
reduction OF Antwerp. They boosted
that they would overrun Belgium:
Their own army, flushed by victory ana
reinforced from the north and from
other points near the German fronuer'
is now making q desperate attempt
against the whole Of the seaOoard from
Antwerp to Boulogne
zone Of the sights Of the last Few DAYS
that I saw was in the vicinity OF goods
station, where crowds Of poor, half-
starved Belgian fugitives were MAKING
an excellent meal Of the beef and bis
cnit ra+ions Of the soldiers. Fugitlves
having filed all the hotels and lodg-
ING houses overlooked into the streets
and lived there with their families and
surh Of their personal belongings as
remained to them Last night the news
was. of the blacklist. The Germans were
hourly expected, and TO add to the ter
ror of the situation 1t was announced
that there would be no more steamers
from Ostend for England. Despair
seized upon those VINO were lett be
hind.
at was then that women and strong
men. forgetting the stoicism and cour-
age which enabled them through these
dark weeks Of national calamity 10
show a bold face 20 misfortune, forgot
themselves and wept, but still there
was hope for them, and this morning
they were in their accustomed places,
and much TO their JOY the long-iooked
for steamer from England appeared:
She was followed by three others, and
between them they took off several
thousands of the patiently waiting peo-
ple. many Of whom were on the verge
of starvation. The saddest part OF y
al is the suffering Of the children.
MANY OF them already have died from
exposure and privation, brought about
sy the long hours OF waiting in the cold
and humid atmosphere"