By Commander L. G. Garbett, R.N. (Retired).
THE YPRES TIMES
237
BY the beginning of October, 1914, the Belgians had abandoned Brussels, and,
on the 7th of that month, the evacuation of Antwerp commenced, the enemy
occupying the city a few days later.
With Antwerp in the hands of the enemy, 60,000 trained troops were released
for operations in the south of the low-lying Flanders coast, and an army under
von Besseler concentrated its efforts on an attempt to break the Allied left, and,
by forcing the line along the coast, to occupy the Channel ports. Good leadership,
and the splendid fighting qualities of our gallant troops, saved the situation, and
h.M. MONITOR MERSEY."
the Navy, by co-operating with the land forces and bombarding from the sea, were
able to take some part in preventing the enemy from achieving their object. In
this the monitors Severn, Humber and Mersey took a prominent part.
These ships were originally built for the Brazilian Government, but on the
outbreak of hostilities were taken over by the Admiralty. At first the use which
might be made of them was the subject of some speculation, but they soon
abundantly justified their acquisition, and they, with other monitors built as the
war progressed, were destined to take part in naval operations in all parts of the
world, and to become a welcome and familiar sight to many of the allied troops
operating in coastal areas.
The monitors were particularly well suited for inshore operations; being flat
bottomed and of shallow draft they could manoeuvre close in shore. In exchange
for speed, the maximum of which was ten knots, they had an armour belt extending
from the upper deck to below the water line for a considerable length of the hull,
