The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-05-06
CHURCH TOWERS
FOR USE IN WAR
Books PuTporting to Be British
Secret Instructions Found
by Germans.
ALL BELGIUM is COVERED
Journal Cathedral and Other Edlflces
Noted-"Field Of Vision and Fire"
From Top Giver--Routes Care.
fully Indicated.
BY OSWALD r. scHUETTE.

Correspondent Chicago Daily NewsD
Berlin, Germany.-Fifty-siX churches
In Belgium were officially designated
as military observation points" by the
British war Office in printed instruc-
tons for officers that have fallen into
the hands OF the German army.
The designations are contained in
for Belgium" issued in four paper
bound volumes of 100 to 200 pages
each. ! have seen the volumes at the
general staff and have made my notes
direct from them. They are marked
Secret and Confidential with this
specific warning printed across the
title page;
Confidential. This book Is the prop
erty of II. b, NJ. government and is
intended for the personal information
of --. who Is personally responsible
for its safe custody. The contents are
to be disclosed only to authorized per.
sons"
Reconnaissance Cover Four Years.
The imprint bears the date 1914
and the contents declare them the re.
suit of 1913. They contain interesting
and exhaustive details Of the roads and
rivers of Belgium. with full tables OF
the number of houses in each village
and the number of troops that can be
quartered among the inhabitants, in
Guiding information concerning shell
ter for horses and water supplies.
The tactical and strategical possibili.
ties are treated to the last detail.
On each route the observation
points are particularly emphasized,
and 1t Is here that the Belgian
churches suddenly receive significant
military importance. More than half
the observation points recorded are
churches.
View From Journal Cathedral.
For instance. we find special atten.
ton to the cathedral towers OF Journal.
with the remark that It's four spires
afford extensive view OF country in
all directions" These spires are 2GO
feet high and the cathedral IL one
OF the finest In Belgium 1t is almost
1000 years old, the nave having been
built In 1910.
This cathedral is noted as an obser.
walton point on several routes, but
appears first on the route from
Journal to Renaix. On the same route
Is found listed the famous little church
OF Ste. Trieste. which crowns the hill.
Mont st, Aubert north Of Journal.
From the emphasis laid on this latter
church 1t seems to be prize from a
military observers point OF view. At
its first mention. the record says:
Mont st. ALBERT church. three
miles north OF Journal: good signal
station In fine weather for cotnmuni
cation with Journal. Celles, Ayel
Chem, Audenarde, Roubaix, Lille
Leuze and other places"
1t is interesting to find French Glitter
In this list
Wide Field OF Vision and Fire"
III detailing the route from Pecq e
Ayelghem the report says Of this sam,
church:
Mont St ALBERT. From the blacl
and white colored church este. Tri
esteD at western summit Of ridge (45O
feet high field OF vision and FIRE ok
tends In all directions for many miles
The details OF this route also Civ,
as Observation points" the cathedra
at Journal and the church at Mont d,
lEnclus as good signal stations al
right bank OF Scheldt, all giving range
OF several miles"
The churches are listed under IN,
caption Of observation points" I'm tn
detailed information for each arm
route contained in the war oflic
booklets. Here are some OF the othe
excerpts:
Route from Zecbrugge to Brussels
BY way OF Bruges and Client Lesst
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