Fighting in Flanders

by E. Alexander Powell

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

231 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Edward Alexander Powell

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating if micro (vs. macro) real-time look at the earliest days of WWI, beginning with the German invasion of Belgium and ending with their devastation of and entry into Antwerp - so basically Aug-Oct 1914.

As America had yet to enter the war (and wouldn't do so for another two-and-a-half years), Powell was remarkably free to wander back and forth across the Belgian-German fronts; carrying messages between the sides and even dining with general officers of both armies. In fact, the Germans courted Americans in the area, as they wanted desperately to keep the U.S. out of the war.

An absolute wealth of information and observation, so let me just list a few facts of particular interest:

- The dropping of bombs on Antwerp from a Zeppelin was apparently the first aerial bombardment in history.

- In terms of weaponry, tactics, uniforms, and pretty much everything else, the early days of WWI resembled the Civil War much more than what we think of in the later war - colorful uniforms with tall furry hats, full on cavalry lancer charges, primitive machine guns pulled by dogs, etc.

- British troops who withdrew from Belgium into Holland were interned for the duration, as Holland remained neutral for the whole war; indeed, the Netherlands eventually interned over 33,000 Belgians, 1,700 British and only 1,400 Germans. Not cool, Netherlands! :(

- "Duffel bags" are called that because the material used original came from the Belgian city of Duffel; and Flushing, NY is named for the southern Dutch city of Flushing (Vlissingen). However, Hoboken, NJ is not named for Hoboken, Belgium - as the NJ name comes from the original Lenape name "Hobocan Hackingh" or "land of the tobacco pipe;" while the Belgian neighborhood is derived from the Medieval Dutch "Hooghe Buechen," meaning "tall beeches."

- The British American Tobacco Company was apparently frickin' everywhere back then, (I'm currently also reading about the Chinese warlords of the 1920s, and the company was a major player/lobbyist there as well).

…and so much more. Great book that should be read by any student of the Great War or Belgium in general - published just months after the events took place, so amazingly fresh.

FYI, despite his attempts at journalistic impartiality, Powell notes in his introduction that he is fervently pro-Belgium, (as well he and everyone else should be here). With the U.S. finally entering the war in 1917, Powell was commissioned as a captain in military intelligence. After the war he became an adventure and travel writer, traveling widely around the world and publishing some 20 more books between 1920 and 1954.

Thanks to GR friends Paul and Daren for introducing me to the Gutenberg Project and it's endless collection of rare and free ebooks - including a number of others by Powell. This is gonna be fun…

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

E. Alexander Powell chronicles World War I in Belgium before the entry of the United States as a belligerent in the war. His role as a reporter from a neutral country allowed him access to both side of the conflict, although he is a clear supporter of the Belgian resistance to Kaiser Wilhelm's armies. His reporting is robust and focuses less on the political and military realities of war than on the people who fought it. Well worth the read.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powell was an American war correspondent that witnessed the early weeks of World War I in Europe when the German army invaded Belgium. He witnessed how the relatively small Belgian army held off the powerful German forces for a few weeks. As an American, Powell had some immunity within the conflict, but he did not hesitate to place himself in danger to get the story he wanted.
While there is a clear occasional bias against the German military in terms of their tactics and actions in occupied Belgium, Powell also praises the efficiency of the German military while on the move. Extremely well organized down to barbers and cobblers that can cut hair and fix boots all while the massive army is on the move, he watches them as their columns march through Belgium. His relationship with the Germans was relatively cordial, the first image in the book is one of Powell in the company of German General von Boehn, commander of the Ninth German army.
First published in December 1914, this is one of the first books on World War I to be printed. Generally accurate with sympathies to the Belgian people, this is a book that puts forward what it was like on the western front in the opening weeks of World War I.

[Inès · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldnt decide whether its a 3 or 4 star marking worth

I have read this book when it just came out in 2013 but decided to reread it.

Overall still a pleasant read and realized stuff I didnt before.

[Adhoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powell an American was a war correspondent for a US newspaper at the beginning of WWI. He and his American photographer Donald Thompson covered Belgium from August to October 1914. Due to their citizenship (the US was neutral at the time) they had access to both side of the line. They drove around the war zone protected only by the American flags on their car. Powell describes the beginnings of 'modern' warfare where an artillery shell controlled from a captive balloon kills from 8 miles away. He also describes the first bombing of a city from a Zeppelin, the first armored cars and what was probably the last cavalry charge. Winston Churchill makes an appearance promising to save the day in Antwerp but fails to do so. In the negative column are ...a few problems with chronology and a bit too much sis boom bah 'God bless America'. Overall this is an excellent read and the photographs are compelling. One of the best free reads out there.

[Aaron Kleinheksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An up-close account of an American war correspondent covering the opening stages of World War 1 in Belgium. Very gripping. We have not come quite as far in our more visual and digital media age as we may suppose. This was not just information, it was proper narrative. A very eye-opening book and a fascinating and contemporary look at WW1 (and war in general) from a different angle than the histories I am used to.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WWI coming later this year, I wanted to read a contemporary journal of someone who was there at the start, during the collapse of Belgium. It was also interesting to read between the lines and understand the tradecraft of war correspondents at the time, though Alexander Powell seems to have had more resources than most other journalists then.