Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-30
|ALL ALLIES PROH|T|NC
BY BELGIAN INGENUITY
Great War Industry Has Been Built
Up Back Of Lines on the
User Front.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

HIND THE ALLIES FRONT, May -
Here. where the Belgian army is making
its own cannon. its own rifles, its own
shells, its own transport wagons, its own
saddles and harness. one can appreciate
how other outstanding features Of the war
have unduly obscured the Belgian military
effort since the battles Of 1914.
The Belgian army had six divisions Of
infantry and two divisions Of cavalry left
to hold lien of approximately eighteen
miles or just about four men to the yard
OF front; front where particular vigil
ance is required because Of the German
tactics of constant trial attacks. No part
of the allies line is more closely watched
and explored by the enemy's patrols. A
weak spot anywhere would provoke an
immediate offensive
The Belgian army has had to work in
cessantly to keep up its breaetworks and
at the same time put up an unremitting
defense. The solidity of that defense, It
may not be sufficiently remembered, IL an
important factor in giving to the British
and French armies liberty Of movement
IN operating on other parts Of the line
Her Industries Wiped Out.
Belgium lost all her manufacturing
establishments and all her resources in
raw materials in the defeat Of the allies
at Charleroi and in the retreat from Ant
Werp, yet Monsieur de Broqueville, min
lister OF war, with Belgian ingenuity, skill
and perseverance, has built up on the
hospitable soil of France artillery and
munitions establishments that not only
shot to the Germans on the User front.
but also contribute to the armament and
supplies Of the allied armies
It was to the United States that Mon
after the termination of the heroic de-
tense OF the Belgian soil on the User, for
the reconstruction Of Belgian Industry.
Specialists were sent to purchase Amsri-
Cphf vno g.
Of everything the army needed. and when
the machines arrived mechanics released
from military service were ready to oper-
ate them. Fourteen thousand worknen
ments
The invasion found the Belgian army
IN the midst of an entire reorganization
OF its artillery. Siege cannon ordered
not been furnished. Millions Of cartridees
ordered from the same source also had
been held up. 1t was with disorganized
armament and insufficient material that
the Belg1ans held the Germans before
Liege: Before Antwerp, in the retreat to
tIanders and in the defense Of the User
1T may be said that the remaining debris
or the armament and munitions was ex-
h fI The worn-out field guns, brought
back in the retreat to the User, were
partly replaced by French three-inchers,
but at that time all the allies were short
or their requirements in armament and
munitions.
Aiding All Its Allies.
Inc Belgian government began in exile
TO- work out its great problem of war sup
pies. Today 1T furnishes saddles and har-
ness to the British army and other SUD-
plies to all its allies. including Russia,
besides keeping up the equipment Of its
new army.
The Belgian army is new in nearly
every feature. OF the 1900 men in the
held and $4,000 men who garrisoned the
forts, $4,000 fell into the hands Of the
Germans at Liege, Namur and in the
retreat; 10000 more took refuge in Hol-
land and were interned; $4,000 were lost
on the User in addition to more than
10000 killed and wounded in the battles
of Liege. Haelen, st. Trond. The reor-
ganization was difficult. Unable to call
a session of Parliament to revise re-
cruiting laws to accord with the new
situation, the government could only
appeal to the patriotism of refugees in
England and France. The response was
such as to reconstitute an army of six
divisions of infantry and two divisions
OF cavalry, while 1900 men were de-
tached for the manufacture Of NUM-
lions in France and 500 sent to Russia
Tor the same purpose. About 10000
more men were raised by decree calling
up all Be1gians eligible for service be.
tween eighteen and forty years of age.
A regiment of auto cannon recruited
among the Belgian refugees and trained
IN Parls was sent to the Russian front.
where 1t played an important part in
Brussiloffs offensive in Galicia and Vol
hynla IN the spring OF 1916.