The 30,000 men at the frontier were not sufficient to permit of any effective sorties to protect the approaches to the Liege fortifications.

It was a forlorn hope from a military standpoint, but for three weeks the Belgians with shrinking forces held in check the war power of Germany.

Every week help was expected from the Allies, but no help came, for no country in Europe outside of Germany and Austria had any expectation of war.
Down to the ground and their graves fought the plucky little Belgians, until they numbered, not 260,000, but nearer 60,000.

After every able-bodied man in Belgium was demanded by King Albert, the ranks of the Belgians began to swell, and, with able-bodied refugees returned from England, there are now about 120,000 men in the ten divisions of the Belgian army.
But England carries, as she ought, the financial burden.

She feeds, clothes, and equips the Belgians and furnishes the money-supply.