The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-08
The Belgians Disable German
Ships in Antwerp Harbor.
Siege of City Has Been Going
ON Since September %.

London. Oct. S.@The Antwerp corr
respondent OF the Associated Press.
after week of the closest survey of
the battle field, telegraphed from The
Hague under date of Monday after
noon as follows.
This Is the sixth day of the siege
OF Antwerp and the Belgian army is
fighting with reckless courage. The
government Officers openly declared
they expected a bombardment of the
city by the middle of the week, but
they were resolved to resist to the last,
tnougn they feared this meant the
destruction OF great part of the city.
AS precaution the boilers of all
tne German ships In Antwerp have been
EXPLODED SO as to prevent the use of
the Scneidt and Antwerp as German
base. The defamation of the bursting
boilers resounding through the city set
a panic.
The people generally are orderly
ana keeping up cheerful demeanor.
Iney are taking care of the endless
stream of refugees coming in from
TOUR score of villages, located between
Antwerp and the forts
me siege OF Antwerp started Sep
TENDER %, with a fierce bombardment
OF the town of Malines, where the
ancient church was severely damaged
Next day the town Of Lierre was bonn
barded and here. too, the church was
destroyed. In this attack seven citi-
zens were killed and three were
ated by the population, but in the
evening the Belgian infantry arrived.
entrenched itself and at last accounts
still held the city.
The next day the village of Buff
1aeil was bombarded and heresthe tall
factory chimneys offered an excellent
target. The population fled to Ant
werp. leaving behind several dead and
wounded.
The Defenses.
antwerp is defended by a circle of
fortlfications of which the most i'm
portant are between the Rivers Nethe,
nuIIeI and the Scheldt. The Germans
evidently decided to force their way
through TINS section because after TAX
ing Duffel, they attacked this semi
circle Of forts with their heavy artil-
| lery The retreating Belgian army de-
stroyed the bridges across the Nethe,
me Germans spent Saturday trying
70 1ord the Nethe under cover of terri
fic artillery fire.
Aing Albert, the equal of any SOL
oler IN his devotion to duty. daily ex-
poses himself to dangers. The Queen
Is aevotlng her time to hospitals.
MOST wonderful however, is the pa
lient, unfalterng. courage Of the aver
age 6eiSan soldier, who has now been
lighting for nine weeks. Tired. with
hollow eyes, unkempt, unwashed and
provided with hasty though ample
meals. he is spending most of the time
In the trenches. He never complains
out remains steady under the terrible
IRE and offers his life freely in his
country's struggle to maintain her in
dependence
Antwerp feels the greatest fear that
the magnificent church tower of Our
Lady will be the target of the bonn
pardment and it was proposed to house
German prisoners inside as a protection
for the ancient building.
There is great indignation against
the German captain who is charged
with having ordered the burning OF
Louvain. and who was captured at the
Dattie OF Aerschot. In pprivate life
the man is a lawyer and his only de-
| rinse. it is said, is that he received or
oers from his superiors and that it was
not his business to question orders. He
VIII De courtmartialed next week and
condemned to die"