August 14, 1914
Using the 21-centimeter mortars, two additional forts were destroyed—Forts Fleron and Liers fell. The disabling of these fortresses settled into a pattern as infantry closed off the forts and then the artillery pounded them into silence. There were no more nighttime bayonet charges. Casualties diminished. One-half of the fortresses were by now eliminated. The entire northern and eastern sides of Liège were exposed. None of the forts had communication with each other. They were isolated, passively awaiting their turn under the heavy guns. The end of the fighting for Liège was in sight, as on August 14 all forts that blocked First Army marching routes had fallen. Movement into staging positions for the general advance seemed possible, at least to First Army HQ. While Second Army consolidated, First Army continued their march. Second, Fourth, and Third Corps reached the Meuse, and the two reserve corps marching as a second line began to pass the Belgian frontier west of Aachen. Ninth Cavalry Division crossed the Meuse River.
Aerial reconnaissance for the German Army right wing now proved more practical, allowing further observations on the Belgian deployment. In the Gette River sector between Tirlemont and Jodoigne, two divisions were reported. According Belgian files, these were the First and Fifth in standby positions. Behind these divisions east of Leuven, another division, the Third, was reported assembled. Advanced elements of approximately brigade strength were also sighted near Engelmanshoven southeast of St. Truiden (St. Trond). The Belgian Cavalry Division was observed as it arrived near Papenbroek south of Diest. An additional aviation report stated accurately that the Gette position had been expanded by about thirteen kilometers (eight miles). The Namur and Liège Roads were free, and progress was seen on construction northeast and northwest of the Namur forts.
For the upcoming days it is essential that you understand where the radios are. We have covered some of this earlier however I want to pound this point as it is essential to keep track of where the potato is. This is sort of like three card Monty.– The two different types of radio systems were not compatible and could not communicate with each other. Each of the numbered armies on the right flank therefore had two radios in its HQ, one of each kind. There was, however, only one radio at the OHL. This highest HQ had one large radio station that was motorized. Each numbered army radios that were horse drawn. Army corps active or reserve did not have a radio; army corps only had a telephone detachment. In the cavalry, the corps-level HKK had no electronic communications at all—the cavalry division had two mobile Telefunken radios and a telephone squadron. These two radios consisted of one large one like the army-level radio and one smaller, more mobile, that had a range of only eighty kilometers.