meet General Leman.
Both generals saluted.

"General," said Von Emmich, "you have gallantly and nobly held your
forts."

"I thank you," Leman replied. "Our troops have lived up to their
reputation. War is not like maneuvers, _mon General_," he added with a
pointed smile. "I ask you to bear witness that you found me
unconscious."

General Leman unbuckled his sword to offer it to the victor.

Von Emmich bowed.

"No, keep it," he gestured. "To have crossed swords with you has been an
honor."

Subsequently the President of the French Republic bestowed on Liege the
Cross of the Legion of Honor. To its motto in this instance might have
been added appropriately: Liege, the Savior of Paris. The few days of
its resistance to an overwhelming force enabled the Belgium army to
improve its mobilization, the British to throw an expeditionary army
into France, and the French to make a new offensive alignment. It will
forever remain a brilliant page in war annals. In a military estimate it
proved that forts constructed on the latest scientific principles, but
unsupported by an intrenched field army, crumple under the concentrated
fire of long-range, high-power enemy guns.

The fall of the northern and eastern Liege forts released Von Kluck's
army for its march into central Belgium. Meanwhile the Belgian army had
been concentrated on a line of the River Dyle, with its left touching
Malines and its right resting on Louvain. Its commander, General
Selliers de Moranville, made his headquarters in the latter city. The
Belgian force totaled 110,000 men of all complements. Whether this
included the reenforcement by the Liege infantry is uncertain.

During August 10 and 11, 1914, General Moranville threw forward
detachments to screen his main body in front of the German advance. On
the 11th a rumor that the French had crossed the Sambre, moved General
Moranville to extend his right wing to Eghezee, with the hope of getting
in touch with the Allies. That the French and British were hastening to
his support could not be doubted. They were already overdue, but
assuredly would come soon. That was the Belgian reliance, passing from
mouth to mouth among the Court, Cabinet Ministers, General Staff, down
to the factory toilers, miners, and peasants on their farms. The Sambre
report, like many others in various places, proved unfounded.

CHAPTER III

BELGIUM'S DEFIANCE

A view of the general situation in Belgium will assist in c