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Updated: June 28, 2025
Learning that the advance guard of the German army was only a few miles outside the city, the burgomaster went out on the morning of September to parley with Gen. von Boehn in the hope of arranging for the German forces not to enter.
On Thursday, September 3, he said, he was just leaving his rope and twine factory when he heard the sounds of musketry to the south. A small force of Belgian outposts were completely surprised by a part of the Ninth German Army Corps under General von Boehn. They were completely outclassed. Before retreating, however, they let the enemy have a couple of volleys.
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.
I will leave it to my readers to decide for themselves just how convincing were the answers of the German General Staff for General von Boehn was but its mouthpiece to the Belgian accusations. Before we began our conversation I asked the general if my photographer, Thompson, might be permitted to take photographs of the great army which was passing.
Let them hear our side of this atrocity business. It is only justice that they should be made familiar with both sides of the question." I have quoted my conversation with General von Boehn as nearly verbatim as I can remember it. I have no comments to make.
He said we must report to army headquarters in Brussels, and that under no circumstances should we be allowed to return within the Belgian lines. In this way began our eight days' confinement within the lines of the German Army of the North under General von Boehn. Just as we had been warned repeatedly, so we discovered in reality that to cross between two opposing lines was no joking matter.
Had it been a British or an American soldier who was thus treated there would have been an officer's funeral the next day. As we were passing a German outpost a sentry ran into the road and signalled us to stop. "Are you Americans?" he asked. "We are," said I. "Then I have orders to take you to the commandant," said he. "But I am on my way to dine with General von Boehn.
In this emergency, Von Boehn was heavily reenforced with the Third Army Corps, reserves from the south, and 15,000 sailors and marines. His army was now between 250,000 and 300,000 men. This placed overwhelming odds against the Belgians. But for four days they fought a stubborn battle at Weerde.
Julius Van Hee, the American Vice-Consul, to pay a hurried visit to General von Boehn, the German commander, to explain that the people of Ghent were not responsible for the affair and to beg that no retaliatory measures be taken against the city; if Mr.
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