n good order, thanks to the resistance of its right-wing
rear guard. General de Moranville promptly reenforced it with new
volunteers to the extent of some 125,000 men. In addition, he drew upon
a fresh supply of ammunition, and new artillery well horsed. His
cavalry, however, were certainly no better and probably worse than that
with which his army had been complemented originally.

On August 23, 1914, obtaining information that the Germans were in
considerably inferior force at Malines, the Belgians began a vigorous
counteroffensive. General de Moranville drove the Germans out of Malines
on the day following. That was in the nature of a master stroke, for it
gave the Belgians control of the shortest railway from Germany into West
Flanders. Further, since Von Kluck had reached Bruges, and
reenforcements under General von Boehn had passed across the Belgian
direct line on Brussels, the great German right wing was in danger of
being caught in a trap. Von Boehn, therefore, was hurriedly detached
rearward to deal with the Belgian counteroffensive. But this deprived
Von Kluck of his needed reenforcements to overcome 2,000 British marines
landed at Ostend, that, together with the Civic Guard, had beaten back
German patrols from the place. Had the British now landed an army at
Ostend, Von Kluck, between the Belgian and British forces, would have
been in serious danger of annihilation. With the German right wing thus
crumpled, the whole of their offensive would have broken down. But the
British did not come, and so the Belgians were left to fight it out
single handed. This fighting went on for three weeks, with accurate
details lacking. Mainly it was upon the line Aerschot-Dyle
Valley-Termonde, with Antwerp for the Belgian base.

On August 24, 1914, a German Zeppelin sailed over Antwerp and dropped a
number of bombs. The Belgians thrust their right wing forward and
recaptured Alost. They advanced their center to a siege of Cortenburg.
Malines seemed secure. To the Belgians this was a historic triumph.
Famous for its manufacture of lace under the name of Mechlin, almost
every street contained some relic of architectural interest. The
Cathedral of St. Rombaut, the seat of a cardinal archbishop, held upon
its walls some of Van Dyck's masterpieces. Margaret of Austria had held
court in its Palais de Justice.

In this emergency, Von Boehn was heavily reenforced with the Third Army
Corps, reserves from the south, and 15,000 sailor