So nothing happened in the city proper, though in
the outskirts three soldiers disappeared and are supposed to have been
murdered, and a high officer"--he did not give the name or the rank--
"was waylaid and killed just beyond the environs.
"Now we fear that the uprising may come to-night. For the last three
days the residents, in great numbers, have been asking for permits to
leave Liege and go into neutral territory in Holland, or to other parts
of their own country. To us this sudden exodus--there seems to be no
reason for it--looks significant.
"These people are naturally turbulent. Always they have been so. Most
of them are makers of parts for firearms--gunmaking, you know, was the
principal industry here--and they are familiar with weapons; and many of
the men are excellent shots. This increases the danger. At first they
were content to ambush single soldiers who strayed into obscure quarters
after dark. Now it is forbidden for less than three soldiers in a party
to go anywhere at night; and they think from this that we are afraid,
and are growing more daring.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235