Finally, the fortifications of Lille were not dismantled, but were allowed to fall into disuse.
On the other hand, the eastern frontier was considerably strengthened. It was in vain that the Belgian General Brialmont, who had just completed the forts of Antwerp and Liege, pointed out that the abandonment of the northern frontier would inevitably cause a violation of Belgium's neutrality. Like her peaceful neighbour, France relied on the sacredness of treaties, and made it a point of honour to leave that part of her frontier practically unprotected.
At that time, Germany was neglecting the East, and making all her railways converge towards the Pass of the Oise. In other words, a frontal attack against the East being considered impracticable, Germany decided to turn it from the north. The fortifications of Lille were again condemned in November, 1911, and it is a curious coincidence that this was the year of the Agadir Incident and of the first tangible German threats of war.
In July, 1914, 3,000 artillery-men and nearly a third of the guns had been removed from the fortifications. On August 1st, the Governor, General Lebas, received orders to consider Lille an open town, but on August 21st his successor, General Herment, increased the garrison troops from 15,000 to 25,000, and later, to 28,000 men, taking units from each of the regiments in the 1st region. At this time, the armament consisted of 446 guns and 79,788 shells, to which were added 9,000,000 cartridges, 3,000 75 mm. shells and 12 47 mm. guns sent from Paris.
How Lille fell in 1914
(See Maps on pages [3] and [6])
At the beginning of the battle of Charleroi, General d'Amade was in the vicinity of Lille, with territorial divisions extending from Dunkirk to Maubeuge. The 82nd Division alone held the entire space between the Escaut and the Scarpe, with advance posts at Tournai and Lille. It was manifest that these troops were insufficient to offer serious resistance. However, the first care was to defend the town. For two days, trenches and shelters were made, and the troops sent to their respective positions.
On August 23rd, the British, defeated on the previous day at Mons, retreated, leaving Tournai unprotected. The Germans drove out the 82nd territorial Division and entered the town. Elsewhere, they advanced as far as Roubaix-Tourcoing, blowing up the station of Mouscron. The French territorials counter-attacked vigorously, and units of the 83rd and 84th regiments reoccupied Tournai during the night.
In the early morning of the 24th, General de Villaret, commanding the 170th Brigade, organized the defence of the bridges over the Escaut, where sharp fighting took place. However, his troops were obliged to fall back about noon, before the numerically superior enemy forces.
While these events were taking place close to Lille, the Mayor requested that the town should not be needlessly exposed to the horrors of a siege. A meeting of the principal civil authorities (town councillors and members of both Houses of Parliament) was held, at which it was decided to petition the Government to declare the town open, and withdraw the military. At 5 p.m. on the 24th, a telegram arrived from the War Minister, with orders to consider Lille undefended, and to evacuate the troops between La Bassée and Aire-sur-la-Lys.