The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-10
Old Courtrai, Scene
 of "Battle of Spurs, ''
 Again Swept By War

The quaint old town of Courtrai. in Belgium near the French border. north of Lille, is again being swept by the desolation of war. For many weary, tragic months the ancient city, the scene of the famous Battle of the Spurs in the fourteenth century, has been in the very center of the war area, and many of it's ancient land marks have been obliterated by the invading armies. In the Belgian army the sons of Courtrai, inspired by the glorious traditions of their ancestors, have played a gallant role.
 It was SIS years ago today that CourtEai was besieged by an invading army, and on the following day, July Il, 1902. the sturdy F'lemings, by their great victory over a superior force, heroes of war. Relics of that victory are still preserved in the Courtrai cathedral chief among them being many gilt spurs taken from the bodies of the dead. which gave to the battle or Courtrai the name of 'the Battle of the Spurs
 Flanders became part of the king dom of France in the ninth century, and was governed by counts subject to the French monarch. As the Elem ings advanced in wealth and popula- ton, their position of dependence be- came increasingly hateful, and as the thirteenth century closed they were in open revolt against their masters. Early in 1902 the insurgents gained possession of the city of Bruges, and the French residents, then hated as bitterly as Germans are now, were put to the sword. In the massacre called the Bruges Maths more than 5000 Frenchnnen were slain and the streets of the city ran red with the blood of the victims of the enraged Flemings.
 When the news reached Paris an army was 1SnmediateIy dispatched to put down the insurrectjon. Robert. Count of Artois, who had defeated the F1enings a. few years before, led the army, assisted by Guy de Dampiere and Raou1 de Nesle.
 s It was an imposing and portentious spectacle which greeted the people of Courtrai as the French force drew up before the place. There were 5000 knights. all men of aristecratic birth. all clad in magnificent knight1y mail. and mounted upon blooded horses. There were 10000 archers, trained in all the arts of war as practiced at that time, and back of them. file file, no less than 30.000 foot soldiers.
 Against this array of French chivalry and gallantry the F1emings could oppose only 10000 men. for the most part untrained and armed only with kikes, rude agricultural instru- nents- Determined to defend Courtrai to their last gasp, the F1emings took up a position on the plains before the town, with a canal in front A quar- rel between two French officers re- suited in a premature and blind charge on the part Of the French horsemen. They did not see the canal until. they were almost upon it and. pushed from behind, nearly the whole force of horsemen plunged into its waters. In the wild confusion which followed the F1enings attacked the struggling men. and killed them with out mercy Robert. Count of Artois. was among the slain. The fate of their comrades turned the blood of the survivors to water, and they with drew, leaving the F'Iemings in full possession of the field.
 After that France gained several victories, but eventually gave up the struggle. and Flanders was subjected successtveIy to Bergundy, Austria. Spain, the German empire and The Netherlands.