Preliminary Atrocities--Bravery of the Belgians--Battle of Haelen-Diest
At this stage of the fighting numerous circumstantial stories of German
atrocities began to filter through, though for various reasons large
portions of them were deleted by the Censors. They were generally
summed up in an official statement by the Belgian Government which is
quoted in a subsequent chapter. Dr. Dillon, telegraphing on August
11th, asserted that it was still impossible to throw any light
upon the military operations, which might culminate on Thursday or
Friday in a terrific collision between the forces of disruption and
those of civilisation. Never before, not even during the Japanese
campaign against Russia, had the movements of an army been shrouded
in such impenetrable mystery. Considering the number, audacity, and
ingenuity of the German agents still in Belgium, these precautions
were indispensable. Anyhow, the War Office, the only source of
intelligence, contented itself with a brief assurance that the news was
satisfactory, or that there was no news of importance to communicate.
Concrete facts were learnt mostly from Paris or Holland.
Another fact which was beginning to dawn upon the public was that
the heroic resistance of the Belgian army had been offered hitherto
to covering troops only, and that the enemy's losses did not exceed
5,000, although three German army corps had been thoroughly beaten.
It was believed in Brussels that the hostile main armies would be
ready any time after Wednesday night, August 12th. On the 11th several
detachments of German covering troops were sent forward to the Belgian
advanced posts as feelers. The Belgians when possible concealed
themselves in thickets or in fields, and captured a considerable number
of the invaders.
One Belgian lancer, named Bogaerts, deserves especial mention. His
habit was to sally forth alone, lance in poise, and dash forward
against the Uhlans, one of whom he generally killed or wounded,
whereupon the remainder gave themselves up. In this way he took
fourteen prisoners, wounded several Uhlans, and killed three, without
suffering the slightest injury.
Encounters became frequent in the district stretching from Liège to
Tongres, Hannut, and Tirlemont, whither two divisions succeeded in
penetrating on the 11th.
Already the airships of the different combatants were floating
gracefully into the visual range of the Brussels population, but at
such a height that one could only conjecture the nationality of each;
and the authorities warned the public neither to fear nor attack the
Uhlans.
Anxiety respecting Holland's neutrality was not yet wholly dispelled.
Nobody doubted the firm resolve of the Dutch Government to maintain
its right to hold aloof from the war, but certain misgivings were
entertained as to the adequacy of the troops stationed in the district
where the violation of territory by the Germans was most probable. Some
months previously Dutch Limburg, possessing only a few squadrons of
cavalry, was practically defenceless. Since then a number of infantry
battalions were stationed along the frontier from Maastricht to Venloo,
together with several companies of the local Landwehr. If, as many
military men believed, these troops were the only obstacle to a German
advance in Holland, they constituted an inducement rather than a
deterrent, it was thought.
German spies and secret agents were still numerous and audacious.
Ten days before the declaration of war all trees near the sources of
water in the forest of Soignes, outside Brussels, had notices posted
up in German, with the words, "Potable water." The Mayor of Brussels
had these placards removed, but they were afterwards found posted up
anew. On August 12th when a representative of _The Daily Telegraph_ was
leaving the American Legation, he saw two municipal guards arresting a
lady, whom they politely conducted to the police-station. His chauffeur
cried, "That's no lady. He is a German spy." A couple of men hearing
this rushed up and attempted to maltreat the prisoner, but the guards
protected their charge effectually. At the station the prisoner, who
looked quite collected, was found to be a male German agent possessed
of apparatus for cutting telegraph wires and also of compromising
documents. Belgian treatment of Germans, said the correspondent,
whether civilians or prisoners, erred on side of humanitarianism if it
erred at all.
On the night of August 12th the Press Bureau stated:
Of the twenty-six German army corps the bulk have now been definitely
located, and it is evident that the mass of the German troops are
concentrated between Liège and Luxemburg.
The number known to be on the Western side proves that in the Eastern
theatre of war the frontier, as far as Germany is concerned, is
comparatively lightly guarded, unless by reserve troops.
At this time, beyond some unimportant outpost fighting near Liège, the
position in Belgium was quiet. "A sense of stagnation," as Dr. Dillon
expressed it, was creeping over the public. Of the troops massing
behind the various cavalry covers, of the enemy's numbers, whereabouts,
and plans, nobody but the General Staff knew anything. The vaguest of
conjectures were the sole substitute for knowledge. Some held that the
Germans, disheartened by their failure to traverse Belgium in three
days and by the severe defeat of three army corps, were preparing for
the defensive. This view, taken in official circles, was borne out by
the circumstance that they were entrenching themselves on the River
Ourthe, employing the peasants to make routes in the south of the
province of Liège and in Luxemburg, bringing up fresh troops for the
reinforcement of the line Maestricht-Liège, and withdrawing most of
their covering cavalry regiments.
[Illustration]
Passing from the region of conjecture to that of fact, it was soon
learnt that the enemy's cavalry which advanced on Monday into Belgium
to see how the land lay threw out feelers from Hannut and Saint Trond
towards Tirlemont, Hougaerde, and Jodoigne. They came with artillery
and machine guns, occupied Landen, Neerwinden, Pellaines, and other
places, burning houses and hayricks as they passed. A regiment of
Belgian lancers met them at Dormael, where a sharp encounter gave a
momentary advantage to the defenders, whom the German artillery, which
was opened shortly afterwards, forced to retire.
The Germans then proceeded to shoot seven inmates of the houses on an
unproved charge of firing. They also burned the houses of the village
of Orsmael, and shot three brothers, peasants, on a like allegation.
Universal execration followed the German troops in Belgium, where all
observers were unanimous in accusing them of cruelty towards civilians,
unwarranted by the attitude of the population and forbidden by the
rules of war. Wherever they tarried peaceful inhabitants were shot
down on charges which were emphatically denied by their neighbours. At
Dormael a Uhlan, seeing a priest go forward to administer the last
sacraments to the agonising wounded, cut him down as if he too were a
combatant.
Having compelled the Belgian lancers to retire from Dormael, the German
cavalry advanced in the direction of Tirlemont to the number of about
2,000. Arriving at Bost, which is a mile from Tirlemont, they found
their further advance barred by Belgian infantry, whereupon they fell
back upon Saint Trond and Waremme.
The Belgian troops did not begin the pursuit of the enemy's cavalry
until August 11th, when they drove it beyond Waremme.
Liège became a new centre of an artillery action, both offensive
and defensive. The Germans pounded away at the forts, their shells
exploding on the cupolas and around these, while the forts responded
with vigour unimpaired. Meanwhile the invaders began to construct a
pontoon over the Meuse at Lixhe, for troops and trains of ammunition
and provisions. It was believed that they were also preparing to cross
the river above Liège, for they were forwarding heavy war material in
the direction of Engis.
Meanwhile, the French cavalry showed themselves to the population of
Brussels, who gave them a warm ovation.
The second general engagement in the struggle for the possession of
the Liège forts took place on Wednesday, August 12th, and lasted until
the early morning of the 13th. The Germans attempted a "reconnaissance
in force," and attacked the Belgian army at two points.
Again, however, the Belgian soldier proved more than a match for the
most highly trained troops of the Kaiser. The reconnaissance in force
failed utterly. Two of their finest cavalry divisions and two regiments
of Jaegers suffered heavy losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners.
The attack was made at two points, one to the north of Namur and the
other near Diest, which is a railway junction. About ten in the morning
cavalry patrols reported the advance of the enemy towards Haelen, a
village about three miles south of Diest. At the head of the force rode
the famous 17th Dragoons; behind them marched a regiment of Jaegers
with a battery of artillery and machine-guns. Belgian carbineers
awaited them at Zelck and succeeded in checking the advance until they
could retire on Haelen, which was formerly a fortress.
With reckless courage the Dragoons galloped into what was an armed cul
de sac. In front of them was a battery on the mound of the fort, and
the road was trenched and barricaded. The Belgians opened fire from
buildings which had been loopholed to meet an attack from that quarter.
Under cover of artillery fire and aided by machine-guns the cavalry
attempted to carry the position by assault. It was an enterprise that
did more credit to the courage than to the judgment of the German
soldier.
* * * * *
Mr. William Maxwell, who communicated these facts, added:
At manoeuvres in Germany some years ago I remember the Kaiser asking
Sir Ian Hamilton what he thought of the infantry formation. Sir Ian
ventured to suggest that the formation was too dense. Whereupon the
Emperor rebuked him with these words: "Half of those men would be
killed, but we can afford to lose them." The cavalry seem to act on
this principle. Without a pause they rode upon the barricade, which
they attempted to leap. I counted seven dead horses close to the
barricade, while others lay writhing a hundred yards off, bearing
testimony to the bravery of two-score men who now lie side by side
awaiting burial. So stout was the resistance of the 700 Belgians
who held this position against a division of cavalry and a regiment
of infantry that the enemy soon found it prudent to withdraw. Not
allowed to retire unmolested, though pursuit beyond Zelck would have
been folly, they left behind about forty dead, many wounded, and 300
prisoners.
It was remarkable, according to the accounts of eye-witnesses, how
readily some of these brave men surrendered. One Belgian officer
captured three officers. The first question they asked was, "What is
England doing?" They were evidently ignorant that England had declared
war. Their second question was, "What of our fleet?" The wounded were
treated not only with skill and kindness, but even luxury.
The object of this raid was to feel the nature and strength of the
opposing force, and, if possible, to capture points on the railway as
well as to threaten the capital in order to strike terror--a phrase so
often on the lips of their War Lord--into the heart of the people.
A more detailed version of the Haelen-Diest fight on the road to
Louvain says that the encounter lasted all day. The Germans were
supported by a battery of artillery. The Belgian field forces fought
desperately, and Lieutenant Van Doren even enlisted the Diest fire
brigade against the enemy, whose loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners
was comparatively heavy.
Many of the prisoners were fainting, and the horses were dying from
hunger. The German attacking party had probably been detached from the
Liège right wing for an audacious raid on Louvain and Brussels.
Further details about the Haelen-Diest combat showed that the German
losses must have approached 3,000.
The action, when the German mitrailleuses (machine-guns) were captured,
took place north of Eghezée, on the road from Liège to Namur. Of
course, the main German forces continued to be arrested before Liège,
but they sent forth detachments in every direction to make believe that
they had carried everything before them in their rear and to create
popular panics. Each of these detachments was gradually beaten in its
turn, and this slowly weakened the large forces intended for the great
general battle, and estimated at about seven army corps, or about
250,000 men.
The following official statement was issued at Brussels on Thursday,
August 13th:
The victory gained by the Belgian troops yesterday is now officially
confirmed. The Belgian troops engaged were only one cavalry division
and a brigade of all arms. The German losses were very heavy, and it
is believed that about three-fifths of the enemy engaged was put out
of action. The Belgian losses were relatively slight, only a few men
being killed.
The Belgian cavalry division this morning took up the offensive
against yesterday's defeated troops, in order, it is believed, to pick
up the dead and wounded and to collect the abandoned war material. No
German surprise is expected.
Another encounter took place this morning in the south with the German
troops reported yesterday to be marching towards Eghezée. These
were attacked by our troops and repulsed with very heavy losses. We
captured a number of machine guns mounted on motor-cars.
There is no reason to fear any German cavalry movement on Brussels
from the south, all roads to the capital being guarded by the army and
by the Garde Civique.
The military situation at the time was summed up as follows by Mr. E.
Ashmead-Bartlett, _The Daily Telegraph's_ military expert:
Every single account of conversations with wounded German soldiers
or prisoners serves to show that the rank and file of the German
army have not the smallest idea for what they are fighting, and that
all profess not to have the smallest desire to invade either France
or Belgium. In the war of 1870, the situations were reversed. Every
German knew that the future of his country as a world Power depended
on victory, and all marched to the front with a determination to
conquer or to die. The French, on the other hand, had no idea for what
they were fighting, and their purely professional army left for the
war amidst vague cries of "À Berlin!" buoyed up by no moral principle.
These factors must bear a very far-reaching effect on the eventual
outcome of the campaign.
In a recent journey through France, I noticed nothing so remarkable
as the intense seriousness of the people. Frenchmen will tell you
there has been nothing like it since the Revolutionary wars, prior
to the Napoleonic epoch, when the levée en masse crushed the invader
at Valmy and Jemappes. The French have entered into this struggle
through no love of fighting, but because they know their existence as
an independent nation is at stake. One other fact must also be noted
before the chances of the opposing armies are examined. In 1870 the
French regular army, which should have had a peace strength of 400,000
men, only numbered 270,000, whereas the Germans, at the very start of
the campaign, stood at a total war strength of over 1,200,000 men.
This inequality no longer exists. On paper Germany has a considerable
superiority of numbers, namely twenty-five army corps against
twenty-one, and her reserves are probably more numerous and better
organised than those of the French. On the other hand, she is,
according to the most reliable information, keeping four corps on the
Russian frontier, and, therefore, the numbers available against France
should certainly not show any superiority, and will probably show
an inferiority when the Belgian and British armies are united along
the line of the Meuse. For years German strategists have reckoned on
having to fight both France and Russia at the same time, and they have
professed themselves as being confident of undertaking such a gigantic
task. Four corps especially trained under Von der Goltz to fight in
more open formations were to hold the Russians, whilst the remaining
twenty-one were to be flung with such rapidity against France as to
obtain a decisive success before Russian intervention could make
itself seriously felt.
It is one thing to have twenty-one army corps ready to invade France,
and quite another to find a suitable front on which to deploy them for
such an invasion. All the time-honoured old routes for the invasion
of France are practically closed to modern armies by the chain of
fortresses which the French have constructed, and, vice versa, the old
roads to Germany are closed to a French invasion. Therefore, French,
German, and Belgian strategists have long recognised that the only
route by which a modern German army could invade France and march on
Paris would be via Belgium, and that declarations of neutrality would
count but little in the strategic scale. It was to resist such a
menace that the Belgians constructed two fortified camps at Liège and
Namur. The old routes of 1870 present too many formidable obstacles to
be overcome. A direct advance into France from Alsace would have found
itself faced by the fortified front Belfort-Epinal-Toul, and Verdun,
four formidable fortified camps, supported by forts on the heights
overlooking the Moselle and Meuse.
There are only two routes by which this line can be passed. That by
way of Charmes, between Epinal and Toul, protected by the fort of
Manonvillers, which would enable the Germans to enter Haut Marne and
to gain the valley of the Seine, and the road to Paris via Bar-le-Duc,
St. Dizier, and Troyes. This is the theatre of war of 1814, and also
the road used by the Crown Prince after Froeschwiller, in 1870. But an
invading army would have to take or mask all these entrenched camps,
which would take a very long time, or else have his communications
continually threatened.
The other road is that by Dun-Stenay, north of Verdun, passing through
the defiles of Côtes-de-Meuse and the forest of Argonne to the open
country round Valmy. But this country is extremely difficult for
military operations on a large scale. It was used by the Duke of
Brunswick in 1792.
The Germans confidently expected to overrun the whole of Belgium and
to gain the French frontier before a single French corps could be
concentrated to offer any serious resistance. They reckoned on two
factors which have turned out the reverse of what they hoped. They
relied on a partial break-down in the French mobilisation, especially
on the railway lines. In this supposition they have been completely
mistaken. Nothing so far has been so remarkable as the smooth working
of the railway service, and, consequently, the rapid concentration of
the French armies. The second factor on which the Germans relied was
the readiness of the Belgians to see their country overrun by a swarm
of invaders or else their inability to resist such an invasion. The
quickest route into Belgium is to cross the Meuse at Liège, and from
there to march south by the left bank along the Mons-Charleroi road,
and to gain the French frontier between Maubeuge and Valenciennes. Of
recent years the Germans have made every preparation for such a move.
They have organised depôts for troops and collected large masses of
stores, and have quadrupled lines at Aix-la-Chapelle, Malmedy, St.
Vith, Bitburg, and Trèves. They can thus rapidly concentrate immense
numbers of troops from Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Coblenz in front of
Liège.
But the stubborn and unexpected defence of Liège has thrown all
their plans for a direct advance into Belgium via the Liège-Namur
line out of gear, and, to judge from the meagre reports which are
coming through slowly, they have entrenched that line strongly, and
are holding it on the left bank of the Meuse with the two corps
which were so roughly handled while the bulk of their forces are
preparing to cross the Belgian frontier further north on the line
Maestricht-Roermonde, and to march on Brussels through the Duchy of
Limburg. We read of constant cavalry engagements in this district and
of partial defeats of the German troops, but these stories must not
be taken too seriously, as the German cavalry is merely being used as
a screen to cover the concentration of immense masses of infantry who
will soon be making their presence felt.