rritorial
divisions. At the beginning of October the British army, which was
posted on the Aisne, was transferred to the left of the French armies
and replaced by the armies of Manoury and d'Esperey. The Belgian army,
issuing from Antwerp on October 9, 1914, effected its retreat, covered
by the British naval forces and 6,000 French marines. It took its place
on the Yser Canal between Nieuport and Dixmude.

The Germans continuing their efforts to turn the French left, it was
found necessary again to strengthen that left considerably; and new
French army corps were transferred to Flanders and Belgium. It was a new
French army that was established and the command of it was intrusted to
General d'Urbal. It consisted at first of two divisions of territorials
and four divisions of cavalry of the corps of General de Mitry, along
with a brigade of naval fusiliers. But from October 27 to November 11,
1914, it received considerable reenforcements.

During the second week in November the German attack revealing its
purpose more clearly, General Joffre sent four more battalions of
chasseurs and four more brigades of infantry. The reenforcements sent to
the French army of the north totaled as a result five army corps, a
division of cavalry, a territorial division, sixteen cavalry regiments,
and more than sixty pieces of heavy artillery.

CHAPTER XXVI

SIEGE AND FALL OF ANTWERP

The siege of Antwerp began on September 29, 1914, and in less than two
weeks, October 10, 1914, this historic city, one of the most important
trade centers of the world and one of the strongest fortresses in
Europe, was forced to capitulate, though it had always been believed to
be impregnable.

During the latter part of September, 1914, the forces of the
belligerents were driving northward in that memorable race for the
Channel in which both sides had the same object; each was trying to be
the first to turn the other's front and crumble his line.

At the same time the German forces, then in the vicinity of Brussels,
under the command of General von Beseler, pushed toward Antwerp, on
which the Belgian army had fallen back to make its last stand. This move
was necessary in order to cut off all danger of rear attacks which would
menace General von Kluck's drive to the coast, a movement which had
reached Douai on October 1, 1914.

The German General Staff had decided to take Antwerp at all cost.
General von Beseler on the last day of September,