The roads were deserted; the asparagus plants on which he turned his glasses were quite still; the farms were smoking and the rumbling of the cannon could only be heard dying away in the distance. Over yonder, beyond the village of Breendonck, the disorderly retreat of the Boches could be imagined, saving their cannons, dragging along their wounded, and hastening to hide their disgrace. After that our reconnaissances and our ambulances came out, and the sad and glorious balance sheet of the day's work was gradually made out. The next day we found that, in the asparagus fields, 1100 German identification plaques had been gathered. The Commander, whom everyone was congratulating, grasped the hands of the two soldier-telephonists and said to them: "And all this, thanks to you, my brave fellows!" CHAPTER XIV The Re-Taking of Aerschot By Sub-Lieutenant Ch. Dendale of the 7th Line Regiment On the 7th and 8th of September, the diminution of the forces besieging Antwerp was known at Headquarters and a _sortie_, with all the troops of the fighting army, was decided upon, either to inflict a defeat on the enemy, or to oblige the Germans to bring back, towards Antwerp, some of the forces now on the way to France. The _sortie_ commenced on the 9th of September and began favourably. On the 9th, the passages of the Demer and of the Dyle were conquered and Aerschot was taken. On the 10th, a platoon of the 2nd Mounted Chasseurs entered Louvain, but the 2nd Division was stopped at Wygmael and at Putkapel. The enemy brought back the 6th Division of Reservists who were then marching to France. On the 11th, the 3rd Division succeeded in an offensive on Over de Vaart and the 6th Division reached the railway from Malines to Louvain. On the 12th, it was the enemy's turn to take the offensive and drive back the 2nd Division at Rotselaer and Wesemael. This retreat drew with it the 6th Division and then the 3rd Division, and on the 13th the army fell back towards the retrenched camp. The chief object was nevertheless attained. The adversary had been obliged, not only to bring back to the Belgian front the 6th Division of the 3rd Corps, but also to delay the march of the 9th Corps towards France for two days, at the precise moment when the German armies, in effecting their retreat on the Marne, had the most urgent need of reinforcements. This is not an account of a particularly glorious feat of arms, but merely a statement of impressions during a combat which, although it was less murderous than any other in which I took part, left the most vivid impression on my mind.