Besides the Allies were close at hand.  Only eighteen miles separated him from strong detachments of French infantry and artillery at Dinant.  As we have seen French cavalry had been thrown forward as far as Gembloux on the road to Brussels, but ten miles to the northeast of Namur.  Somewhere between that place and Charleroi French Chasseurs d’Afrique had advanced to occupy outpost positions.  His position appeared by no means hopeless—­considerably better than the unsupported field army at Liege.  The armor of his forts was calculated to withstand the 36-lb. shells of the heaviest German fieldpieces, but comparatively slight damage was anticipated from the known heavier howitzers.  If the Germans purposed to assault Namur in mass formation, as they had done at Liege, General Michel had every reason to feel confident he could repulse them with tremendous losses.

But the Germans had learned a severely taught lesson at Liege.  They had no intention of repeating those tactics.  Behind a remarkable screen of secrecy, they managed to conceal from General Michel—­as they did from the Allies—­the existence of their enormous siege guns.  Whether they brought into action at Namur their famous 42-centimeters, capable of throwing a shell of high explosive power weighing 2,500 lbs., is uncertain.  In fact, it is still doubtful where they were first fired at the allied enemy.  Two are said to have assisted in the final destruction of the northern forts of Liege, and two were seen rolling over the field of Waterloo.  The Germans remained silent upon the subject, and nothing definite about their first discharge was disclosed.  But unquestionably their fire was capable of demolishing into ruin any fort on earth within a short period.  It is certain, however, the Germans brought against Namur their 28-centimeter guns, and probably some of 21-centimeter caliber.  These artillery weapons were quite formidable enough to reduce the Namur forts.  The former threw a shell of 750 pounds from a range of three miles—­beyond the reach of the Namur guns.  The latter projected shells of 250 pounds.  The Germans are said to have employed thirty-two of the heavier caliber guns, and a large number of 21-centimeter.

Thus Namur was doomed before the bombardment commenced.  Von Buelow’s left wing advanced up the Meuse north bank from Huy, some part of it crossing to the south bank at Ardenne, where it came in touch with the Saxon army.

At sundown of August 20, 1914, Von Buelow was in position before Namur, three miles from its defenses.  Darkness fell upon a hot and sultry August atmosphere.  Presently the flashes and boom of the German guns began a bombardment of the trenches between forts Cognelee and Marchovelette.  It continued through the night.  But the Belgian fortress guns were outranged.  It would have been a mere waste of ammunition to reply.  Neither could the Belgian infantry venture on a counterattack, for the Germans were clearly observed in overwhelming strength.