BELGIANS FIGHT TILL OVERCOME BY FATIGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 7

BELGIANS FIGHT TILL OVERCOME BY FATIGUE.

PUNISHING NATURE OF ARTILLERY FIRE.

Brussels, August 9.

Officers wounded at Liege state that the Belgian artillery was remarkably effective, and created indescribable panic. They observed indecision among German artillery men before taking positions, and whenever a projectile burst among them they retired.

Though the Belgians displayed heroic courage, they were too fatigued to withstand the impetuous onset of the overpowering German

numbers.

Many Belgian reservists had been working in the tronches for two days and a-half. The defenders sustained serious losses.

The Brussels Gazette states that Germany has sent an urgent telegram threatening vigorous reprisals in the future.

Civilians around Liege arc alleged to have fired upon tho German troops, and also on the patrols opposite Metz.

Germany announces that if a sharp-shooting war is made on the troops she will inexorably punish the offenders.

French troops crossing the Belgian frontier were welcomed with extraordinary enthusiasm.

French and ; Belgian soldiers and non-commissioned officers embraced and kissed each other, while tho Belgians sang "The Marseillaise."

M. Lciman, builder of the Liege forts, is Professor of Mathematics at the Belgian Military Academy. He is 62 years of age, and is of

untiring energy. This was his first work as a practical soldier.

It is denied that civilians fired on Germans. The report is spread to justify reprisals.

The morale of tho Seventh and Tenth German Army Corps was seriously shaken by a withering Belgian fire which mowed them down like corn.

Many German shells burst in the streets of Liege, setting fire to buildings. A number of guns were captured.

When the shells fell in Liege a thousand of the inhabitants became panic-stricken, and fled to Brussels and Tongres. The rest took refuge in their cellars.

The burgomaster desired to surrender the town, but General Leigan refused.

The Belgian Legation states that a cavalry division rapidly advanced to the west of the Germans across the River Meuse and hemmed them in between the forts and the cavalry. '