



Produced by Merv McConnel, Christine P. Travers and the
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[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected.
Hyphenation and accentuation have been standardised, all
other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling
has been maintained.

Page 365, 299 mm. is probably an error for.299-in.

Page 399, "could reach effectively the trenches of the
Russians" should probably be "could reach effectively the trenches of the
Austrians".]




THE STORY OF THE GREAT WAR

  History of the European War from Official Sources

  Complete Historical Records of Events to Date,
  Illustrated with Drawings, Maps, and Photographs

  Prefaced by

  What the War Means to America
  Major General Leonard Wood, U.S.A.

  Naval Lessons of the War
  Rear Admiral Austin M. Knight, U.S.N.

  The World's War
  Frederick Palmer

  Theatres of the War's Campaigns
  Frank H. Simonds

  The War Correspondent
  Arthur Ruhl

  Edited by

  Francis J. Reynolds
  Former Reference Librarian of Congress

  Allen L. Churchill
  Associate Editor, The New International Encyclopedia

  Francis Trevelyan Miller
  Editor in Chieft, Photographic History of the Civil War

  P. F. Collier & Son Company
  New York


[Illustration: _A great French siege gun in action near the
much-contested battle field of Arras. During the terrific explosion the
gunners cover their ears._]


THE STORY OF THE GREAT WAR

  THE WAR BEGINS
  INVASION OF BELGIUM
  BATTLE OF THE MARNE
  CRACOW. WARSAW
  POLISH CAMPAIGN
  WAR IN EAST PRUSSIA


VOLUME II

P. F. Collier & Son. New York

  Copyright 1916
  By P. F. Collier & Son




CONTENTS


PART I.--GREAT BATTLES OF THE WESTERN ARMIES

CHAPTER                                                             Page

        I. Attack on Belgium                                           9

       II. Siege and Capture of Liege                                 12

      III. Belgium's Defiance                                         23

       IV. Capture of Louvain--Surrender of Brussels                  27

        V. Coming of the British                                      33

       VI. Campaigns in Alsace and Lorraine                           38

      VII. Siege and Fall of Namur                                    45

     VIII. Battle of Charleroi                                        54

       IX. Battle of Mons                                             60

        X. The Great Retreat Begins                                   68

       XI. Fighting at Bay                                            79

      XII. The Marne--General Plan of Battle Field                    87

     XIII. Allied and German Battle Plans                             95

      XIV. First Moves in the Battle                                 101

       XV. German Retreat                                            111

      XVI. Continuation of the Battle of the Marne                   116

     XVII. Continuation of the Battle of the Marne                   119

    XVIII. Other Aspects of the Battle of the Marne                  126

      XIX. "Crossing the Aisne"                                      130

       XX. First Day's Battles                                       135

      XXI. The British at the Aisne                                  140

     XXII. Bombardment of Rheims and Soissons                        146

    XXIII. Second Phase of Battle of the Aisne                       149

     XXIV. End of the Battle                                         153

      XXV. "The Race to the Sea"                                     158

     XXVI. Siege and Fall of Antwerp                                 160

    XXVII. Yser Battles--Attack on Ypres                             168

   XXVIII. Attacks of La Bassee and Arras                            177

     XXIX. General Movements on the French and Flanders Fronts       181

      XXX. Operations Around La Bassee and Givenchy                  187

     XXXI. End of Six Months' Fighting in the West                   193


PART II.--NAVAL OPERATIONS

    XXXII. Strength of the Rival Navies                              196

   XXXIII. First Blood--Battle of the Bight                          208

    XXXIV. Battles on Three Seas                                     219

     XXXV. The German Sea Raiders                                    225

    XXXVI. Battle Off the Falklands                                  230

   XXXVII. Sea Fights of the Ocean Patrol                            237

  XXXVIII. War on German Trade and Possessions                       242

    XXXIX. Raids on the English Coast                                245

       XL. Results of Six Months' Naval Operations                   258


PART III.--THE WAR ON THE EASTERN FRONT

      XLI. General Characteristics of the Theatre of Warfare         261

     XLII. The Strategic Value of Russian Poland                     268

    XLIII. Austrian Poland, Galicia, and Bukowina                    272

     XLIV. The Balkans--Countries and Peoples                        275

      XLV. The Caucasus--The Barred Door                             286


PART IV.--THE AUSTRO-SERBIAN CAMPAIGN

     XLVI. Serbia's Situation and Resources                          291

    XLVII. Austria's Strength and Strategy                           298

   XLVIII. Austrian Successes                                        301

     XLIX. The Great Battles Begin                                   305

        L. First Victory of the Serbians                             310


PART V.--THE AUSTRO-SERBIAN CAMPAIGN

       LI. Results of First Battles                                  321

      LII. Serbian Attempt to Invade Austrian Territory              323

     LIII. Austria's Second Invasion                                 329

      LIV. End of Second Invasion--Beginning of Third                331

       LV. Preliminary Austrian Successes                            335

      LVI. Crisis of the Campaign--Austrian Defeat                   339

     LVII. The Fate of Belgrade                                      345

    LVIII. Attempts to Retake Belgrade                               348

      LIX. Serbians Retake the City--End of Third Invasion           353

       LX. Montenegro in the War                                     358


PART VI.--AUSTRO-RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN

      LXI. Strength and Equipment of the Antagonists                 362

     LXII. General Strategy of the Campaign                          371

    LXIII. Austria Takes the Offensive                               376

     LXIV. A Cautious Russian Advance -- Russian Successes --
             Capture of Lemberg                                      379

      LXV. Dankl's Offensive and Retreat                             390

     LXVI. Battle of Rawa-Russka                                     395

    LXVII. Russian Victories--Battles of the San                     398

   LXVIII. Summary of Operations of September, 1914                  403

     LXIX. Investiture of Przemysl                                   405

      LXX. Austrian Retreat Begins                                   410

     LXXI. Fighting at Cracow                                        416

    LXXII. Austrians Again Assume the Offensive                      423


PART VII.--RUSSO-GERMAN CAMPAIGN

   LXXIII. First Clash on Prussian Frontier                          430

    LXXIV. Advance of Russians Against the Germans                   435

     LXXV. Battle of Tannenberg and Russian Retreat                  438

    LXXVI. Second Russian Invasion of East Prussia                   446

   LXXVII. First German Drive Against Warsaw                         450

  LXXVIII. German Retreat from Russian Poland                        458

    LXXIX. Winter Battles of the Polish Campaign                     462

     LXXX. Winter Battles in East Prussia                            478

    LXXXI. Results of First Six Months of Russo-German
             Campaign                                                482


PART VIII.--TURKEY AND THE DARDANELLES

   LXXXII. First Moves of Turkey                                     493

  LXXXIII. The First Blow Against the Allies                         501

   LXXXIV. British Campaign in Mesopotamia                           506




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


  French Siege Gun at Arras                               _Frontispiece_

                                                           Opposite Page

  Bridge Destroyed by the Belgians at Liege                           14

  General Joffre                                                      78

  Germans Refortifying Antwerp                                       158

  Emden Aground After the Sydney's Victory                           222

  Wreck of the Bluecher in the North Sea Battle                       254

  Serbian Infantrymen on Their Way to the Front                      302

  General von Hindenburg                                             382

  Gerdauen, East Prussia, Destroyed in Russian Invasion              478




LIST OF MAPS


                                                                    Page

  Peace Distribution of Army Corps and Naval Stations of Belligerent
    Powers (_Colored Map_)                                _Front Insert_

  France, Pictorial Map of                                            11

  Belgium, Beginning of German Invasion of                            17

  Alsace-Lorraine, French Invasion of                                 51

  Battle of Mons and Retreat of Allied Armies                         71

  Battle of the Marne--Beginning on September 5, 1914                 89

  Battle of the Marne--Situation on September 9, 1914                 98

  Battle of the Marne--End of German Retreat and the Intrenched
    Line on the Aisne River                                          107

  Liege Fort, German Attack of                                       162

  Antwerp, Siege and Fall of                                         162

  Flanders, Battle Front in                                          173

  German and English Naval Positions                                 199

  War in the East--Relation of the Eastern Countries to Germany      263

  The Balkans, Pictorial Map of                                      293

  Serbian and Austrian Invasions                                     296

  Russia, Pictorial Map of                                           364

  Galicia, Russian Invasion of                                       367

  Battle of Tannenberg                                               440




[Illustration: Peace Distribution of Army Corps and Naval
Stations of Belligerent Powers.]




PART I--GREAT BATTLES OF THE WESTERN ARMIES




CHAPTER I

ATTACK ON BELGIUM


The first great campaign on the western battle grounds in the European
War began on August 4, 1914. On this epoch-making day the German army
began its invasion of Belgium--with the conquest of France as its
ultimate goal. Six mighty armies stood ready for the great invasion.
Their estimated total was 1,200,000 men. Supreme over all was the
Emperor as War Lord, but Lieutenant General Helmuth von Moltke, chief of
the General Staff, was the practical director of military operations.
General von Moltke was a nephew of the great strategist of 1870, and his
name possibly appealed as of happy augury for repeating the former
capture of Paris.

The First Army was assembled at Aix-la-Chapelle in the north of Belgium,
within a few miles of the Dutch frontier. It was under the command of
General von Kluck. He was a veteran of both the Austrian and
Franco-Prussian Wars, and was regarded as an able infantry leader. His
part was to enter Belgium at its northern triangle, which projects
between Holland and Germany, occupy Liege, deploy on the great central
plains of Belgium, then sweep toward the French northwestern frontier in
the German dash for Paris and the English Channel. His army thus formed
the right wing of the whole German offensive. It was composed of picked
corps, including cavalry of the Prussian Guard.

The Second Army had gathered in the neighborhood of Limbourg under the
command of General von Buelow. Its advance was planned down the valleys
of the Ourthe and Vesdre to a junction with Von Kluck at Liege, then a
march by the Meuse Valley upon Namur and Charleroi. In crossing the
Sambre it was to fall into place on the left of Von Kluck's army.

The German center was composed of the Third Army under Duke Albrecht of
Wuerttemberg, the Fourth Army led by the crown prince, and the Fifth Army
commanded by the Crown Prince of Bavaria. It was assembled on the line
Neufchateau-Treves-Metz. Its first offensive was the occupation of
Luxemburg. This was performed, after a somewhat dramatic protest by the
youthful Grand Duchess, who placed her motor car across the bridge by
which the Germans entered her internationally guaranteed independent
state. The German pretext was that since Luxemburg railways were German
controlled, they were required for the transport of troops. Preparations
were then made for a rapid advance through the Ardennes upon the Central
Meuse, to form in order upon the left of Von Buelow's army. A part of the
Fifth Army was to be detached for operations against the French fortress
of Verdun.

The Sixth Army was concentrated at Strassburg in Alsace, under General
von Heeringen. As inspector of the Prussian Guards he bore a very high
military reputation. For the time being General von Heeringen's part was
to remain in Alsace, to deal with a possibly looked for strong French
offensive by way of the Vosges or Belfort.

The main plan of the German General Staff, therefore was a wide
enveloping movement by the First and Second Armies to sweep the shore of
the English Channel in their march on Paris, a vigorous advance of the
center through the Ardennes for the same destination, and readiness for
battle by the Sixth Army for any French force which might be tempted
into Alsace. That this plan was not developed in its entirety, was due
to circumstances which fall into another place.

[Illustration: Pictorial Map of France.]

The long anticipated _Day_ dawned. Their vast military machine moved
with precision and unity. But there was a surprise awaiting them. The
Belgians were to offer a serious resistance to passage through their
territory--a firm refusal had been delivered at the eleventh hour. The
vanguard was thrown forward from Von Kluck's army at Aix, to break
through the defenses of Liege and seize the western railways. This force
of three divisions was commanded by General von Emmich, one of them
joining him at Verviers.

On the evening of August 3, 1914, Von Emmich's force had crossed into
Belgium. Early on the morning of August 4, 1914, Von Kluck's second
advance line reached Vise, situated on the Meuse north of Liege and
close to the Dutch frontier. Here an engagement took place with a
Belgian guard, which terminated with the Germans bombarding Vise. The
Belgians had destroyed the river bridge, but the Germans succeeded in
seizing the crossing.

This was the first actual hostility of the war on the western battle
grounds. With the capture of Vise, the way was clear for Von Kluck's
main army to concentrate on Belgian territory. By nightfall, Liege was
invested on three sides. Only the railway lines and roads running
westward remained open.




CHAPTER II

SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF LIEGE


A view of Liege will assist in revealing its three days' siege, with the
resulting effect upon the western theatre of war. Liege is the capital
of the Walloons, a sturdy race that in times past has at many a crisis
proved unyielding determination and courage. At the outbreak of war it
was the center of great coal mining and industrial activity. In the
commercial world it is known everywhere for the manufacture of firearms.
The smoke from hundreds of factories spreads over the city, often
hanging in dense clouds. It might aptly be termed the Pittsburg of
Belgium. The city lies in a deep, broad cut of the River Meuse, at its
junction with the combined channels of the Ourthe and Vesdre. It
stretches across both sides, being connected by numerous bridges, while
parallel lines of railway follow the course of the main stream. The
trunk line from Germany into Belgium crosses the Meuse at Liege. For the
most part the old city of lofty houses clings to a cliffside on the left
bank, crowned by an ancient citadel of no modern defensive value.
Whatever picturesqueness Liege may have possessed is effaced by the
squalid and dilapidated condition of its poorer quarters. To the north
broad fertile plains extend into central Belgium, southward on the
opposite bank of the Meuse, the Ardennes present a hilly forest,
stream-watered region. In its downward course the Meuse flows out of the
Liege trench to expand through what is termed the Dutch Flats.

Liege, at the outbreak of the war, was a place of great wealth and
extreme poverty--a Liege artisan considered himself in prosperity on $5
a week. It was of the first strategic importance to Belgium. Its
situation was that of a natural fortress, barring the advance of a
German army.

The defenses of Liege were hardly worth an enemy's gunfire before 1890.
They had consisted of a single fort on the Meuse right bank, and the
citadel crowning the heights of the old town. But subsequently the
Belgian Chamber voted the necessary sums for fortifying Liege and Namur
on the latest principles. From the plans submitted, the one finally
decided upon was that of the famous Belgian military engineer Henri
Alexis Brialmont. His design was a circle of detached forts, already
approved by German engineers as best securing a city within from
bombardment. With regard to Liege and Namur particularly, Brialmont held
that his plan would make passages of the Meuse at those places
impregnable to an enemy.

When the German army stood before Liege on this fourth day of August, in
1914, the circumference of the detached forts was thirty-one miles with
about two or three miles between them, and at an average of five miles
from the city. Each fort was constructed on a new model to withstand the
highest range and power of offensive artillery forecast in the last
decade of the nineteenth century. When completed they presented the form
of an armored mushroom, thrust upward from a mound by subterranean
machinery. The elevation of the cupola in action disclosed no more of
its surface than was necessary for the firing of the guns. The mounds
were turfed and so inconspicuous that in times of peace sheep grazed
over them. In Brialmont's original plan each fort was to be connected by
infantry trenches with sunken emplacements for light artillery, but this
important part of his design was relegated to the dangerous hour of a
threatening enemy. This work was undertaken too late before the onsweep
of the Germans. Instead, Brialmont's single weak detail in surrounding
each fort with an infantry platform was tenaciously preserved long after
its uselessness must have been apparent. Thus Liege was made a ring
fortress to distinguish it from the former latest pattern of earth
ramparts and outworks.

Six major and six minor of these forts encircled Liege. From north to
south, beginning with those facing the German frontier, their names ran
as follows: Barchon, Evegnee, Fleron, Chaudfontaine, Embourg, Boncelles,
Flemalle, Hollogne, Loncin, Lantin, Liers, and Pontisse. The armaments
of the forts consisted of 6-inch and 4.7-inch guns, with 8-inch mortars
and quick firers. They were in the relative number of two, four, two and
four for the major forts, and two, two, one and three for the minor
_fortins_, as such were termed. The grand total was estimated at 400
pieces. In their confined underground quarters the garrisons, even of
the major forts, did not exceed eighty men from the engineer, artillery
and infantry branches of the service. Between Fort Pontisse and the
Dutch frontier was less than six miles.

[Illustration: This bridge over the Meuse at Liege was blown up by the
Belgians to delay the German advance. The German army crossed on pontoon
bridges.]

It was through this otherwise undefended gap that Von Kluck purposed to
advance his German army after the presumed immediate fall of Liege, to
that end having seized the Meuse crossing at Vise. The railway line to
Aix-la-Chapelle was dominated by Fort Fleron, while the minor Forts
Chaudfontaine and Embourg, to the south, commanded the trunk line by way
of Liege into Belgium. On the plateau, above Liege, Fort Loncin held
the railway junction of Ans and the lines running from Liege north and
west. Finally, the forts were not constructed on a geometric circle, but
in such manner that the fire of any two was calculated to hold an enemy
at bay should a third between them fall. This was probably an accurate
theory before German guns of an unimagined caliber and range were
brought into action.

In command of the Belgian forts at Liege was General Leman. He had
served under Brialmont, and was pronounced a serious and efficient
officer. He was a zealous military student, physically extremely active,
and constantly on the watch for any relaxation of discipline. These
qualities enabled him to grasp at the outset the weakness of his
position.

If the Germans believed the refusal to grant a free passage for their
armies through Belgium to be little more than a diplomatic protest, it
would seem the Belgian Government was equally mistaken in doubting the
Germans would force a way through an international treaty of Belgian
neutrality. Consequently, the German crossing of the frontier discovered
Belgium with her mobilization but half complete, mainly on a line for
the defense of Brussels and Antwerp. It had been estimated by Brialmont
that 75,000 men of all arms were necessary for the defense of Liege on a
war footing, probably 35,000 was the total force hastily gathered in the
emergency to withstand the German assault on the fortifications. It
included the Civic Guard.

General Leman realized, therefore, that, without a supporting field
army, it would be impossible for him to hold the German hosts before
Liege for more than a few days--a week at most.

But he hoped within such time the French or British would march to his
relief. Thus his chief concern was for the forts protecting the railway
leading from Namur down the Meuse Valley into Liege--the line of a
French or British advance.

On the afternoon of August 4, 1914, German patrols appeared on the left
bank of the Meuse, approaching from Vise. They were also observed by the
sentries on Forts Barchon, Evegnee and Fleron. German infantry and
artillery presently came into view with the unmistakable object of
beginning the attack on those forts. The forts fired a few shots by way
of a challenge. As evening fell the woods began to echo with the roar of
artillery. Later, Forts Fleron, Chaudfontaine and Embourg were added to
the German bombardment. The Germans used long range field pieces with
powerful explosive shells. The fire proved to be remarkably accurate. As
their shells exploded on the cupolas and platforms of the forts, the
garrisons in their confined citadels began to experience that inferno of
vibrations which subsequently deprived them of the incentive to eat or
sleep. The Belgians replied vigorously, but owing to the broken nature
of the country, and the forethought with which the Germans took
advantage of every form of gun cover, apparently little execution was
dealt upon the enemy. However, the Belgians claimed to have silenced two
of the German pieces.

In the darkness of this historic night of August 4, 1914, the flames of
the fortress guns pierced the immediate night with vivid streaks. Their
searchlights swept in broad streams the wooded <DW72>s opposite. The
cannonade resounded over Liege, as if with constant peals of thunder. In
the city civilians sought the shelter of their cellars, but few of the
German shells escaped their range upon the forts to disturb them.

This exchange of artillery went on until near daybreak of August 5,
1914, when infantry fire from the woods to the right of Fort Embourg
apprised the defenders that the Germans were advancing to the attack.
The Germans came on in their customary massed formation. The prevalent
opinion that in German tactics such action was employed to hearten the
individual soldier, was denied by their General Staff. In their opinion
an advantage was thus gained by the concentration of rifle fire. Belgian
infantry withstood the assault, and counterattacked. When dawn broke, a
general engagement was in progress. About eight o'clock the Germans were
compelled to withdraw.

[Illustration: Beginning of German Invasion of Belgium.]

The first engagement of the war was won by the Belgians. It was reported
that the Belgian fire had swept the Germans down in thousands, but this
was denied by German authorities. Up to this time the German forces
before Liege were chiefly Von Kluck's vanguard under Von Emmich, his
second line of advance, and detachments of Von Buelow's army. On the
Belgian side no attempt was made to follow up the advantage. The reason
given is that the Germans were seen to be in strong cavalry force, an
arm lost totally in the military complement of Liege. The German losses
were undoubtedly severe, especially in front of Fort Barchon. This was
one of the major forts, triangular in shape, and surrounded by a ditch
and barbed wire entanglements. The armament of these major forts had
recently been reenforced by night, secretly, with guns of heavier
caliber from Antwerp. As they outmatched the German field pieces of the
first attack, presumably the German Intelligence Department had failed
in news of them. An armistice requested by the Germans to gather in the
wounded and bury the dead was refused. Thereupon the artillery duel
recommenced.

A hot and oppressive day disclosed woods rent and scarred, standing
wheat fields shell-plowed and trampled, and farm houses set ablaze. The
bringing of the Belgian wounded into Liege apprised the citizens that
their side had also suffered considerably. Meanwhile, the Germans were
reenforced by the Tenth Hanoverian Army Corps, from command of which
General von Emmich had been detached to lead Von Kluck's vanguard, also
artillery with 8.4-inch howitzers.

The bombardment on this 5th day of August, 1914, now stretched from Vise
around the Meuse right bank half circle of forts to embrace Pontisse and
Boncelles at its extremities. In a few hours infantry attack began
again. The Germans advanced in masses by short rushes, dropping to fire
rifle volleys, and then onward with unflinching determination. The
forts, wreathed in smoke, blazed shells among them; their machine guns
spraying streams of bullets. The Germans were repulsed and compelled to
retire, but only to re-form for a fresh assault. Both Belgian and German
aeroplanes flew overhead to signal their respective gunners. A Zeppelin
was observed, but did not come within range of Belgian fire. The
Belgians claim to have shot down one German aeroplane, and another is
said to have been brought to earth by flying within range of its own
artillery.

During the morning of August 5, Fort Fleron was put out of action by
shell destruction of its cupola-hoisting machinery. This proved a weak
point in Brialmont's fortress plan. It was presently discovered that the
fire of the supporting forts Evegnee and Chaudfontaine could not command
the lines forming the apex of their triangle. Further, since the Belgian
infantry was not in sufficient force to hold the lines between the
forts, a railway into Liege fell to the enemy. The fighting here was of
such a desperate nature, that General Leman hastened to reenforce with
all his reserve.

This battle went on during the afternoon and night of August 5, into the
morning of August 6, 1914. But the fall of Fort Fleron began to tell in
favor of the Germans. Belgian resistance perforce weakened. The
ceaseless pounding of the German 8.4-inch howitzers smashed the inner
concrete and stone protective armor of the forts, as if of little more
avail than cardboard. At intervals on August 6, Forts Chaudfontaine,
Evegnee and Barchon fell under the terrific hail of German shells. A way
was now opened into the city, though, for the most part, still contested
by Belgian infantry. A party of German hussars availed themselves of
some unguarded path to make a daring but ineffectual dash to capture
General Leman and his staff.

General Leman was consulting with his officers at military headquarters,
on August 6, 1914, when they were startled by shouts outside. He rushed
forth into a crowd of citizens to encounter eight men in German uniform.
General Leman cried for a revolver to defend himself, but another
officer, fearing the Germans had entered the city in force, lifted him
up over a foundry wall. Both Leman and the officer made their escape by
way of an adjacent house. Belgian Civic Guards hastening to the scene
dispatched an officer and two men of the German raiders. The rest of the
party are said to have been made prisoners.

The end being merely a question of hours General Leman ordered the
evacuation of the city by the infantry. He wisely decided it could be of
more service to the Belgian army at Dyle, than held in a beleaguered and
doomed city. Reports indicate that this retreat, though successfully
performed, was precipitate. The passage of it was scattered with arms,
equipment, and supplies of all kinds. An ambulance train was abandoned,
twenty locomotives left in the railway station, and but one bridge
destroyed in rear beyond immediate repair. After its accomplishment,
General Leman took command of the northern forts, determined to hold
them against Von Kluck until the last Belgian gun was silenced.

Early on August 7, 1914, Burgomaster Kleyer and the Bishop of Liege
negotiated terms for the surrender of the city. It had suffered but
slight damage from the bombardment. Few of the citizens were reported
among the killed or injured. On behalf of the Germans it must be said
their occupation of Liege was performed in good order, with military
discipline excellently maintained. They behaved at first fairly
impartial in establishing their rule in the city, and paid for all
supplies requisitioned. They were quartered in various public buildings
and institutions, probably to the number of 10,000. The German troops at
first seemed to present an interesting spectacle. They were mostly young
men, reported as footsore from their long march in new, imperfectly
fitting boots, and hungry from the lack of accompanying commissariat.
This is proof that the German's military machine did not work to
perfection at the outset. Later, alleged hostile acts by Belgian
individuals moved the German military authorities to seize a group of
the principal citizens, and warn the inhabitants that the breaking of a
peaceful attitude would be at the risk of swiftly serious punishment.
Precautions to enforce order were such as is provided in martial law,
and carried out in the beginning with some show of fairness. The Germans
appeared anxious to restore confidence and win a feeling of good will.

For some days after the capitulation of the city the northern forts
continued a heroic resistance. So long as these remained uncaptured,
General Leman maintained that, strategically, Liege had not fallen. He
thus held in check the armies of Von Kluck and Von Buelow, when every
hour was of supreme urgency for their respective onsweep into central
Belgium and up the Meuse Valley. The Germans presently brought into an
overpowering bombardment their 11-inch siege guns.

On August 13, 1914, Embourg was stricken into ruin. On the same day the
electric lighting apparatus of Fort Boncelles having been destroyed, the
few living men of its garrison fought through the following night in
darkness, and in momentary danger of suffocation from gases emitted by
the exploding German shells.

Early in the morning of August 14, 1914, though its cupolas were
battered in and shells rained upon the interior, the commander refused
an offer of surrender. A little later the concrete inner chamber walls
fell in. The commander of Boncelles, having exhausted his defensive,
hoisted the white flag. He had held out for eleven days in a veritable
death-swept inferno.

Fort Loncin disputed with Boncelles the honor of being the last to
succumb. The experience of its garrison differed only in terrible
details from Boncelles. Its final gun shot was fired by a man with his
left hand, since the other had been severed. Apparently a shell exploded
in its magazine, and blew up the whole fort. General Leman was
discovered amid its debris, pinned beneath a huge beam. He was released
by his own men. When taken to a trench, a German officer found that he
was merely unconscious from shock.

When sufficiently recovered, General Leman was conducted to General von
Emmich to tender his personal surrender. The two had previously been
comrades at maneuvers. The report of their meeting is given by a German
officer. The guard presented the customary salute due General Leman's
rank. General von Emmich advanced a few steps to meet General Leman.
Both generals saluted.

"General," said Von Emmich, "you have gallantly and nobly