Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-10-01
BELGIUM LONG
A BATTLE-GROUND
Country Is Gateway Between
Powerful Nations.
ITS INDEPENDENCE UPHELD.
No Nation Would Ever Allow Another
to Gain Control of Strategic Point
In Time of War-Some of the Fa-
nous Battles Fought on Belgian Soil.
Prominent Place In History.

nous Battles Fought on Belgian Soil.
Prominent Place In History.
Brussels.-Look at the map of cont,
mental Europe, and it can readily be
seen why Belgium has been the the,
alter of European wars from the time
of Caesars invasion and even before.
geographically and geographically it
forms a natural gateway. No wonder
England, France and Germany al
ways have been jealous over the pos
session of Belgium. The nation that
possesses Belgium would have every
advantage in an international conflict
1t is due mainly to this very jealousy
that Belgium has remained an indie
pendent state. IF | can't have it, you
can't" has been the attitude of each
power So Belgium, small and weak
as it appeared to be, has enjoyed ex-
traordinary independence, and nations
have We'd with each other to win her
friendship. 50 valuable is it esteemed
in wartime. Today, as often in the
past, events that are to decide the flu
ture of Europe are transpiring in Bel
GUM.
In Belgium was fought the battle OF
Waterloo July IS. 1915 On the same
day was fought the battle of Wavre,
won by the French AS it was. how
ever. Grouchy's victory was useless
T. i,hf no bio 40
poleon had he arrived at Waterloo in
time
The battle of Ligny was fought in
Belgium. June 16. 1915, just two days
before the battle of Waterloo. That
was Napoleons last victory.
On the same day on Belgian soil
was fought the battle of Quatre Bras
won by the British and allies, but their
success was rendered fruitless by the
Prussian reverse at Ligny.
The battle of Jemmapes, Nov. u,
1892. between the French and Aus
TRANS was one of the most important
of the French revolution. 1t was fol
lowed by the annexation of the Aus
trian Netherlands to France.
Fontenoy, fought May II, 1745, in
the war of the Austrian succession,
resulted in Il victory for the French
over the combined forces of the Brit
ish, Dutch and Austrians. 1t was the
last victory of France.
Oudenarde, fought July II, 170S, re-
suited in the defeat of the French by
the English and Imperialists. 1t was
one of the great victories of Mari
borough and Prince Eugene over Louis
XIV.
Families, fought May %. l7OS. was Il
victory for the English and allies over
the French, and was followed by the
French evacuation of the chief towns
of the Netherlands
Neerwinden, July "a. 1903, in the
wars of Louis XIV. resulted in
brilliant victory for the French over
the English.
Ostend was the scene of one of the
most memorable sieges in history. 1t
lasted from July, 1901, to September,
1904. and cost many thousands of
lives. 1t was in the war of the liberia
ton of the Netherlands The siege
ended in the surrender of the fortress
to the Spanish under Spinola. but the
Spaniards lost upward of 10000 men,
Scarcely house in the town was left
standing.
The siege of Maestricht lasted from
March 10 to June %. 1879. and resulted
in the capture of the city by the Span
iards. who massacred G,OOO men. WON
en- and children. Maestricht has been
the scene of several other disastrous
conflicts.
Antwerp likewise has been the scene
of conflicts. In 1867 an engagement
between the local German and Spanish
troops resulted in the death Of 10000
persons and the surrender of the cit
adel by the citizens. In 1888 the citi-
zens defeated an attempted seizure of
the city by the Duke of Anjou. On
Aug. II. 1885. the citadel capitulated
after a thirteen months siege. one of
the most eventful in history. to the
Duke of Parma. Spanish viceroy OF the
Netherlands. The citadel was captured
in TAG and 1892 by the French; in
1893 by the AuStrians; in 1874 by the
French. In lSO9 Bonnparte protected
the city against Lord Chatham's at
tempt to destroy the port and the forts.
In 1914 it was defended against the
English by Carnot and surrendered
only after the conclusion Of peace, May
3. In 1880 during the Belgian revolu-
ton the city was bombarded from the
citadel by the Dutch General Chasse.
who finally was forced TO surrender his
stronghold Dec IS. 1882. after siege
by n French army of $4,000 men under
Marshal Gerard. This ended the con
test with Holland. and on Dec. 80.
1882 the citadel, almost wholly de,
stroyed by the bombardment, was oc
cupied by the Belgian troops.