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CHAPTER IV

CAPTURE OF LOUVAIN—­SURRENDER OF BRUSSELS

During August 17, 1914, the German center was hurled forward in irresistible strength.  The citizens of the villages in its path fled precipitously along the roads to Brussels.  At intersections all kinds of vehicles bearing household effects, together with live stock, blocked the way to safety.  The uhlan had become a terror, but not without some provocation.  Tirlemont was bombarded, reduced, and evacuated by the Belgian troops.  The latter made a vigorous defensive immediately before Louvain, but their weakness in artillery and numbers could not withstand the overwhelming superiority of the Germans.  They were thrust back from the valley of the Dyle to begin their retreat on Antwerp, chiefly by way of Malines.  This was to elude a successful German envelopment on their Louvain right.  They retired in good order, but their losses had been considerable.

This body was the Belgian right wing, which fell back to take up a position before Louvain.  Here it fought a well-sustained action on August 19, 1914, the purpose of which was to cover the retreat of the main army by way of Malines on Antwerp.  The Belgian right wing thus became a rear guard.

It withstood the German attack until the early morning of August 20, 1914, when, separated from the main body, the overpowering number of German guns and men drove it back to a final stand between Louvain and Brussels.  If its losses had been heavy, the carrying away of the wounded proved that it still maintained a fighting front.  The retreat of the main army on Antwerp was part of Brialmont’s plan for the defense of Belgium, since the position of Brussels was not capable of a strong defense.  By this time the main army was safely passing down the valley of the Dyle to the shelter of the Antwerp forts, leaving the right wing to its fate.  Louvain thus fell to the Germans.

Toward noon of August 20, 1914, the burgomaster and four sheriffs awaited at one of the city gates, the first German appearance.  This proved to be a party of hussars bearing a white flag.  They conducted the burgomaster to the waiting generals at the head of the advance column.  In token of surrender the burgomaster was requested to remove his scarf of office, displaying the Belgian national colors.  The German terms were then pronounced.  A free passage of troops through the city was to be granted, and 3,000 men garrisoned in its barracks.  In return, cash was to be paid for all supplies requisitioned, and a guarantee given for the lives and property of the inhabitants.  The Germans further agreed to maintain the established civil power, but warned that hostile acts by civilians would be severely punished.  These terms were in general in conformity with the rules of war governing the military occupation of an enemy city.  In this respect emphasis should be laid on the fact that under these rules the hostile act of any civilian places him in the same position as a spy.  His recognized sentence is death by court-martial.