The Sun MONDAY, OCTOBER 12,1914. THE FALL OF ANTWERP.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 212, 12 October 1914, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, OCTOBER 12,1914. THE FALL OF ANTWERP.

The unexpected has happened Antwerp has succumbed to the Germans after a fierce bombardment of 48 hours' duration. The cable messages received on Saturday prepared in a way for this, but few anticipated that such a powerfully fortified city would fall in such a short space of time. When the probability of a siege of Antwerp; was raised, many of the experts (outside Germany, of course) scouted the idea as a sheer waste of time and men on what was practically an impregnable, position. Events have demonstrated very much to the contrary, and the success —-the : most striking the enemy has yet gained-—is a tribute to the monster ,Krupp siege guns and German gunnery in general. This war, so far as it has v gone, has established beyond dispute the superiority of the modern siege guns over modern fortifications. Liege awl Nanmr provided the initial ..demonstration of this fact. Once the Krupp giants were got into position, the forts were simply melted by the clouds of huge shells thrown a tremendous distance into the air and descending with annihilating force on the crowns of the fortifications. What occurred at Antwerp last week might easily have happened at Paris several weeks previously had not the British Expeditionary Force done such masterly work from Mons backwards. •Without detracting in any way from the exploits r of . the French troops, it must be obvious to those "who have followed closely the progress of events that had the French been left to their own resources the Germans would ere this have battered down the gates of Patis, even as they did at Antwerp. The capture; of Antwerp has given the Germans an impressive advantage in their western campaign, from whatever point of view it is regarded. Its occupation by the enemy is a distinct menace to' the Allies' operations in Belgium. As an offensive base looking in the direction of England, it is uncomfortably close, and it is' just possible that -the Admiralty will have to take steps to seal it up from the seaward side.