Evening star., 1914-10-11
One Marine and Two Naval
Detachments Took Part
in Defense.
TWO FLEE WITH BELGIANS,
OTHER ENTERS HOLLAND
Big Guns and. Armored Cars Are
Saved as the Allies Retreat
From the Fortress.

| LONDON, October IL G2:40 a.m.).-
| The first official admission that the
British participated in the defense of
Antwerp is contained in an admiralty
announcement tonight that three naval
brigades, with heavy guns, had been
sent there during the last week of the
German attack.
! The announcement adds that in the
retreat from Antwerp two of the Brit
ish brigades reached Ostend safely. The
other, however, was cut off to the north
of Lokeren "a town in East Flanders,
| twelve miles northeast of Ghent), and
| 1900 of the men were interned in Hol-
land.
The retreat of the Belgian army was
accomplished successfully.
The losses of the British naval bril-
gades probably will be less than 800 out
! of a total of S.0OO.men
British Official Announcement.
The secretary of the admiralty makes
the following announcements:
IN response to an appeal by the Bel
slan government, a marine brigade and
Two naval brigades, together with some
heavy naval guns manned by a de-
tachment of the royal navy, the whole
under command of Gen. Paris, R. NJ A.,
were sent by his majesty's government
to participate in the defense of Ant
tack
Up until the night of Monday last,
october D. the Belgian army and ma
r1ne brigade successfully defended the
line of the Nethe river, but edrly Tues
day morning the Belgian forces on the
right OF Malines Pere were forced by
fheaVy German attack, covered by
very powerful artillery, to retire. and
IN consequence the whole of the de-
tense was withdrawn to the inner line
of forts, the intervals between which
had been strongly fortified The ground
which has been lost enabled the enemy
to plant his batteries to lombard the
city.
"The inner line of defenses was
Thursday. while the city endured a
ruthless bonbardment.
Praises British Force.
THE behavior of the royal marines
and naval brigades in the trenches and
in the field was praiseworthy in
high degree and remarkable in units so
newly formed, and owing to the pro-
lection of the entranchments the loss
es. in spite of the severity of the fire.
are probably less than 800 out of a
total force of 5000 men.
1.-THE defense could have been main
tanned for longer period, but not
long enough to allow of adequate forces
being sent for their relief. without preju-
dice to the main strategic situation.
The enemy also began on Thurs
day to press strongly on the line of
communications near, Lokeren. The
Belgian forces defending this point
fought with great determination, but
n
bers.
I'm these circumstances the Belgian
and British military authorities in Ant
werp decided to evacuate the city. The
British offered to cover the retreat, but
Gen. De Guise desired that they should
leave before the last division of the
Belgian army.
aAfter a long night march to Saint
trained Two out of the three have ar
rived safely at Ostend. but. owing to
circumstances which are not yet fully
known, the greater part of the hrst
naval brigade was cut OF by German
attack north of Lokeren, and 1000 Off
GERS and men entered Dutch territory
in the neighborhood of Hulst and laid
down their arms. in accordance with
the laws Of neutrality.
Save the Guns.
'The retreat Of the Belgian army has
been successfully accomplished. The
naval armored trains and heavy guns
were all brought away.
"The retreat from Client onward of
the naval division and of the Belgian
army was covered by strong British re-
Inducements.
Vast numbers of the n-combatant
population Of Antwerp men, women
and children, are streaming in flight in
scores of thousands westward from the
ruined and burning city"
The admiralty also reports in the
same statement that the naval aviation
park, having completed it's attack on
Dusseldorf and Cologne. already re-
ported. has returned safely to its base,
protected by armored cars.