ANTWERP PREPARES FOR SIEGE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2236, 24 August 1914, Page 5

ANTWERP PREPARES FOR SIEGE

: , COUNTRY FLOODED PORT PRACTICALLY IRREDUCIBLE „ L . ~ , . , Amsterdam, August 22. Extensive preparations are being made to defend Antwerp. The woods have been cut down and villages destroyed so as to deprive the Germans of cover. Earthworks _ have • been thrown up in-all directions. Part of the country outside the fortifications has been flooded. Dover and Ostend steamers are lying in the River Scheldt in readiness ta remove the Queen and the Royal Family.

, ~ . . London, August 22. Critics poiht out that the Belgians at Antwerp are admirably placed to fall upon tfie German columns pushing westward if'thej suffer a check at the handa 'of the British and French. Antwerp has supplies for a year, and a* communications by sea aro assured, the- city is practically irreducible. Tho Belgian army menacing the German right wing compels tho German/ to maintain important forces in the neighbourhood of Antwerp. The "Daily Telegraph" points out that tho broad plains north of tho Mense, with the innumerable roads converging on Brussels, ,iro ideal country for the deployment of large forces. Apparently the Germans havo not abandoned tho attempt to turn the Allies' left wing by an advance- en masse along the left bank of the Mouse. , \\ noteworthy feature is the absence of information relative to the operations in the Luxemburg district. Gheni telegrams state that King Albert of Belgium and his GencrSl Staff are now at Malines, fourteen miles B.S.E. of Antwerp. Tho army is occupying a. lino frdm Antwerp to Malines: The Belgian arniy has only been reorganised a. year, end ie , without. adequate M.v»]r",v to cope with t.he'Uljlans". The Germ&n emu ''"tranced tho Belgian, especially the hearx bovritzm. WJun

the order to retreat was issued, the Belgians'dynamited many houses in Louvain in order to impede tlio enemy. ■' Brussels, August 21 Antwerp is apparently the next goal of the Germans upon which they aro steadily moving. . ■ Tlio correspondent of tlio "Times" (records tho Independent Cahlo Service) reports that preparations for tlio defenco of the city extend over an enormous nroa, and that all classes arc working day and night to complete the defences and provision the city for a siege. According to the Independent Cablo Service, the "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Antwerp reports that ho lias been informed by the Staff Office thai) all war correspondents found in Belgium after Thursday night will bo shot. (Rec. August 23, 5.5 p.m.) LUHtlon, August 22. A large Belgian army is being reorganised at Antwerp. 'Ihe outer works at Antwerp were recently reconstructed. Numbers of cattle are being driven in from the country and are being herded in the parks.