Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-25
ANTWERP STALL
|s'D[sCR|B[D BY
SPANISH OFFICER
Interesting Details Of Capitula-
ton Of Belgian City Are
Made Public by Military
Attache.


esting details OF the capitulation OF
Antwerp to the Germans on October
., and the preceding pourparliers APP
pear for the first time In the Echo
Beige, which is now published In this
city. Colonel Sorela. military attache
of the Spanish legation at Brussels
who acted as an intermediary between
the German commander and the mu-
nicipal authorities Of Antwerp, Is au-
thority for the account.
on October Z, about 10 o'clock in
the morning, Colonel sorela says he
was called to the American legation.
When he arrived there he found the
American minister and the Spanish
minister together They Informed
him that in accord with article 26
of The Hague convention, the German
commander had informed them that
the bombardment of Antwerp was Inn
minent. They had been told of this,
said the two ministers, because the
German commander had found it i'm.
possible TO get in touch with General
dc Guise, the commandant general OF
Antwerp. The American and Span
ish ministers declared that they had
refused to charge themselves with
this mission. but that the German
commander had told them that they
would be held responsible for all
consequences arising from their re-
fusal
Colonel Sorela was therefore asked
to charge himself with the mission,
and he accepted ii.
Taken Out Of Lines.
In q quarter OF an hour he was
ready for the trip from Brussels to
Antwerp A letter of introduction |
which had been given him bS the |
mayors office of BRUSSELS. presented |
Colonel Sorela as the envoy of the
American and Spanish legations and |
had been addressed to the military
and civil authorities of Antwerp. 1t |
included documents in which the /
German military authorities had en-
gagged themselves to spare a number |
of historic edifices in the city of Ant
werp in case the bombardment should
become necessary.
a little while afterwards Baron de
Lancken, plenipotentiary of the Ger
man emperor and counsel to Field /
Marshal Won der Goltz. appeared at
the legation to conduct Colonel So
rela out of the German lines. He left
to Colonel Sorela the choice Of either
being taken through the German /
lines blindfolded or else engage his
word of honor to say nothing of what
l.
tary zone. Colonel Sorela gave his
word of honor, and then demanded at
what hour the bombardment was to
gin. 1t was not possible then to
name the exact time. but Baron de
Lancken told the colonel II was I'M
likely that 1t would commence before
nightfall T4 1fs
Within an hour the two automo-
biles left Brussels. The first one,
flying the colors Of the United states
and Spain and Baron de Lancken 1
In the second travelled three attaches
of the staff of Field Marshal Won der
Goltz. After a short delay at Ma
lines the automobiles continued on
their way, reaching the German out
post line within four hours.
Auto Is Fired On. .@Ht
From that point the Spanish at
tache continued alone Colonel Soc
rela, meanwhile had taken the pre-
caution 70 place between the Spanish
and American flags white flag.
which he had thought best to takeI
with him s a+
The distance between the Belgian
and German lines was about twelve
kilometers. The automobile was fired
on several times EN- route. But he
arrived safely at the Belgian lines
where he was received by General de
Guise, commander at Antwerp, in the
presence of several officers.
II apologized for being the carrier
of news of this Sort said Colonel So
rela, land then presented the papers
| had with me. The general seemed \
to be in high state of exaltation and
told me that he would fight to the
death adding several times that the
Germans would commence the bonn
bardment Immediately. The general
extended lis hand and assured me Of
his personal regard.
- went To the SpdHiSH anu <NiiSiiF
can consuates. Meanwhile | re-
NAMED impressed with the fact that
during my entire trip ] had seen
nothing. outside Of troops, but an old
peasant and Il milkwoman with HIT
tie cart. All the refugees from the
villages neighboring on Antwerp were
now in the city ITSELF
Battle Begins.
At o'clock In the evening. Colonel /
Sorela decided to leave Antwerp, and
after number Of stops arrived ut the
outposts. at point where the English
troops had joined the Belgians.
A battle had started about half an
hour before that. Forts NO. and s,
Of the inner fertilization line Of Ant
werp were concentrating their fire
upon the woods of contlch. The Ger
man artillery was silent. The situaS
tion became so serious that ehauf-
feur after having gone about 100
yards across the open ground between
the two armies decided to stop The
two abandoned the automobile and
returned to Nthe Belgian position.
where they remained until IL o'clock
that. evening. 1t was impossible for
Colonel Soreh to leave the Ahglo-
Belgian line GntiI then.
MeanwhilcA the battle continued
Colonel Soraa decided, however, to
go on, and Hid so under the fire of
The Belgian forts and the German ar
tillery. the hitter having resumed ac-
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