Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-27
THE THIRD BELGIAN
CAPITAL DESERTED
Half the Town Destroyed by
Fierce German Bombardment
Long Range British Guns
VIII Endeavor to Put German
Batteries Out of Commission.
(Associated Press Correspondence. }


London, Feb. 1o-Furnes, the third
capital on Belgian soil since the war be-
gan, has been deserted on account Of the
latest German bombardment which de-
stroyed half of the town. The Belgian
general headquarters located there for
several months has become the most mo-
bile part Of the army, and King Albert
with his staff officers hardly know when
they arise in the morning where they
are going to sleep that night.
Several weeks ago when an Associat-
ed Press correspondent visited Furnes
several shells fell in the town and one
exploded over the railroad station.
The correspondent was informed that
the attacks came from heavy guns
mounted on armored trains or motor cars
which were brought as close as possible.
and then taken away before they could
be located by the Allies artillery, but
the severity of the recent bombardment
caused grave doubts of the correctness of
this theory, and information brought to
London by q Belgian workman who es-
capped from the German lines. has com
pleteIy disproved 1t.
On his arrival here the workman
looked up his former employer,
wealthy Flemish contractor and fur
nished him with drawings giving the To-
cation of a battery of German guns, SO
heavy that they have been able TO hurl
shells over q distance of nine miles into
Furnes. This Information was trans
raitted TO the British War Office and
immediate steps have been taken to de-
stroy this battery before its big guns
make the last habitable portion Of Bel
GUM untenable. 1t is not believed that
the guns Of the Allies located along the
User can reach the hidden battery, but
it is possible that it is near enough the
seacoast for the long range British naval
guns to put it out of action.
Furnes is a delightful old Flemish town
with a town hall and some churches of
great antiquity and beauty. In the pic
turesque square few months ago King
Albert, King George and President Pom
care met and reviewed the allied troops.
King Albert and his staff made the town
hall their headquarters and, in spite Of
an occasional German shell from a u1ys-
FERROUS source and bombs dropped now
and then by marauding Taubes, remained
there until last week when a heavy and
continuous bombardment destroyed half
the town, killing a number Of soldiers
and civilians, and compelling the inhabi-
tants to fee. Fortunately the town hall
did not suffer from the shells and the an
cient buildings clustered about the square
were not greatly damaged, the residential
part of the town, through which the
railroad and military highway pass. evil
IDENTIFY having been the target of the
German gunners.
The persistent efforts Of the German
artillery to locate the headquarters of the
Belgian king have always failed, but the
recent escape of the ruler was 50 close
that his officers will no longer permits
him to rely upon the charmed life which
he seems to bear, and they are taking
the most extraordinary precautions TO
keep his Whereabouts a secret from the
enemy. All passes have been cancelled
and it is almost impossible for anyone
not connected with the army to get win
in sound of the firing.