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CHAPTER XVI
OSTEND BOMBARDED
ON Friday the 23rd October I was called by Dr. Kiibler,
who suggested a walk to the lighthouse and to the
old fortifications. So we wandered off to the new
outer harbour, where a sailor rowed us across the canal, where-
upon we continued to the flying station, where we arrived just
in time to watch the elegant ascent of a Taube, which circled
up to a considerable height and then disappeared towards the
south-west.
The lighthouse rears its white minaret fifty-eight metres
above the ground. Tempting as it was, we refrained from
climbing up to the light to have a look at Nieuport, Fumes
and Dunkerque, which can be seen from the top.
Instead we traced our steps to the ancient fort and its moat,
its earth-clad slopes and its five guns dating from 1862. We
returned by the electric tramway. The car was filled with
soldiers and civilians. The former included an old Landsturm
man, who told us that he had three sons in the war, but where
they were and whether they were still alive, he had not the
faintest notion. " I don’t grudge their dying," he said, " one
must sacrifice all for the Fatherland."
On returning to the promenade, we settled down on a bench
by the Kursaal and examined the British squadron through
our glasses. The sky was exceptionally clear, the weather
radiant ; even the sun came out to have a peep at us.
Just before half-past twelve Captain-Lieutenant Bess came
to fetch me. He had just returned from Middelkerke, where
he had been with Admiral von Schroder. He told me that the
road in which yesterday we had seen the foliage-enshrouded
wagons was now anything but safe, and that in fact a couple
of shells had been dropped there. Even the soldiers were for-
bidden to show themselves on the front. Bess dissuaded me,
therefore, from attempting a second visit to Middelkerke.
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