ince, though we noticed previously
Von Buelow's army came in touch with Saxon troops half way between Huy
and Namur, when a detachment of Von Buelow's left wing was thrown across
the Meuse at Ardenne. This gap was faced by the French extreme right
resting on the southward Namur bend of the Meuse. It was possibly the
"trap" military critics of the moment foresaw for the Germans. Quite
likely the two German generals Von Buelow and Von der Goltz, chatting in
their motor car, referred to this gap, and it is hardly a stretch of
imagination to suggest a twinkle in the huge glasses of the old
gentleman in the August overcoat, when now and then the name of Von
Hausen was mentioned.

The German attack on the French right began early in the morning of
Friday, August 21, 1914. A party of German hussars crossed the Meuse,
rode through Charleroi, and trotted on toward the Sambre. At first they
were mistaken for a British cavalry patrol. Probably the populace in
Charleroi were not sufficiently familiar at that time with the British
hussar uniform to distinguish it from the German. In all armies hussar
uniforms bear a close resemblance. A French officer, however, presently
detected the situation. After a skirmish the German hussars were driven
off with the loss of a few killed and wounded. But the raid evidently
came out of the gap as a surprise to the French. The citizens were
promptly ordered to their homes. Barricades were raised in the streets,
and mitrailleuses were placed in sweeping positions. An artillery
engagement began at Jemappe, nine miles above Namur on the left bank of
the Sambre, between Von Buelow's vanguard and the main French right.
Later in the day Von Buelow's vanguard artillery had advanced to open
fire on Charleroi and Thuin, seven miles beyond.

On Saturday, August 22, 1914, Von Buelow attacked Charleroi in full
strength. As we have seen, he had already practically settled with
Namur. Their main assault on Saturday was delivered on the Sambre
bridges at Chatelet and Thuin, below and above Charleroi, respectively.
Sometime on Saturday they succeeded in crossing to turn Charleroi into
one of the most frightful street battle grounds in history. The conflict
raged for the possession of iron foundries, glass works, and other
factories. The thoroughfares were swept by storms of machine-gun fire.
Tall chimneys toppled over and crashed to the ground, burying defenders
grouped near under piles of debris. Desperate hand