s. 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 van 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 l