The Washington times., 1914-08-07
L|EGE IS GUARDED
BY TWELVE FORTS
"PittSburgh of Belgium" Would
Prove Rich Prize to German
Invader.

The Belgian city Of Liege pronounced
Lee-ayje). where the Germans and Bel
gians are now fighting. is an important
place and would be a prize OF value to
any invader capturing it.
Besides being the most strongly for
tilted place in the pathway of the Ger
mans toward France it might be called
the Pittsburgh of Belgium"
For miles TO the southwest of the city.
along the banks OF the river Meuse.
there are scores of blast furnaces. pull
ding furnaces. rolling mills, and forges.
1t is the site of the Cockerill works,
said to be the largest mandatory Of
machinery in the world.
Liege proper. with a population Of
11l.ooa lies at the junctuion Of the
Meuse and Ourthe, in a basin margined
by hills. All around the city is a
wealth of coal and iron ore.
The mines run even under the city
ana the river. These natural riches in
connection with the favorable situation
OF the city at the junction of two navig-
able rivers. have given rise to the ex-
tensive manufacturing industry in the
city itself
The products are varied. but the prin-
cipal one, and that which would make
Liege valuable prize of war, is that of
firearms. More than 5000 persons in
the city are employed in the manufac-
ture Of guns, ranging from small arms
10 the largest of modern weapons.
There is a royal cannon factory and a
small arm factory also in the suburb
or St Leonard.
Has Modern Forts.
Liese is we'll defended with modern
Notifications. Its strength. It is said.
is far greater than has generally been
appreciated by military strategists. In
1855 the Belgian authorities decided ade-
quately to fortify both Liege and
Namur, the two important points on
the river Meuse.
At each place a number Of detached
forts were constructed. At Liege there
are twelve forts, six on the right bank
and six on the left side of the river.
All the forts have been kept up to
date. The heavy guns. in their con-
crete easements, are raised and lowered
automatically. The names of the forts
on the right bank Of the river are Bar
chon. Evegnee. Fleron, Chaudfontaine,
Erabourg and Boncslles. The average
distance between them Is four miles
Those on the left bank, commencing at
the north, are Pontisse Liers, Lantin,
Loncin, Hollogne and FIemale. 1t has
been estimated by military authorities
that 5000 men would be necessary for
an adequate defense OF these fortif1ca-
tions today.
The guns of the forts are rapid-fire
Weapons, mounted singly and in pairs,
within armored cupolas-something on
the order of battleship turretS-which
were built at the Liege factories. These
cupolas are said to be impervious to
any fire except that of the largest mod
ern guns, of the sort that could not be
hauled to a field of battle by an army
on the march. And the cupolas are Wis
1n1. rhroa nr fr,flr ahnVP
earth.
Direct Line To Paris.
The city first appears in history in
the sixth century, at which time a town
grew up around the original chapel |
founded there by St Monulph. bishop |
Of Tongres. It was taken by Marlbor- |
oUgh in 17O2, and the fortress was gar
risoned by the Dutch until 17lS- The |
French revolutionary armies overTan
the principality in I7So, and from 1874 to |
the fall Of Napoleon it was annexed 10 |
France and was known as the Depart
ment OF the Ourthe.
The congress of Vienna, in 1915, de-
creed that Liege should form part of |
the new kingdom of the Netherlands,
Under the rule Of William /. of the
house Of Orange. The city took an ac-
and since that date the ancient princi- |
pality has been incorporated in the !
kingdom of Belgium.
The principal point OF interest TO the
tourists in Liege has been the great !
athedral, or Church OF ST. Paul, found /
81 in the tenth century and rebuilt in /
me thirteenth century. The university, |
founded in 1917, is one of the largest in /
the country, and enjoys a high reputa-
tion for education in the art OF mining |
a. nd manufacturing.
The railway lines through Lege are |
the direct routes from Cologne to Paris, |
and the line from Luxembourg to Brus- |
sells. the possession of either of which |
would be valuable prizes to the Ger |
man army.