The occupation of the commercial metropolis of Belgium was loudly acclaimed in Germany, and necessarily it was a great blow to the Belgians, to whose burden of misfortunes it added the last straw, but the fact that, except for the presence of a small force of British marines, the defence of the forts was left to the Belgians themselves shows that the Allies did not attach very great importance to the retention of Antwerp in their hands.
It was not Antwerp that was the Germans' objective.
It is Paris that is, as the Imperial Chancellor has put it, their military goal, and it cannot be reasonably doubted that the Allies showed sound judgement in refusing to weaken their military dispositions in France in order to defend Antwerp.
The very success of the Germans there and their subsequent movement towards the coast - which he issued, as reported this morning, in the occupation of Ostend - have involved the use by them of considerable forces of men in a service that is hardly likely to have any influence upon the ultimate issue of the war.
The Allies in Western Europe have wisely (it must be considered) directed their efforts to meeting the German offensive in France.
The news we received throughout last week indicated that slowly but surely the pressure exerted by the invading army was being relaxed, and the latest messages encouraged the belief that the Germans have been thrown back almost along the whole line, towards the Belgian frontier.
In other words, the invasion of France is coming to an end, and the supreme object of the aggressive movement of Germany in the western theatre will then have failed - and failed at an enormous cost in human life and in treasure.
• As a result of the patriotic demonstration given by the Dunedin and suburban brass and pipe bands and the school fife and drum bands at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon, it is expected that the local relief fund will benefit by about 100.
Of this amount no less than 25 was secured by members of the Orphans' Club, as a result of their collections in the city early in the afternoon and again in the evening, and on the ground.
It was unfortunate that the weather proved so unpropitious in the morning as to raise a doubt whether the committee was wise in deciding to go on.
The afternoon, however, turned out quite pleasant, and proved the wisdom of the committee in going on, but the initial uncertainty and the unpromising outlook till well on to 2 o'clock had the effect of restricting the attendance, which amounted to about 2000 people, a large number of these being school boys and girls.
All the bandsmen - men and boys - looked neat and trim in their different coloured uniforms, and the sound of martial music sounded loud over the land.
All the bands marched to the ground, coming from various directions, and at 2.30 sharp the 4th Regimental Band struck up the National Anthem, this being followed by the Belgian National Anthem, and then by the stirring strains of the Marseillaise.
Later on this band played ''Sea Songs'' in a very tasteful manner.
The Kaikorai Band, whose fine marching was much admired, contributed ''It's a Long Way to Tipperary'' - the most played tune of the afternoon - and the Dunedin and Mosgiel Pipe Bands and St Kilda Band also marched and played. Each of the school bands in turn marched round the ground. - ODT, 19.10.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
