New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?
Various
World War, 1914-1918
During this battle before Antwerp an undoubtedly organized attack was
made upon the German troops at many places in Louvain, after apparently
friendly relations between the Germans and the citizens of the town had
seemed for twenty-four hours to be beginning. The attack was at first
against a Landwehr battalion composed of older men of quiet disposition
and themselves mostly fathers of families; also against sections of the
General Staff that had remained in the city, and upon moving columns of
troops. The Germans had many wounded and killed. They won the upper
hand, however, owing to the arrival of fresh troops by rail, who were
fired upon at the station. The truth of the foregoing statements is
established beyond all cavil. The City Hall was saved, but further
attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful.
* * * * *
LOUVAIN'S ART TREASURES.
Official Report by Superior Confidential Councilor von Falke After
Inspection of Louvain, Sept. 17.
The ancient Tuchhalle, which was used for university and library
purposes, was completely destroyed by fire, with the exception of the
front and rear facades in Gothic and Renaissance style. The library,
with its very valuable treasures of manuscripts and books, was therefore
a total loss. Officials of the library who might have called attention
to the saving of the imperiled treasures were not present when the
adjoining houses on both sides of the hall caught fire, and no hope
exists that any of the books or manuscripts, or even parts thereof,
might be found in the ruins.
Apart from this--by far the worst damage--and the partial destruction
by fire of the Cathedral of St. Peter no other losses of extraordinary
importance took place at Louvain.
The Rathaus, or City Hall, in late Gothic style, under reconstruction
for several years and on which work has not been finished yet, was
saved, thanks to the orders of the commander, Major von Manteuffel, who
ordered that the burning houses on the right side of the City Hall be
leveled to the ground. The military removed from a cellar of the City
Hall a quantity of ammunition which threatened to explode through
extreme heat of the fire. Four soldiers were severely injured thereby.
The Rathaus, thanks to the precautions taken by the German military, and
in spite of its nearness to the conflagration, was not damaged in the
interior, nor did its rich outer architecture suffer any at all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account