BELGIUM'S DEFIANCE
A view of the general situation in Belgium will assist in clearing the
way for swiftly following events. Germany had invaded Belgium against
the diplomatic and active protests of its Government. But the German
Government still hoped that the heroic resistance of Liege would satisfy
Belgian national spirit, and a free passage of German troops now be
granted. The German Emperor made a direct appeal to the King of the
Belgians through the medium of the Queen of Holland. From the German
point of outlook their victory could best be attained by the march
through Belgium upon Paris. The German Government asserted that the
French and British contemplated a similar breach of Belgian neutrality.
To their mind, it was a case of which should be on the ground first. On
the other hand, the Allies pronounced the German invasion of Belgium an
unprovoked assault, and produced countertestimony. The controversy has
continued to this day. But the war as it progressed has seen many
breaches of neutrality, and a certain resignation to the inevitable has
succeeded the moral indignation so easily aroused in its early stages.
Let us now glance at the condition of Belgium when war was declared. The
Belgians were an industrial and not a militant people. They had ample
reason to yearn for a permanent peace. Their country had been the
cockpit of Europe from the time of Caesar until Waterloo. The names of
their cities, for the most part, represented great historic battle
fields. Again and again had the ruin of conflict swept over their
unfortunately situated land. At all periods the Belgians were brave
fighters on one side or the other, for Belgium had been denied a
national unity. Doubtless, therefore, they welcomed the establishment of
their independent sovereignty and the era of peace which followed.
Historically, they had suffered enough, with an abundance to spare, from
perpetual warfare. Their minds turned hopefully toward industrial and
commercial activity, stimulated by the natural mineral wealth of their
soil. Thus the products of their factories reached all countries, South
America, China, Manchuria, and Central Africa, especially of later
years, where a great territory had been acquired in the Congo. The iron
and steel work of Liege was famous, Antwerp had become one of the chief
ports of Europe and growing into a financial power. But owing to the
confined boundaries of Belgium, there grew to be a congestion of
population. This produced a strong democratic and socialistic uplift
which even threatened the existence of the monarchy. Also, all that
monarchy seemed to imply.
The Belgians, doubtless with memories of the past, despised and hated
the display of military. Consequently it was only with difficulty, and
in the face of popular opposition, that the Belgium Government had
succeeded with military plans for defense, but imperfectly carried out.
Herein, perhaps, we have the keynote to Belgium's desperate resistance
to the German invaders. In the light of the foregoing, it is easily
conceivable that the Germans represented to the Belgians the military
yoke. They were determined to have none of it, upon any overtures or
terms. But they relied on France and England for protection, when common
prudence should have made the mobilization of an up-to-date army of
500,000 men ready for the call to repel an invader on either of the
frontiers, instead of the practically helpless force of 110,000.
The German General Staff did not believe the Belgians intended to raise
a serious barrier in their path. But with the crisis, democratic Belgium
united in a rush to arms, which recalls similar action by the American
colonists at the Revolution. Every form of weapon was grasped, from old
muskets to pitchforks and shearing knives. It was remarked by a foreign
witness that in default of properly equipped armories, the Belgians
emptied the museums to confront the Germans with the strangest
assortment of antiquated military tools.
As testimony of Belgian feeling, the Labor party organ "Le Peuple"
issued the following statement: "Why do we, as irreconcilable
antimilitarists, cry 'Bravo!' from the bottom of our hearts to all those
who offer themselves for the defense of the country? Because it is not
only necessary to protect the hearths and homes, the women and the
children, but it is also necessary to protect at the price of our blood
the heritage of our ancient freedom. Go, then, sons of the workers, and
register your names as recruits. We will rather die for the idea of
progress and solidarity of humanity than live under a regime whose
brutal force and savage violence have wiped outright."
The Belgian General Staff, foreseeing dire consequences from the
invading hosts, warned all to maintain as peaceful an attitude as
possible. In spite of the efforts of Belgian officials, severe penalties
were inflicted on the citizens.
On Wednesday, August 12, 1914, a German cavalry screen, thrown in
advance of the main forces, came in touch with Belgian patrols. A series
of engagements took place. The Germans tried to seize the bridges across
the Dyle at Haelen, and at Cortenachen on the Velpe, a tributary of the
former river, mainly with the object of outflanking the Belgian left
wing. The Belgians are said to have numbered some 10,000 of all arms,
and were successful in repulsing the Germans.
On August 13, 1914, similar actions were continued. At Tirlemont 2,000
German cavalry swept upon the town, but were beaten off. At Eghezee on
the extreme Belgian right--close to Namur and the historic field of
Ramillies--another brush with the Germans took place. Belgian cavalry
caught a German cavalry detachment bivouacked in the village. Sharp
fighting through the streets ensued before the Germans withdrew. In
spite of the warning of the Belgian General Staff, and similar advance
German notices, the citizens of some of these and other places began
sniping German patrols.
Meantime, moving over the roads toward Namur, toiled the huge German
42-centimeter guns. The German General Staff had taken to mind the
lesson of Liege. Each gun was transported in several parts, hauled by
traction engines and forty horses. Of this, with the advance of Von
Kluck and Von Buelow, the Belgian General Staff was kept in total
ignorance by the German screen of cavalry. So ably was this screen work
performed that the Belgians were led to believe the Germans had
succeeded in placing no more than two divisions of cavalry, together
with a few detachments of infantry and artillery, on Belgian soil. They,
in fact, regarded the German cavalry skirmishing as a rather clumsy
offensive.
As we have seen, the resistance of Forts Boncelles and Loncin at Liege
held back the main German advance from seven to ten days. Their fall
released into German control the railway junction at Ans. With that was
included the line from Liege up the left bank of the Meuse to Namur.
Also, another line direct to Brussels.
On August 15, 1914, the cavalry screen was withdrawn, and four German
army corps were revealed to the surprised Belgian line. In this
emergency, clearly their only hope lay with the French. In Louvain,
Brussels, and Antwerp, anxious questions lay on all lips. "Why do not
the French hasten to our aid? When will they come? Will the British fail
us at the twelfth hour?"
Eager watchers at Ostend beheld no sign of the promised transports to
disembark a British army of support in the day of overwhelming need.
About this time some French cavalry crossed the Sambre to join hands
with the Belgian right wing near Waterloo. But it was little more than a
detachment. The French General Staff was occupied with a realignment,
and had decided not to advance into Belgium until they could do so in
force sufficient to cope with the Germans. The Belgian General Staff saw
there was no other course but to fall back, fighting rear-guard actions
until the longed-for French army was heralded by the thunder of friendly
guns.
The Belgian army was thus withdrawn from the River Gethe to hold
Aerschot on its left stubbornly through August 14, 1914. Diest, St.
Trond, and Waremme fell before the German tidal wave without resistance.
Von Kluck's main army endeavored to sweep around the Belgian right at
Wavre, but was checked for a brief space.