BELGIUM FEARS WAR

August 30, 1911: From the Montreal Gazette:

BELGIUM FEARS WAR

Prepares For Hostilities Between France and Germany

  Liege, Belgium, August 30. - An intense sensation has been created among the Belgian people, especially near the boundaries of France and Germany, by the military precautions which are being put into effect by the Belgian Government.
  A military council was held yesterday at the villa of Lieutenant-General Hellebaut, the minister of war, at which the commandants of all the frontier defences, and other military authorities, were present.

  The conference was called to preserve the neutrality of the country in the event of war between France and Germany so as to prevent the violation of Belgian territory by either combatants, or by Great Britain, should that country become involved in the conflict. Nothing so far has been disclosed regarding the decision of the council.
   Great military activity has been noticeable during the last few days. Large supplies of shells for the frontier forts and rifle ammunition have been sent forward, and additional batteries of artillery and rapid-fire guns have been shipped to reinforce the posts on all roads leading to the German frontier. Specific instructions, it is understood, have been sent to the commanders of troops concerning the blowing up of bridges and the destruction of railways should war break out.

  From Brussels, Belgium, August 30. - Two special trains, carrying sixty field guns, twelve Hotchkiss guns, and five caricads of ammunition, arrived at Namur, a strongly fortified city thiry-six miles southeast of Brussels, today from Antwerp.
  The Government appears to be making numerous rearrangements in the army, especially strengthening the eastern garrisons.Disquieting rumors are afloat as to the prospects of war between France and Germany. Several Belgian journals affirm that Adolphe Messimy, the French minister of war, has caused the attention of the Belgium Government to be directed to the weakness and neglected condition of this country's defences on the German frontier.