FALL OF ANTWERP.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 14 October 1914, Page 5

FALL OF ANTWERP.

MUNICtPAL AUTHORITIES PLEAD FOR ABANDONMENT. TO PRESERVE ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTIES. STORIES OF HEROISM. A FRENCH REPORT. " SUBURBS ONLY OCCUPIED. MANY FORTS STILL RESISTING. LONDON, Oct. 13.

Mr Donohoe , in a message bo the Chronicle, says that while many of the military .authorities in Antwerp favored the continuation of resistance, others pointed out the possibility of a severe bombardment and the destruction of architectural beauties. The municipality pleaded the cause of the menace to the city, and questioned whether any good would come of prolonging the struggle. Their entreaties-carried the day.

During the fighting outside of Antwerp on Thursday a party of British with a machine-gun began to? play on a point where they knew Germans wore massed. Twenfcy-six British fell while serving the gun. Then the Germans appeared. The sergeant was the last man left. He sprang, to the gun and shot down 120 of the enemy before he himself was killed. ' '

The Berliner Tageblatt, referring Ijo the capture of Antwerp, says: ."We get nearer the British, and they themselves can imagine what tiiat- means for them."

Belgians who have arrived in England state that before leaving Antwerp they were careful to smash every/bottle of intoxicants, because the Germans drink and then commit excesses.

A correspondent at . Rotterdam declares that the last ten nights at Antwerp were the most terrible of the war. The siege of Liege was nothing by comparison. After entering the city, the Germans immediately attempted to bridge the Scheldt, expecting quickly to overtake the retiring troops.

Telegrams give details of the Antwerp disaster. Four officers at Fort St. Marie drew lots to „decide who should remain, and fight to the' death. The lot fell on a married man with a family. Another officer volunteered? to take his, place,; and the offer was reluctantly accepted. The three officers then farewelled their heroic comrade.

PARIS, Oct. 13

The Germans- only occupy- the suburbs of Antwerp.; Twenty-four forts on the Scheldt still resist energetically.