of overwhelming need.
About this time some French cavalry crossed the Sambre to join hands
with the Belgian right wing near Waterloo. But it was little more than a
detachment. The French General Staff was occupied with a realignment,
and had decided not to advance into Belgium until they could do so in
force sufficient to cope with the Germans. The Belgian General Staff saw
there was no other course but to fall back, fighting rear-guard actions
until the longed-for French army was heralded by the thunder of friendly
guns.

The Belgian army was thus withdrawn from the River Gethe to hold
Aerschot on its left stubbornly through August 14, 1914. Diest, St.
Trond, and Waremme fell before the German tidal wave without resistance.
Von Kluck's main army endeavored to sweep around the Belgian right at
Wavre, but was checked for a brief space.

CHAPTER IV

CAPTURE OF LOUVAIN--SURRENDER OF BRUSSELS

During August 17, 1914, the German center was hurled forward in
irresistible strength. The citizens of the villages in its path fled
precipitously along the roads to Brussels. At intersections all kinds of
vehicles bearing household effects, together with live stock, blocked
the way to safety. The uhlan had become a terror, but not without some
provocation. Tirlemont was bombarded, reduced, and evacuated by the
Belgian troops. The latter made a vigorous defensive immediately before
Louvain, but their weakness in artillery and numbers could not withstand
the overwhelming superiority of the Germans. They were thrust back from
the valley of the Dyle to begin their retreat on Antwerp, chiefly by way
of Malines. This was to elude a successful German envelopment on their
Louvain right. They retired in good order, but their losses had been
considerable.

This body was the Belgian right wing, which fell back to take up a
position before Louvain. Here it fought a well-sustained action on
August 19, 1914, the purpose of which was to cover the retreat of the
main army by way of Malines on Antwerp. The Belgian right wing thus
became a rear guard.

It withstood the German attack until the early morning of August 20,
1914, when, separated from the main body, the overpowering number of
German guns and men drove it back to a final stand between Louvain and
Brussels. If its losses had been heavy, the carrying away of the wounded
proved that it still maintained a fighting front. The retreat of the
main army on Antwerp was part of Brialm