Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-27
WORLDS FORCES NEEDED
FOR DEFEAT OF GERMANY
Utmost Powers OF Allies Have Been
Required to Hold Teutons
in Check.
ONE MISTAKE MAY BE FATAL
Country Strong Economically, and
Has Sufficient Food and Ammuui-
ton to Inst for Years-Situntion
AS Viewed by Belgian Officer.
ny COUNT DE BEAUFORT.

Especial Gable to The Times Dispatch
IN BELGIUM. December 26.-A Bel :
Eian general. who for many years has
watched and studied the progress Of
the German army-as far as such is
possible To foreign ofiiccr-discussc d
with me recently the present situation.
To one of my favOrite questions. "Iiow
long do YOU think the war will still
last? ne answered:
MY friend, the duration of the war
depends entirely on the forces which
the whole world will be able to bring
TO bear against Germany. Let us not
lose sight OF the fact that il has taken
all our combined efforts. all our powers,
to hold the enemy I'm check. and to-day
| the Germans are still on foreign soil
one mistake on our part could have
the most fatal results. We need men
and men, hundreds OF thousands OF
them. TO conquer Germany because,
remember well that they realize that
this war will mean the end of their
medieval system. They will never
surrender, but fight TO the last man.
DO not let us be deceived by re-
ports that Germany will lose this war
on economic grounds because such re-
ports are beside the facts She has
prepared for this war for the last
thirty years. l have Information that
there are enough foodstuTs In Ger
many to-day to feed an army OF p
100000 men for five years. We also
know that the Krupp stores of ammu-
milton have not as ye, been touched,
but that they manufacture from day
to day what they use"
FAMOUS OLD CHURCH,
PRACTICALLY IN RUINS
Nieuport has again been bombardcd.
and the little town Is practically in
ruins. OF the old church. which is
several hundred years old, only the
four walls arc standing; the roof has
been shot away, the old clock lies in
the centre of the ruins. and not a piece
Of glass three inches square has been
left unbrokcn.
After having given my horse in
charge of a Belgian soldier proceeded
through the streets on foot Soon !
was Joined by II dear old cure. who
insisted should share his luncheon
two sandwiches of soldiers bread, with
him.
81 am much Srievcd, monsieur" he
explained to me, Ito be unable to offer
you the hospitality OF my house. but,
alas. it has shared the fate OF most
others"
On the west entrance of the church
the cure drew my attention to quite a
remarkable picture. Above the doors
had been a pedestal with Il large statue
of the Virgin. The pedestal was shot
away, but the statue. about five feet
nigh. mad remained intact. and ii al
most seemed as If ii hung there in
the air without any support. Only n
few inches Of cement held 1t against
the wall.
As we left the church and crossed
the market place two little tots, am
sure not over four or five years old,
boy and girl. came out OF n side
street. At sight of their cure both
began to run toward us as fast as
their little legs could carry them. They
shook hands with the priest and the
girl offered him her apple. She an
swered a few questions the cure asked
| her, and then seemed to notice my
| presence. "Ah. pauvre-toi. tn mas pas
.lContInued OH Last Pagcl