Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 268, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1914 — FRIGHT KILLS AS GREAT GUNS ROAR [ARTICLE]

FRIGHT KILLS AS GREAT GUNS ROAR

Night, of Terror in Antwerp Is Described byJJewspaper Correspondent. • r MANY LOSE THEIR MINDS A \ Psychological Ravage a Greater Calamity Than the Material Havoc, —Germans Fight Fires and Put City in Order at Once.

By JACQUES OBELS.

Antwerp, Belgium. —On arriving in Antwerp I found the city gates guarded by strong detachments- of marines. The encircling forts flew German flags, white with a black cross and crown on the corner. ,A German flag also fluttered in the wind on top of the cathedral spire, 500 feet up. My military pass, given me In Brussels, readily admitted me to the city, one area of which had suffered terribly from the bombardment. Apparently, the Germans had concentrated their fire on this section and seldom altered the range. ,

The principal damage, however, was the result of fires, the origin of some of which is doubtful. Numerous ires broke out after the Germans entered and it was difficult to control the flames, as the water supply was interrupted, owing", to the destruction of the pipe lines from the reservoirs near Fort Waelhem through an explosion.

Germans Fight City's Fires. The Germans fought the fires with energy and courage. They formed bucket brigades to bring water from all available sources. They also aided the inhabitants to save their goods and chattels. When these were piled in the streets they placed guards oVer them and mounted patrols were scattered throughout the city to protect property. Of course, the people generally had fled, but adventurous and dangerous characters • remained and prowled through the streets after nightfall. I saw no looting by Germans in Antwerp. ’ ,

Some of the people died of fright during the bombardment and others lost their reason. Few families passed through the ordeal without one or more of their members suffering mental disturbance. Probably, on the whole, the psychological ravage was a greater calamity than the material ravage. Persons on every hand still are so upset and so strangely changed that they seem like different individuals. Watching men and women at dinner or luncheon, the observer notices how their hands tremble as they lift the food from the plates to their mouths.

Tells of Night of Terror. The first night of the bombardment produced harrowing scenes. Women and children, rudely awakened in the middle of the night, left home half clad and rushed along the pitch dark streets, panic stricken by the continual bursting of shells above and around them. Before long 'the sky was red with the reflection of burning buildings. I was told by eyewitnesses that the spectacle thfen revealed in the streets was like an awful nightmare. Confused masses of terror mad people rushed this way and that. Old men and women were carried out of the houses and the sick were brought out into the streets and borne along in the arms of the well. Mothers were seen hurrying on and distractedly calling for their children. It is alleged that there was a headlong race for the city gates, which were found securely locked. Those in authority had escaped before the shelling began. No police could be seen and every soldier was at the front. Nobody appeared and there was no natural leader to effect a semblance of order. The confusion and despair reigned unabated until dawn, when the crowds escaped. Wish Refugees to Return.

The riverside is eloquent of the destruction of war. . The floating bridge blown up by the retreating Belgians and the wrecks of the boats that supported the bridge can still be seen half submerged. The German steamers held as prizes were rendered useless by damage to the engines. Detachments of soldiers were busy at the docks loading confiscated goods and an unbroken stream of wagons moved toward Brussels carrying merchandise, ammunition and food, with all of which Antwerp wa's stocked to overflowing.' The German government Is making extraordinary efforts to induce refugees to return to their homes. Bills have been posted guaranteeing-public safety and some of these bills have been seflt to Holland for distribution. The fugitives are returning In increasing numbers, though the town is still dead.

ft should be remembered that the bulk of, the population &caped before the bombardment began and the terrors described happened to those who remained in their homes In spite of the warnings of the authorities! They had no' idea of what a bombardment would be like, and no notion of the terrifying ants disastrous effects of the German shells. \ ./.. All the stores are* selling foodstuffs. They were ordered"to be v C; ,V

opened by Tuesday or they would be forced to open. streets are full of soldiers, to know their way about. They* make free use of the Belgian motor car left behind when the beaten army, shielded by fine rear guard fighting, effected its escape.

I was surprised to see a big London motor bus driven by German soldiers transporting stores. I hear that several of these vehicles were here and that they were employed successfully in assisting the Anglo-Belgian retreat. Every public business has been searched thoroughly and is carefully guarded. The headquarters of the general staff are in the building recently vacated by the British and Russian ambassador. The king’s palace has been left severely alone. Temporarily Belgium is at a low ebb financially. To pay the levy on Brussels of £10,000,000 ($50,000,000) the municipal authorities were compelled to resort to the issuq of paper money of various values. Silver is unobtainable and on top of it all the Germans are issuing one mark (25 cents) notes which are legal tender in Belgium, but worthless in Germany. Millions of these are in “circulation and more are being printed. Questions are being raised as to the validity of the recently issued 5 franc and 20 franc ($1 and $4) notes and consequently the public is bewildered. t Not a Shot Misses Fort.

Any one imagining that German marksmanship is defective is deceived. I interviewed the Belgian officer who commanded Fort Lierre and wlio, with his family and garrison, was driven across the Dutch border. He said that not a single shell aimed at his fort missed and observers put out on the observation tower rarely escaped, so quickly did the opposing artillery find the range. The fighting spirit of the German officers and men cannot be excelled. They are eager and willing to die for the fatherland. If any one on the allies’ side, doubt this,'he would .better purge his mind of such doubt promptly. Social democrats in the ranks are full of the same spirit. I spoke to several of them about the heavy German armaments, and every man replied that while they had objected to the armaments and deplored the taxation, they now realized that both were necessary for the existence of Germany. Praise for Brand Whitlock.

The work of Brand Whitlock, 'the American minister at Brussels, is endless, and his success in meeting the demands upon his time and strength by persons in trouble will be one .of the fine memories of this war. Belgians of all sorts and conditions Call on him for counsel and protection and they never go away empty handed, if Mr. Whitlock can help it. He is, indeed, looked upon as the natural guardian of the oppressed Belgian nation. Oftener than the world is ever likely to know Mr. Whitlock has stood between weakness and innocence and the merciless impact of the mailed fist. Not that he has acted In any way Inftnical to Germany. He has- merely placed himself firmly on the side of justice in cases where without his intervention crying injustice would have triumphed. So definitely does he symbolize justice to the Belgian mind that the people touchingly cherish the hope that somehow America, whence this minister springs, will take some step to alleviate the unspeakable disaster and miseries of Belgium.-