A = ^=~ \ A CSC — S 1 Hth .-—■_■-■ I m 2 SIC 9 5 1 7 1 BELGIUM IN WAR H. WHITEHOUSE BEp ijlrail ''Wl 7fP*BWJ| ^._ .wwl IP* in o\p- CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS C. F. CLAY, Manager ILontoon: FETTER LANE, E.C. fEDmbutgf) : 100 PRINCES STREET £eto gorfc: G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS Bombay anti Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO., Ltd. Toronto: J. M. DENT AND SONS, Ltd. STokuo: THE MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA All rights reserved OS w a u C O BELGIUM IN WAR A RECORD OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES BY J. H. WHITEHOUSE, M.P. • < Cambridge : at the University Press 1915 First Impression i February 1915 Second Impression 2 February 191 5 Third Impression 11 February 1915 TO DORRIE THE COMPANION OF MY JOURNEY THIS TRIBUTE OF AFFECTION INTRODUCTION BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER T AM glad that my friend Mr J. H. White- -*- house, M.P., has allowed the story of his experiences in Belgium during the war to be re- printed in aid of the Relief Funds. It is a record which enables the reader to realize in part what the war has meant for Belgium, for her children and women and old people, as well as for her soldiers. I hope its publication may still further extend the welcome which it is the privilege of the British Nation to offer to this brave and much-wronged people. D. LLOYD GEORGE. 30 December 1914 CONTENTS Introduction by the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George, M.P Note .....••••• Belgium in War: The Condition of Antwerp . The Defences of Antwerp . The Belgian Ministry The Hospitals Termonde .... The General Situation throughout Belgium The German Methods in Belgium Tactics at Liege and Namur The Beginning of the Attack on Antwerp The Belgian Priest in War Summary of the Present Position The Future Steps for the British Government PAGE vii ix 3 6 8 io 12 15 16 18 19 21 22 24 26 2 Belgium in IV ar It is to be doubted whether, even yet, the tragedy of Belgium, with the infinite suffering involved for some millions of non-combatants, has been realised by the world. What has happened? A country containing a population of eight millions of peaceful and industrious persons has suddenly found itself the centre of a conflict between mighty armies, and has been overrun, devastated and ruined. Her life as a nation is destroyed, her people are fugitives, dependent upon the hospitality of the stranger. The pages of history scarcely offer any parallel for this tragedy in its suddenness, its immensity, and its sacrifice of human life and material wealth. I visited Belgium with the object of ascertaining the condition of the civilian population generally and of informing myself at first hand as to the con- ditions set up by the War in an innocent and peaceful country. I have ever believed that war is the negation of all that is good, and I was anxious to see what its ravages were, and how best its wounds could be healed. But I was not prepared for the reality. I want to attempt to bring home to my readers what has happened, and this not to arouse passion, but to kindle sympathy. I reached Antwerp towards the end of September. The King and his Cabinet, with the rest of the mem- bers of the Government, exiled from their capital, had made the city their head-quarters and were conducting the work of government as best they could over a sadly shrunken area, Antwerp and War ("SO E1N FR1SCHER FROLICHER KRIEG") A Record of Personal Experiences 3 Ostend, with the intervening coast line, being practically all that remained to them. It was thus difficult to get about the country, and, indeed, only possible at all because the Germans frequently withdrew for a time from places they had occupied or destroyed. On Sunday, the 27th of September, I was received by the King of the Belgians. At the end of the conference I was asked by the King to transmit once more the expression of his thanks for all that was being done for his people by the British nation. THE CONDITION OF ANTWERP Antwerp itself, though practically isolated, did not at first glance show many signs of the War then rolling almost to its gates. There were some changes in its physical appearance. The German shops were untenanted and barred. The public buildings, and many private ones, were decorated with the national flag. The streets were crowded, especially in the afternoons and early evenings. Everywhere eager crowds read war telegrams exhibited in shop windows. The Flemish and French papers were bought in large numbers. They contained surprisingly little news, practically nothing of current operations being printed. A large part of the contents of all the papers consisted of reprints from English newspapers 1 — 2 \ Belgium, in War v s three or four days old, or even more. Mr Lloyd George's Queen's Hall speech was being printed and discussed nearly a week after it had been delivered. Many of the foreign legations had removed to Antwerp with the Government, and were quartered in various hotels in the city. There was no lack of food within Antwerp. The supplies from Holland had not been interrupted, and the prices of foodstuffs remained normal. It was a noticeable feature at the daily vegetable markets that many very tiny children were acting as food buyers for the homes. As the city was known to be in danger of attack, refugees from the ravaged districts around were not admitted indiscriminately, but, except in the case of those who came to embark on the English steamers, were sent on to other places and otherwise arranged for. The possible fate of the wonderful fourteenth- century cathedral, one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in the world, must have been frequently in the minds not only of those who have the guardian- ship of this world treasure, but of all who know it. Steps were taken for its safety. It displayed from the summit of its incomparable tower a pro- tecting flag. The pictures which usually decorate the interior, including Rubens' famous masterpiece, The Descent from the Cross, were removed to the cellars. One visit which I paid to the cathedral brought home with dramatic force the sacrifice which Belgium The Condition of Antwerp 5 was making. It was the hour of the afternoon service. Outside was the crowded eager life of an excited populace, finding outlet for its emotion and solace for its fears in communal intercourse. Inside, the vast congregation was composed largely of women, nearly all of them in deep mourning. Many of them seemed very old; they wept for sons, the little ones clinging to their dress for fathers. Their faces, beautiful with the toil and thought of years, were singularly impressive. They might have stepped from the wonderful Flemish canvases in the Art Gallery of their city. A few days later these mourning women, old and young, bearing in primitive bundles all that they could save of their household goods, formed part of the procession from the city of its entire population. History itself can scarcely offer a parallel to a spec- tacle so charged with human suffering. Five hundred thousand peaceful and unoffending inhabitants, homeless and helpless, were fleeing into the darkness. From the banks of the Scheldt amidst flashes of fire they had what for many of them was their last vision of the city of their birth. At night Antwerp was both dark and silent during the days preceding the bombardment. The shops and cafes closed early. By eight o'clock not a light was to be seen, and the silence was only broken from time to time by the throb of military cars passing through the city. The German army sent several Zeppelins over Antwerp. The first bomb which was thrown did 6 Belgium in War considerable damage, and killed more than a dozen persons. A married couple who were in the ground- floor room of a house near which the bomb exploded were blown to pieces, and the room presented a very horrible appearance. The Zeppelin raid did not, however, create any general panic, though the city appeared to have no defence against them. A hostile aeroplane came over us at a great height, and the guns which were turned upon it seemed hopelessly inadequate. It did not, however, succeed in doing any damage. THE DEFENCES OF ANTWERP In view of subsequent events, it may not be without interest to record what was seen of the defences of Antwerp. It had the reputation of being one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, and had long been intended to serve as the base of the army, should it be compelled to retire in case of the violation of the neutrality of the country. Three circles of forts defended the city. Some of these were built fifty years ago, and all of them before anything was known of the new German siege guns, throwing a shell nearly a ton in weight, for a distance of seven miles, and it was clear to the military authorities that their forts would not stand for long a bombardment under the new conditions, and that additional measures were essential. I was shown ■4-" c < £ o .u X! x; H The Defences of Antwerp 7 what these latter were, and there is no longer any reason for silence respecting them. A bridge of boats had been thrown over the Scheldt west of the city, which served as the chief means of communi- cation with the south-west portion of Belgium. For some miles around Antwerp everything that would afford cover for the Germans was, as far as possible, destroyed. Many thousands of trees were cut down, and their trunks removed or burnt, so that woods and little forests had become barren plains. A large number of houses had been similarly destroyed, and the debris carted away or scattered. All the way to the outer line of forts, and beyond, an enormous number of trenches had been prepared. At many strategic points extensive wire entangle- ments had been prepared, which were electrified and would cause death to any coming into contact with them. I was informed by the Minister of Finance that the value of the property, the destruction of which was rendered necessary by these precautionary measures for the defence of Antwerp amounted to nearly 10,000,000/. The defence guns of Antwerp did not compare with the German siege guns, and the Belgians were further handicapped by some shortage of ammunition, due in part to the fact that some of their ammunition factories were in the hands of the Germans. 8 Belgium in IVar THE BELGIAN MINISTRY The members of the Belgian Government set an example of great bravery and resourcefulness. Each Minister in Antwerp was working incessantly to discharge the duties of government under unex- ampled conditions of difficulty and danger. They had made arrangements by which they were kept in touch with events in almost every part of the country occupied by the Germans, and they were able to take steps accordingly from day to day, as the situation demanded. There was no panic, or alarm, or excitement in their methods. They were quiet, unassuming men whose lives had hitherto been spent in the paths of peace, but they showed the most unbounded courage. They felt no doubt as to the future, and they made their plans for it in this spirit. Their moderation was very impressive. They distinguished between the German nation and the German army, and realised that there were two Germanys, one which they had known and trusted, and another which was ravaging their land. The Belgian Ministry gave me every possible assistance in connexion with my mission. Their anxiety throughout was to enable me to see for myself the state of their country. This was a matter of great difficulty, as the German troops were moving rapidly over many parts of the country, and it was not possible to tell a day in advance which points we could attempt to visit. The Belgian Ministry 9 The Ministry expressed to me their great gratitude for the relief which was coming from England, but they stated that so extensive were the conditions of want and actual starvation that the help they were receiving was as a drop in the ocean. They stated that a great proportion of the population in Belgium were starving, and they gave me the following list of goods as being those most urgently required: Coal Flour Rice Sugar Salt Dry vegetables Beans Clothing of all descriptions They suggested that these articles should be sent direct to Antwerp and that they should undertake their distribution. The German troops were con- stantly moving and the Government could, therefore, reach a considerable number of the districts most in need. They added that no quantities which the imagination could suggest would be too great to send. When this conversation took place it was not thought that the Germans would attempt to capture Antwerp. The development of the military situation and the enforced flight of the Government upset, for the time, all the relief schemes. The whole problem has assumed a new character owing to the wholesale exodus of the population from many parts of Belgium. io Belgium in War THE HOSPITALS Antwerp was, of course, the main and, latterly, the only hospital base for the whole of Belgium. Many of the public buildings had been transformed and were used as emergency hospitals. The hospitals sent by other countries were located here. I visited most of these hospitals and was impressed by their efficiency. At the outbreak of the war there had been a shortage of surgical requirements, including a notable absence of anaesthetics, but this had since been made good. No more striking proof of what the war meant to the Belgian nation was needed than a visit to the great military hospital in Antwerp. I hope I may be forgiven for giving a very brief account of my own visit to it. I do not wish to gratify the curiosity of the morbid but to enlist sympathy and aid. The enormous buildings of the military hospital were rilled with the wounded. They included every class of injury. Many were suffering from rifle wounds. These were the least serious cases. The wounds were generally clean, and healed quickly. There were, however, a great number of cases of shell wounds. Some of these were of a very fearful character. The surgeons were working under great pressure. In one operating room the surgeons were dealing with a smashed thigh, caused by shell; in the room adjoining and in the passage connecting, The Hospitals 1 1 seriously wounded soldiers lay on stretchers waiting to be brought into the operating room. One portion of the hospital was devoted to wounded Germans. The arrangements for these were the same as for the Belgians. Except that there were armed sentries at the doors there was no distinction. Many of the wounds were serious. One German whom I saw had had both eyes blown out, and was slowly recovering. I should like to pay a tribute to the devotion of the staff of the British Field Hospital. The school in which it had been placed was filled with Belgians, all seriously wounded. Many of the injuries were from shells and involved complicated and difficult opera- tions. When I was in the hospital I saw an operation being performed on a soldier whose leg had been broken in seventeen places; not only was there a practical certainty of saving the patient's life, but it was also hoped to save the injured limb. This case was typical of many more. The needs of the Belgian Red Cross Society were brought to my notice. Their funds were exhausted and they were urgently appealing to the Government, already bearing burdens beyond their strength, for immediate financial help. This matter has been brought formally to the notice of the British Red Cross Society, and I trust some of the funds of the latter may be used in Belgium. I believe that public opinion would be wholly in favour of this being done. 12 Belgium in War TERMONDE On Saturday, the 26th of September, I was told by the Minister of Finance that it would be possible for me to reach Termonde. Two military motor cars were placed at my disposal. The party with me included the King's Private Secretary and a staff officer. We left Antwerp at midday, and we were enabled to see for ourselves the damage which the Belgians had had to inflict upon themselves in order to protect their city. The destruction of property of every description and the flooding of vast areas of low-lying land gave the appearance of horrible desolation. When we had gone a little distance we became aware that an attack was being made by the enemy in the neighbourhood of Termonde, and faint echoes of the guns reached us. We passed through the villages and small towns which cluster round Antwerp, the road being fre- quently crowded with troops and with innumerable transport waggons going to or returning from the Front. In the villages all ordinary life was arrested, the women and children standing or sitting, dumb and patient, by the roadside. Half way to Termonde we could hear very plainly the booming of the guns. We were hindered in our journey by the destruction of bridges and to some extent by the flooded nature of the country. When, at length, we reached the Scheldt before Termonde, we found a very rough Termonde 1 3 narrow bridge which, with care, we were able to cross. Here the firing was very vivid. There were considerable numbers of Belgian troops, and we saw many evidences of the battle which was then raging. We came to the margin of the town and began our detailed inspection. I had read newspaper accounts of the destruction of Termonde, and I had seen photographs of houses or parts of streets showing the work of destruction. They had not conveyed to my mind any realisation of the horror of what had actually happened. Termonde a few weeks ago was a beautiful city of about 16,000 inhabitants; a city in which the dignity of its buildings harmonised with the natural beauty of its situation ; a city which contained some buildings of surpassing interest. I found it entirely destroyed; I went through street after street, square after square, and I found that every house was entirely destroyed with all its contents. It was not the result of a bombardment : it was systematic destruction. In each house a separate bomb had been placed which had blown up the interior and had set fire to the contents. All that remained were portions of the outer walls, still constantly falling, and inside the cinders of the contents. Not a shred of furniture or of anything else remained. This sight continued in street after street through- out the entire extent of what had been a considerable town. It had an indescribable influence upon the observer which no printed description or even pictorial record could give. This influence was 14 Belgium in JVar increased by the utter silence of the city, broken only by the sound of the guns. Of the population I thought not a soul remained — I was wrong. For as we turned into a square where the wreck of what had been one of the most beautiful of Gothic churches met my eyes, a blind woman and her daughter groped among the ruins. They were the sole living creatures in the whole of the town. Shops, factories, churches, the houses of the wealthy, all were similarly destroyed. One qualification only have I to make of this statement. Two or perhaps three houses bore a German command in chalk that they were not to be burnt. These remained standing, but deserted, amidst the ruins on either side. Where a destroyed house had obviously contained articles of value looting had taken place. In the ruins of what had been a jeweller's shop the remains of the safe were visible amidst the cinders. The part around the lock had been blown off and the contents rifled. I inquired what had become of the population. It was a question to which no direct reply could be given. They had fled in all directions. Some had reached Antwerp, but a great number were wandering about the country panic-stricken and starving; many were already dead. c O s u o u General Situation throughout Belgium 15 THE GENERAL SITUATION THROUGHOUT BELGIUM I had other opportunities of seeing that what had happened at Termonde was typical of what had happened in other parts of Belgium under the military occupation of Germany, and I have given this record of the condition of Termonde because it is typical. Conditions of unexampled misery have been set up for the civilian population throughout the occupied territory. Until the fall of Antwerp com- paratively only a few refugees had reached this country. The others remained wandering about Belgium nocking into other towns and villages or flying to points a little way across the Dutch frontier. Sometimes when a town has been bombarded the Germans have withdrawn and the civilians have returned to their homes, only to flee again at a renewed attack from the enemy. A case in point is Malines, which on the 27th of September, as I was trying to reach it, was again bombarded. The inhabitants were then unable to leave, as the town was surrounded. But when the bombardment ceased there was a panic exodus. The whole life of the nation has been arrested; the food supplies which would ordinarily reach the civilian population are being taken by the German troops for their own support. The poor and many others are without the necessaries of life, and the 1 6 Belgium in War conditions of starvation grow more acute every day. Even where, as in some cases happens, there is a supply of wheat available, the peasants are not allowed to use their windmills owing to the German fear that they will send signals to the Belgian army. We are face to face with a fact unique perhaps in the history of the world. The life of an entire nation has been arrested, its army is driven to the borders of another country, the bulk of its civilian population are refugees, of those who remain many are panic-stricken wanderers from village to village. THE GERMAN METHODS IN BELGIUM As I have already stated, the completeness of the destruction at Termonde was a feature which almost everywhere marked the German progress through Belgium. It was amazing because it was not the result of the ordinary incidents of war such as bombardment. It was organised and systematic destruction. The method of it was explained to me in detail by the Belgian Government, and particularly by the venerable Speaker of the Belgian Parliament. I had explained to me and was shown the numerous appliances which the German soldiers carried for destroying property. Not only were hand-bombs of various sizes and descriptions carried, but each soldier was supplied with a quantity of small black discs little bigger than a sixpenny-piece. I saw these discs which had been taken from German soldiers on (A 1) CO v> o u > O u +-» CO OJ •a