Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-27

that they had refused to charge them.
selves with this mission, but that the
German commander had told them
they would be held responsible for
all consequences arising from their
refusal. w.,
Colonel Sorela was therefore asked
to charge himself with the mission,
and he accepted it.
In a quarter of an hour he was
ready for the trip from Brussels to
Antwerp. A letter of introduction
which had been given him by the
mayors office Of Brussels, presented
General Sore,a as the envoy of the
American and Spanish legations and
had been addressed to the military
and civil authorities of Antwerp. It
included documents in which the Ger
mar military authorities had engag-
ed. themselves to spare a number Of
historic edifices in the city of Ant
werp in case the bombardment should
become necessary.
Agrees to Silence.
A little while afterwards Baron de
Lancken, plenipotentiary of the Ger
man emperor and counsel to Field
marshal Won der Goldtz, appeared at
the legation to conduct Colonel Sor.
Ella out of the German lines. He left
to Colonel Sorela the choice of either
being taken through the German
lines b%lindfolded or else engage his
word of honor to say nothing of what
he might see within the German mill
tary zone. Colonel Sorela gave his
word of honor, and then demanded at
what hour the bombardment was to
begin. 1t was not possible then to
name the exact time, but Baron de
LanckeA told the colonel it was un-
likely that it would commence before
nightfall.
Within an hour the two automobiles
left Brussels. The first one, flying
the colors of the United States and
Spain, carried Colonel Sorela and
Baron de Lancken. In the second
machine travelled three attaches of
the staff of Fieldmarshal Won der
Goltz. After a short delay at Malines
the automobiles continued on their
way, reaching the German outpost
line within four hours.
From that point the Spanish at
tache continued alone. Colonel Sorela
had taken the precaution
to place between the Spanish and
American flags a white flag, which
he had thought to take with him.
The distance between the Belgian
and German ines WIS about twelve
kilometers. The automobile was fir
ed on several times en- route. But he
arrived safely at the Belgian lines
where he was received by General de
Guise, commander of Antwerp, in the
presence of several officers.
Ready for Battle.
II apologized for being the carrier
of news of this sort" said Colonel
Sorela, "and then presented the pa
lpers j had with me. The general
seemed to be in a state of high exalt-
alton and told me that he would fight
to the death, adding several times
that the Germans could commence the
bambardment Immediately. The gen.
eral extended his hand and assured
me of his personal regard. .
Il went to the Spanish and Ameri-
can consulates. Meanwhile l remain
ed impressed with the fact that dur
ing my entire trip l had seen nothing
outside of troops, but an old peasant,
and a milk woman with a little cart.
All the refugees from the villages
neighboring on Antwerp were now in
the city ITSELF"
At even O'Clock in the evening,
Colonel Sorela decided to leave Ant
werp, and after a number of stops ar
rived at the outposts, at a point
where the English troops had Joined
the Belgians. r.
A battle had started about half an
hour before that. Forts No. d and 5,
of the inner fertilization, line of Ant
werp were concentrating their fire up
on the woods of Contich. The Ger
man artillery was silent. The situa-
ton became so serious that the chauf.
feur after having gone about 100
yards across the open ground between
the two armies decided to stop. The
two abandoned the automobile and re-
turned to the Belgian position, where
they remained until II o'clock that
evening. 1t was impossible for Col
onel Sorela to leave the Anglo.Gel.
gian line until then.
The Battle Continues.
Meanwhile the battle continued.
Colonel Sorela decided however to go
on, and did SO under the fire of the
Belgian forts and the German artil.
lery, the latter having resumed act.
ivity. Nothing but the most extraordi.
nary good luck enabled the colonel