ont's plan for the defense of
Belgium, since the position of Brussels was not capable of a strong
defense. By this time the main army was safely passing down the valley
of the Dyle to the shelter of the Antwerp forts, leaving the right wing
to its fate. Louvain thus fell to the Germans.

Toward noon of August 20, 1914, the burgomaster and four sheriffs
awaited at one of the city gates, the first German appearance. This
proved to be a party of hussars bearing a white flag. They conducted the
burgomaster to the waiting generals at the head of the advance column.
In token of surrender the burgomaster was requested to remove his scarf
of office, displaying the Belgian national colors. The German terms were
then pronounced. A free passage of troops through the city was to be
granted, and 3,000 men garrisoned in its barracks. In return, cash was
to be paid for all supplies requisitioned, and a guarantee given for the
lives and property of the inhabitants. The Germans further agreed to
maintain the established civil power, but warned that hostile acts by
civilians would be severely punished. These terms were in general in
conformity with the rules of war governing the military occupation of an
enemy city. The Germans put forward the claim that the hostile act of
any civilian places him in the same position as a spy, to be punished by
death.

The Germans entered Louvain with bands playing, and singing in a great
swelling chorus: "Die Wacht am Rhein" and "Hail to the War Lord." They
marched to quick time, but in passing through the great square of the
Gare du Nord broke into the parade goose step. In the van were such
famous regiments as the Death's Head and Zeiten Hussars. The infantry
wore heavy boots, which, falling in unison, struck the earth with
resounding blows, to echo back from the house walls. Thus cavalry,
infantry, and artillery poured through Louvain in a gray-green surge of
hitherto unimagined military might. This, for the latter part of the
20th and the day following.

At first the citizens looked on from the sidewalks in a spellbound
silence. Scarcely one seemed to possess the incentive to breathe a
whisper. Only the babies and very small children regarded the
awe-inspiring spectacle as something provided by way of entertainment.
For the rest of the citizens it was dumbfounding beyond human
comprehension. Cavalry, infantry, and artillery rolled on unceasingly to
the clatter of horses' hoofs, the tramp of feet,