PANIC AT OSTEND.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 19 October 1914, Page 5

PANIC AT OSTEND.

A DESPERATE ADVENTURE

GERMAN INVASION OF ENGLAND

SCHEME

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE

TROOPS

HORSES RIDDEN TO DEATH

LONDON, Oct. IS. . Riotous scenes were witnessed at Ostend when the steamers were taking off the refugees flocking the wharves. Three British.^soldiers took charge of gangways and insisted on women and children being first. Nevertheless, in the swaying" and crushing many were maimed. A wail was raised when it was. announced that no more vessels were available. Thousands remained. A panic occurred, when it was report-' ed that the Germans had occupied Bruges and were marching on Ostend. Women fainted and children shrieked, whilst men ran. about demented. A Taube monoplane increased the terror, dropping bombs near the refugees. The panic abated upon the arrival of additional steamers. The Times' naval correspondent describes any German invasion scheme as a desperate adventure. The obstacles thereto ar-e overwhelming. The Princess Mary's appeal for Christmas gifts for the troops says that on Christmas Eve, when, like the shepherds of old, they keep their watch, doubtless their thoughts will turn to home and their loved ones. Perhaps they will recall the days of their child- j hood, when they hung out their stock- \ ings, wondering what the morrow had '< in store for them. " ! ■ ■ ■ - -.....- ■...-..■ . i The King of the Belgians' stud aid royal carriages liave arrived at South- j ampton. . | The Times, in a leader, describes the Canadian contingent as of fine material that any soldier in the .world could wish to lead. Mostly the men are.,of superior intelligence and education. A correspondent estimates that every Uhlan and' French cavalryman has ridden through three horses since the war commenced. The Germans stripped the country of useful chargers. They lost hundreds from glanders and other diseases, caused by feeding them on beetroot and green corn. Many dead horses are to be seen along the roads. The French animals are always distinguishable because their ribs are countable through being unfed. Literally the horses had been ridden to death.