The Germans continuing their efforts to turn the French left, it was found necessary again to strengthen that left considerably; and new French army corps were transferred to Flanders and Belgium.  It was a new French army that was established and the command of it was intrusted to General d’Urbal.  It consisted at first of two divisions of territorials and four divisions of cavalry of the corps of General de Mitry, along with a brigade of naval fusiliers.  But from October 27 to November 11, 1914, it received considerable reenforcements.

During the second week in November the German attack revealing its purpose more clearly, General Joffre sent four more battalions of chasseurs and four more brigades of infantry.  The reenforcements sent to the French army of the north totaled as a result five army corps, a division of cavalry, a territorial division, sixteen cavalry regiments, and more than sixty pieces of heavy artillery.

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CHAPTER XXVI

SIEGE AND FALL OF ANTWERP

The siege of Antwerp began on September 29, 1914, and in less than two weeks, October 10, 1914, this historic city, one of the most important trade centers of the world and one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, was forced to capitulate, though it had always been believed to be impregnable.

During the latter part of September, 1914, the forces of the belligerents were driving northward in that memorable race for the Channel in which both sides had the same object; each was trying to be the first to turn the other’s front and crumble his line.

At the same time the German forces, then in the vicinity of Brussels, under the command of General van Beseler, pushed toward Antwerp, on which the Belgian army had fallen back to make its last stand.  This move was necessary in order to cut off all danger of rear attacks which would menace General von Kluck’s drive to the coast, a movement which had reached Douai on October 1, 1914.

The German General Staff had decided to take Antwerp at all cost.  General von Beseler on the last day of September, 1914, reached a point within range of Antwerp’s farthest outer forts.

In order to understand the record of the following successive steps in the siege of Antwerp, a description of this city’s position and the location of its double circle of forts is necessary.  Antwerp was considered one of the most formidable strongholds in the world.  The elaborate defenses of Antwerp evolved from the original fortifications of thirty years ago through continual additions.  The location of the city offers very many natural advantages for its defense, and the engineering genius controlling the work made full use of these opportunities.  From the north Antwerp has access to the sea by the river Scheldt, of which the arm nearest to the city is narrow, with six strong forts on each bank, including the citadel.