IN BELGIUM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 203, 12 August 1914, Page 5

IN BELGIUM.

THE PRINCESS WHO KNEW.

(Received 12. 9.10 a.m.) Brussels. Aug. 11

A German Princess living in a castle in Belegium cleared it of its valuable contents six weeks ago and sent them to Germany.

WHEN WILL THE BRITISH COME .' Brussels. Aug. 11 (morning). In Liege the question in every mouth is , “When will the English comes” Mothers console their children with “The English will soon be here.” Improvised hospitals are everywhere. Many houses bear the signs “Fifteen beds ready” or “Ten beds for the wounded here.” GERMAN PRINCES KILLED. It is officially announced that 8000 German prisoners have been captured. Prince William of Lippe and his sen were killed during the assault on Liege. KING GEORGE’S TRIBUTE. (Received 12, 9.10 a.m.) Brussels, Aug. 11, King George telegraphed to the King of Belgium paying tribute to the gallant Belgian army. SPIES IN BRUSSELS. (Received 12, 9.10 n.m.) Brussels, Aug. 11. An organised system of German espionage exists in which business men of high standing are involved. Two thousand spies have, been arrested. THE LIEGE FORTS. BLOCK THE GERMAN ADVANCE WILL THEY WITHSTAND SIEGE /Guns? Friday’s cablegrams reported the crossing- of the river Meuse at Vise by a large German force under the command of the Crown Prince. The object of the flanking movement was to assist in the general attack on Liege, which is encircled by the Belgian forts that have so effectively blocked the German advance. Liege is suriounded by a great ring of forts, twelve in number. A cable from London to day states that ex perts consider the forts are unlikely to withstand the siege guns, which the Germans are reported to have taken across the river Meuse.

The Liege forts on the right bank of the Meuse are :—Barchon, Eveg nee. Fleron, Chandfontaine, Embourg, and Boncelies. The average distance between these forts is four miles and the most remote from the centre is six miles away. On the left bank the forts are:—Pontesse. Liers, Lantin, Loucin, Hollogne, and Flemalle. These forts were design ed by General Biralmont, and are the same as those designed for the defence of Bucharest, whicih. next to Paris, is the most strongly fortified capital in Europe. All the guns are raised and lowered automatically and they are so powerful that they command the main line of the G.erman advance eighteen miles away. It was estimated that a garrison of at least 25,000 is required to defend Liege. The Belgians had six thousand men throwing up earthworks between the forts. Steam trams connect several of the forts and t*hr others are connected by good road? which permit of rapid transit of forces to any point 111)01*0 the attack may be pressed home.