The Paris Ministry of War issued the following communique concerning the
holding out of the Liége forts:
“The Chaudefontaine fort at Liége was the scene of an act of heroism
which brilliantly affirms once more the valor of the Belgian army.
“Major Nameche commanded the fort which controls the railway from
Aix-la-Chapelle to Liége via the Verviers and Chaudefontaine tunnel. The
fort was bombarded continuously and very violently by the Germans. When
it was only a heap of débris and the commander judged that resistance
was impossible he blockaded the tunnel by producing collisions between
several locomotives which had been sent into it. Then he set fire to the
fuses of mines in the tunnel.
“His task thus done, Major Nameche did not wish to see the German flag
float ever over the ruins of his fort. He therefore exploded all the
remaining powder and blew up everything, including himself. Such an act
of heroism is beyond all comment.”