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CHAPTER XIII
MORE DAYS IN ANTWERP
IT
might be thought that the war had dealt Antwerp
and its commerce their death blow. But the city is
merely asleep and there is no one who can tell how long
its torpor will last. Just as the fall of the city was an event in
the world’s history which brought German power within
striking distance of Great Britain, so the city itself will in
coming times of peace acquire a status of world-wide im-
portance and become perhaps still greater than ever before.
Both from a strategical and commercial point of view Antwerp
is bound always to remain one of the nerve-centres of Europe.
It was therefore interesting to have seen this great mercantile
metropolis at the inception of its fateful crisis, and it is obvious
that I could not have been content with my first short recon-
naissance. Hence I obtained permission from the Governor-
General’s office to return, and, if I wished to do so, to remain
in the city for several days.
I accordingly planned another trip with Lieut. Dr.
Hiitten, to take place on the nth of October. Just as I was
starting out from my hotel, I met an old friend. Professor
Georg Wegener, one of my chums from the time I was cram-
ming with Richthofen at the University of Berlin. We had
not many minutes to spare, but exchanged nevertheless a few
impressions of the war.
Hiitten drove the car himself and I sat at his side. It had
been my intention to take a few photographs of the military
life on the road and in the town, for the sights which were
now to unfold themselves to our vision would soon vanish
and make room for more tranquil scenes. The further we
travelled northward, the slower we had to go, for the road
was encumbered by an unceasing stream of marching troops
and transport columns. Uhlans and Hussars, guns and am-
munition wagons. Little contingents of marines were inter-
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