general staff deliberately adopted a policy of terrorism. This u as considered necessary for a double reason—to prevent popular risings among the Belgian people and attacks upon the German communications, and—an even more important matter—to present such an example to the neighbouring population of Holland as would deter them from joining the Allies.
Meanwhile the victorious army had pushed on through Belgium. Bruges and Ghent were defenceless and the troops pushed on to Osteud. Here a stand was made by a handful of Belgian troops and some British marines, and the German advance guards were driven off. But for some weeks the Germans showed no signs of further activity. Germany was mobilizing her forces for an attack upon A5i twerp and preparing for that turning movement south-west which was to roll up the French army and carry the victorious German arms alpiost to thesuburbsofParis. OnAugust2:and23theblowwasstruck and British troops at Mons were meeting for the* first time since Waterloo the shock of a great European power.
Belgiumwasfastgripped. Thefewoutlyingterritoriesonthe north-eastnot^'ctoccupiedcouldbesnappedupatleisure. Ant- werp and the intrepid Belgian army offered an obstacle of greater difficulty, but apart from sorties, it was thought that they repit'seated no great danger. There was no hurry and the (.iermans were content to hold the Belgians in check until I heir heavy siege guns could be brought from Namur.
The German invasion had been characterised by three laaiu features. In the first place, it w'as shown wutli what desperation andutterruthlcssnessGermanywaspreparedtowagewar. In the second the power of modern armciments was for the first lime revealed and the effect they were destined to have upon the future cour.se of the struggle was made evident. In the third place, it showed the revolution wliich modern motor trans- port had had upon the mobility of armies. Day after day, Germany was advancing across a huge front spreading from lh« Dutch border to N. France, and advancing, moreover, with over- whelming speed, yet never once were her troops short of provi- sions or ammunition. Moreover, they amved at their destina- tion perfectly fresh. They had covered a distance six times longer than they could have marched in the same time, and with no effort to themselves. Upon those three factoi's rested the success of Germany in August, 1914, a success which left the
Not Proofread. The contents of this page needs to be proofread. Currently, there are multiple typos / OCR errors that require attention.
OSTEND OCCUPIED