Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-11-06
MIGHT of Terror in Antwerp Is
Described by Newspaper
Correspondent.
MANY LOSE THEIR MINDS
Psychological Ravage Greater Ca
Iamity Than the Material Havoc
Germans Fight Fires and Put
City in Order at Once.
BY JACQUES oBELs.

ON the corner. A German flag also
futtered in the wind on top OF the
cathedral spire, 500 feet up. My mill
tary pass, given me in Brussels, read
lily admitted me to the city, one area
of which had suffered terribly from
the bombardment Apparently, the
Germans had concentrated their nre
on this section and seldom altered the
range.
The principal damage, however, was
the result of fires, the origin OF some
of which is doubtful. Numerous nres
broke out after the Germans entered
and it was difficult to control the
flames, as the water supply was inter
rupted, owing to the destruction OF
the pipe lines from the reservoirs
near Fort Waelhem through an ex-
plosion.
Germans Fight City's Fires.
The Germans fought the fires with
energy and courage. They formed
bucket brigades to bring water from
all available sources. They also aid
ed the inhabitants to save their goods
and chattels. When these were piled
in the streets they placed guards over
them and mounted patrols were scat
tered throughout the city to protect
property. or course, the people gen.
orally had fed, but adventurous and
dangerous characters remained and
prowled through the streets after
nightfall. | saw no looting by Ger
mans in Antwerp.
Some of the people died of fright
during the bombardment and others
lost their reason. Few families passed
through the ordeal without one or
more of their members suffering men.
tai disturbance. Probably, on the
whole, the psychological ravSge was
greater calamity than the material
ravage. Persons on every hand still
are so upset and so strangely changed
that they seem like different individ-
uals. Watching men and women at
dinner or luncheon, the observer no
tees how their hands tremble as they
lift the food from the plates to their
mouths.
Tells of Night of Terror.
The first night of the bombardment
produced narrowing scenes. Women
and children, rudely awakened in
the middle of the night, left home half
clad and rushed along the pitch dark
streets, panic stricken by the con-
tinual bursting of shells above and
around them. Before long the sky
was red with the reflection of burning
buildings.
was told by eyewitnesses that the
spectacle then revealed in the streets
was like an awful nightmare. Con-
fused masses of terror mad people
rushed this way and that. Old men
and women were carried out o. the
houses and the sick were brought out
into the streets and borne aloug in
the arms of the well. Mothers were
seen hurrying on and distractedly
calling for their children.
1t is alleged that there was a head
long race for the city gates, which
were found securely locked. Those in
authority had escaped before the
Smelling began. No police could be
seen and every soldier was at the
front. Nobody appeared and there
was no natural leader to effect a sem
blance of order. The confusion and
despair reigned undated until dawn,
whom tho crowds escanad
Wish Refugees to Return.
The riverside is eloquent of the
destruction of war; The floating
bridge was blown up by the retreat
ing Belgians and the wrecks of the
boats that supported the bridge can
still be seen half submerged. The
German steamers held as prizes were
rendered useless by damage to the
engines. Detachments of soldiers
were busy at the docks loading confis.
Gated goods and an unbroken stream OF
wagons moved toward Brussels carry
ing merchandise, ammunition and
food. with all of which Antwerp was
stocked to overfowing.
The German government is making
extraordinary efforts to induce refu-
gees TO return to their homes. Bills
have been posted guaranteeing public
safety and some of these bills have
been sent to Holland for distribution.
The fugitives are returning in increas-
ing numbers, though the town is still
dead.
1t should be remembered that the
bulk of the population escaped before
the bombardment began and the ter.
rors described happened TO those who
remained in their homes in spite of
the warnings of the authorities. They
had no idea of what bombardment
would be like and no notion OF the
terrifying and disastrous effects of the
German shells.
Ali the stores are selling food
straas. They were ordered 10 be