DEFENCE OF LIEGE FORTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 11 August 1914, Page 8

DEFENCE OF LIEGE FORTS.

BELGIAN BRAIN AND BRAWN

WT CA3LB-PRr,SS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT, (Ivecciv^d \xi<* "H. 19.50 p.m.) BRUSSELS, Aug. 10. At Liege the Belgians charged repeatedly. They "saw red" and nothing seemed to stop them. Every timo they charged the Germans turned and Tjm, and were struck in the back and killed like cattle. Then the cavalry charged them. Another account states that the Germans gained a footing on the glacis under the great guns and believed themselves safe, utterly forgetful of the machine guns. In a moment the glacis was swept clear and it ran with j blood. The Belgians in the tranches, unsatisfied with firing their rifles at fifty yards, demanded bayonet charges. At the sight of the steel many Prussians ran ,and others held up their hands and surrendered. Others were courageous enough, but were beaten by bad leadership. The attack proved that ! the days of the automatic machine ! army have gone. The attack continued j unabated throughout Thursday. i Thousands of broken bodies were massed in the fields, which were ploughed up by terrific cannonades. A Zeppelin and an aeroplane assisted in the attack, and it is reported that a Belgian airman lost his life in destroying a Zeppelin airship with an aeroplane. Shots destroyed several aeroplanes. Torrential rains on Thursday night added to the suffering of the wounded. The bombardment of the forts lasted 4$ hours without relaxation. The 13.15 centimetre cannon and 15 centimetre mortars prod v red no effect on the cupolas, and the Germans are now j awaiting mortars of the 28 type. Even If the cunolas are out of action the excellent disposition of the fosses and counter scarps will enable the forts to continue their resistance. M. Leiman (the engineer responsible for defensive measures) prepared a field with mines to the north of Liege and sent a detachment to the north of the field. The Germans immediately fell :nto the trap and attempted to cut off tho small fo?;ce. The current was switched on and the whole German force destroyed. The death or capture of two Uhlan patrols was due to M. Lieman's ruse in making the Uhlans believe they would capture him. The Germans on Thursday evening found the spaces between the forts open and entered in email parties, including General yon Emmich and his staff. At the citadel Yon Emmich informed the Governor and the Burgomaster that unless the town's forts surrendered the Germans would bombard and raze the town completely. On the orders of the Belgian Government the Governor left the town. On Friday night seventeen notables, headed by the Bishop and several Deputies and Senators, begged Yon Emmich not to bombard the town. The whole deputation was detained as "hostages. The Germans admit two panics at laege, where German soldiers fired on their comrades by mistake.