The alarm went at 12.20, and we entered fort "5" in single file, the fort being close at hand. We thought we were all right for the rest of the nicht: I was put on guard, and we had not been there more then half an hour before we had orders to retreat, This was about 3.70, We moved out of the fort at the double, the Germans firing about five vell-vs at us. We dropped and responded, getting their range by the flush of their rifles, They ceased fire, so we retreated knowing full well that it was only an advance guard. We retreated at the double for about a mile, this being the beginning of our retreat of thirty miles. We were already tired after our sleepless nights. bnt knew we should have to stick it.
We marched through the centre of Antwerp, some houses being now in flames; we also saw the trenches we had not long evacuated all in flames; we should have undoubtedly all been done for if we had fayed there. Peonle were rushing about with bundles, shells were dropping all around us, nearly all the women were in hysterics; was horrible to sce them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.