During the latter part of September, 1914, the forces of the
belligerents were driving northward in that memorable race for the
Channel in which both sides had the same object; each was trying
to be the first to turn the other's front and crumble his line.
At the same time the German forces, then in the vicinity of Brussels,
under the command of General van Beseler, pushed toward Antwerp,
on which the Belgian army had fallen back to make its last stand.
This move was necessary in order to cut off all danger of rear
attacks which would menace General von Kluck's drive to the coast,
a movement which had reached Douai on October 1, 1914.
The German General Staff had decided to take Antwerp at all cost.
General von Beseler on the last day of September, 1914, reached
a point within range of Antwerp's farthest outer forts.
In order to understand the record of the following successive steps
in the siege of Antwerp, a description of this city's position and
the location of its double circle of forts is necessary. Antwerp
was considered one of the most formidable strongholds in the world.
The elaborate defenses of Antwerp evolved from the original
fortifications of thirty years ago through continual additions.
The location of the city offers very many natural advantages for
its defense, and the engineering genius controlling the work made
full use of these opportunities.
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