The Western outlook., 1915-10-30

midst of ringed target The
successive and extending arcs OF mod
ern and obsolete fortresses CAN'T
werp is not completely encircled)
have almost traced the history of de-
fensive warfare The Antwerp forts
have gradually been pushed outward
from the site of the ancient city
stormed by the Mortimer in the ninth
century to the outer line OF Lierre, De
Kessel, De Ertbrand and many others,
held to be impregnable until the au-
tumn of 1914. This line Of forts, with
the military dikes upon the languid
River Scheldt, has guarded for some
years the most important arsenal of
Belgium, as well as what was consid-
cred the chief city of refuge for the
Belgian army.
But Antwerp is far more than a
strategic point. The pistol aimed at
England" Is not a weapon alone. Ant
werp at the outbreak Of the war was
one of the most important seaports
In Europe. 1t formed one of the chief
outlets for German and Belgian COM
merce. Not only is 1t close enough to
the British Isles for its possession by
an enemy to menace England, but its
vast docks, begun by Napoleon, who
devoted 100000 francs to the pur-
pose, have an area Of more than six
hundred acres, and In all of their IA
cilities are the most modern in the
world. The shipping Of this city,
counting export and import bottoms
separately, has exceeded 100000
tons a year, while Antwerp's annual
imports have run In excess of $780,
100000.
The city has been the home of dia-
mond cutters and lace makers, of gold
and silver merchants, OF cigarmakers
and carpet manufacturers-whose
goods showed so fine a quality that
for centuries they were shipped to
Persia, the home of rug weaving, as
well as to Arabia and India-of COM
mercial magnates and ship owners
whose wealth at one time was by
word in all of the civilized world, and
of various guilds and trades that are
no longer in existence. Above all, it
has been the home of artists, and
many of the works of the old masters
have been treasured in the Royal mu-
scum. Van Dyck, Jordaens, Rubens,
Quentin Matsys, the Teniers, father
and son, Cornelius de Vos and Seghers
are among the many names of artists
on the roll Of Antwerp's residents.
Cathedral and lie Pictures.
The city of Antwerp Is one of the
most interesting not only in Belgium
but In the entire world. 1t has been
reduced by fire and sword on many oc-
casions, but in spite of its various ca
lamities there have been preserved a
number Of priceless old buildings. The
cathedral of Notre Dame is one of the
finest examples of Gothic architec-
ture In the Netherlands. Through all
the violent scenes that have taken
place about its walls 1t has been
spared by the various armies that
have desolated the city. The one ex-
ception to its immunity came in the
violent revolution against the Roman
Catholic faith in the sixteenth century.
Then, according to Motley, every
statue was hurled from its niche, every
picture torn from the wall, every won
derfully painted window shivered to
atoms, every ancient monument shat
tered, every sculptural decoration,
however innocent in appearance.
hurled to the ground"
\ Nearly three hundred years were re-
CURED for the building Of this great
monument. Within 1t there have been
on view number of beautiful pic
lures, Of which the most famous is
Rubens' Descent From the Cross. .
"The Elevation of the Cross" and THE
Assumption" also by Rubens, were