Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-08

LONDON, Aug. S.-Benja1nin Hal
lett, of a Belgian zinc firm, eye wit
ness of the attack on Liege, today
arrived from there with thrilling
tale 1t was told the New York Trl-
bune's correspondent.
His story is the first detailed one of
the fighting in Belgium, and extols
the valor of the defenders He was
there when the German army arrived
and witnessed the first day of the
struggle.
The graphic story told by Mr.. Hal
let is as follows:
THE first intimation | had that the
Germans were invading Belgium was
a notice in a Liege evening news
paper on Monday, advising English
men to call on the English consul
there at once l saw the consul, and
he informed me that the Germans
were advancing on Liege and warned
me to return to England Immediately.
"All the men in the city, and many
women too, clamored for rifles. The
supply was insufficient. to go round.
Food was plentiful, but nobody
bothered much about eating, or sleep
ing either.
"There are about 10000 Russians in
Liege, and most of them have volun-
teered to serve with the French or
Belgian armies.
"There were many heartrending
scenes in the streets as the troops
marched out to meet the invaders.
/ heard one old woman say through
her tears: He's my only son, and II
will break my heart to have MIN
killed. but I'll be satisfied II he only
kills three Germans first
"Despite their valor and resolution,
had no idea the Liegois would be
able to make such a magnificent
and wonderful defense against such
an overwhelming force as the Ger
mans brought up. | saw the open
ing of the terrific struggle on
wednesday and then came away. l
was compelled to leave owing to
business engagement here; otherwise
wanted to stay. The temptation
TO remain and see the result was ire
mendous, almost irresistible, III as
it made me.
Far away across the River Meuse,
ont of sight. A small detachment
came in with white flag. 1t was
Cen. Won Emmich, the German COM
mander, who came to demand the
surrender of the city, saying ne
merely wanted free passage Tor MS
troops and would not hurt a soul
hnt he friendly with everybody ana
nav cash at the peoples own prices
for everything that was needeo-
IF ever a man went the wrong way
about getting what he wanted, II
was the big German general
General Won Emmich had barely
ridden back across the brldge over
the River Meuse, and was stu IN
sight. cantering across the beautiful
valley. when there was long roar
a cracking crash and splash Ihe
bridge had been blown up.
"The next hour was, l think, the
busiest I have ever seem women
and children. weeping, were hurried
away in every possible kind of vehicle
and many on foot, staggering along,
irving to run and hardly able to walk
because they were carrying so many
things. The men, and many women,
too. were taking up positions to
which they were sent by those VINO
were in charge. The soldiers were
hurrying at the double to their posi-
tons Then came an astonishing
silence. The Germans We're coming.
'From the tops of the old disused
fortress, from almost anywhere in
the city, in fact, because Liege is on
a hill, the German troops could be
seen approaching. Just as the first
line came into view, the guns OF the
German artillery, posted somewhere
far behind them started booming.
s-"Ahead of the German column gal
laped some wagons. They pulled up
alongside the river, near the wreck
age of the blown-up bridge. The
soldiers, looking in the distance like
busy ants at work, seemed to be tear
ing their wagons to pieces and
throwing the bits into the river.
Other men picked up the bits. and in
what seemed an amazingly little
while a pontoon bridge began grow
ing in Jerks across the river.
"The Liege forts all this time seem