We have thus two factors to bear in mind with regard to the French
defensive position at Charleroi--the resisting power of the Namur
forts, and the unknown, to the French, proximity of Von Hausen's
army.
However substantial was the measure of reliance that the French
General Staff and General Michel placed on the Namur forts, evidently
General von Buelow regarded them as little more than passing targets
for his siege guns. He seemed to have made a comparatively simple
mathematical calculation of almost the number of shells necessary
to fire, and the hours to be consumed in reducing the Namur forts
to masses of debris.
We can picture General von Buelow as he sat in the motor car with
Marshal von der Goltz--the old gentleman with an overcoat buttoned
up to his nose in August, and huge spectacles. Doubtless discussion
ran mainly upon the impending attack of their Second Army on the
French right. Emphasis would have been laid on the positions of
the armies of the Duke of Wuerttemberg and crown prince advancing
away to their left upon the forces of the French Generals Ruffey
and de Cary. But there was apparently a German gap here between
Von Buelow's army and the armies of the Duke of Wuerttemberg and
crown prince, 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.
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