A Popular History of The Great War/Volume 1/Page 166

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GERMAN INVASION OF BELGIUM


upandsurrenderthemselvesinordertogetfood.” Doubtless, some of the Uhlans and hussars, hastily pushed through the country, did march on short commons. But Belgium was only too soon to discover that the army behind was well provided. On Saturday, August 15, the Germans moved forward to striketheirrealblow. ThefortsofLiegewerenolongerableto offer a serious resistance. The little town of Huy, with its important bridge over the Meuse, eastward of Namur, which had been taken after a fierce struggle, opened up an important thoroughfare. The German armies were now able to move in strength into the heart of Belgium. Behind the cavalry screen foijr army corps moved forward. Their aircraft swept north- wards, and from this momerft little more was heard of the Belgian aeroplanes, which up to this stage had been doing useful work. One German army moved in great strength westwards towards Dinant. ' Its doings have already been told. Another moved up behind the northern cavah*y screen. On August 16 the Germans attacked in force the position to the south-east of Wavre, where the Belgian and French armies met. They came in crescent formation, their aim being to turn the right flank of the Belgian army. The Belgian headquarters reported that the attempt had been vigorously repulsed, but the repulse was not permanent. On MondjLy the Germans advanced all along the line from Wavre to the Dutch frontier at great speed and with irresistible force. On Tuesday they opened an overwhelming artillery fire on Tirlemont. Their infantry and cavalry were sometimes as rnanyastentooneagainsttheirenemy. TheGermanaeroplanes acted as scouts; they located the Belgian forces, signalled the exact position to their own guns, and enabled them to aim the shrapnel with overwhelming effect. When the Belgian lines had been shaken sufficiently by shrap- nel fire the German cavalry poured in. They swept through the ranks out into the villages behind. The people there were in their hom^s or working in the fields, conhdent in the power of their own soldiers to protect them. Suddenly the Gennan cavalry swoopedonthem,andneitheragenorsexwasspared. Asthe people who escaped ru.shcd madly across the fields and along tlie hed|[es the German guns opened out on them. It was battle praciiceagainstoldmen,womenandchildren. Warhadcome in earnest now. Those fortunate enough to escape found two

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