New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-19
TILE EIPST CAMPAIGN OF BEL GUMS HEROIC ARMY
Wilkinson, One of the Foremost Of

disembarked in Belgium. The retreat Of "a.
field army from Antwerp began on the even.
ing Of the 9Th; il was covered by the Bal.
gian rear-guard and by the British ard
French forces detached for the purpose "a
Client.
On October Is the army reached the linz
Of the User from the sea to Zuydsehoo,e
its right flank being in touch with British
troops, which filled the interval between /,
and the French. The Belgian army was nov
reduced 10 $4,000 men, with only 4sOO0
rifles. It's mission was % cover the le,,
flank Of the Allied armies, which had M.
yet strongly occupied the region between
Arras and Ypres, and 10 prevent the Ger
mans from making their way toward Dun
kirk and Calais. Not much time was given
for preparation. The German attack began
on October - and was carried on with grea,
determination and in great force until the
oath. The Belgian troops fought with the
utmost bravery and tenacity. The German,
were able to push back the Belgians across
the User between Nieuport and Dixmude
and in places 20 advance as far as the rail
way between those two towns.
On the gath French rcinforcements cams
up. and next day preparations were begun
TO open the sluces at Nieuport. On the
18th the water began 20 pour over the eoun.
try between the railway and the User. and
10 drive out the Germans. By October 40
this great battle had ended in the failure
Of the German attack. carried out by seven
German divisions. The casualties in the
Belgian army are estimated at $4,000. Since
the end of October the Belgian army has
held its position against every assault. and
has strengthened it by the re-occupation OF
points on the right bank Of the User.
A Summary.
II seems 20 me that the generalship which
conducted the campaign here, briefly sum.
married. is conspicuous for judgment cour.
age and coolness. The problems to be solved
were among the most difficult which wa:
ilresents The action Of the Belgian army
resembled on a large scale that Of rear.
guard which has to delay the enemy az long
as possible, and yet 20 avoid being on.
though of course it could not be the sion
of the Belgian army 10 sacrifice Itself in
order to delay the enemy The German at
tack was delivered with unprecedented sud
denness, and the destructive power Of the
new heavy artillery was surprise not 70
the Begians only, but to all the allied
armies. Accordingly, the rapid fall both n
/ Iiece and of Namur upset the calculations
not of the Belgians alone. Yet the dsposi-
tions show no sign Of confusion. The posi-
ton on the Gette was admirably chosen TO
meet an attack from the Meuse. II was held
to the last moment when an orderly retreat
was possible in presence Of the enormous
forces grouped about it. The presence o.
the Belgian army at Antwerp had all TIE
effect that could be hoped for in such cir
cumstances on the German operations. The
retreat from Antwerp was well timed and
we'll executed. The future historian will no
doubt ask questions which cannot now be
Observation-Disclosures it was not possible to
anticipate the employment by the Germans
of guns of great calibre, and whether it was
impractcable for the Allies TO have sup
ported the Belgian army on the Gette For
The present the Allies have TO congratulate
themselves that they still nave on their side
the Belgian army, tried and seasoned, and
that they can rely for the future upon the
cooperation of the modest, brave and wise
commander in chief 20 whom its effective &c.
ton and its preservation are due.