GHEEL, GEEL

(51° 9’ N.; 4° 59’ E.)}' town, Antwerp, Belgium; colony for the insane. Pop. 14,000. see, and chief tn., prov. Flanders, Belgium (51° 3’ N., 3° 42’ E.), at confluence of Scheldt and Lys, 32 m.. W. of Bru els; broken up by canal into about forty islands, and has over 200 bridges. Pop. 1921, 165,110. It flourished from middle of 12th cent. till early 16th cent., and was great weaving center. In spite of a stormy history has retained much of its ancient splendor, chief buildings being cathedral of St. Bavon (ilth cent.), with Adoration of the Immaculate Lamb by brothers van Eyck; church of St. Nicholas (rebuilt 13th cent.); Chateau des Comtes, de Flanders (9th cent.); hétel de ville (1482); cloth hall (1325); state univ.,;' etc. Commercial traffic of city very considerable owing to its rivers and canals, and has increased since extension of docks. Chief industries, woolens, linen, cotton, lace manufacture, leather work; paper mills, iron foundries, and engine factories. Ghent lay to N. of tide of Ger. invasion of Belgium and N. H. France (Aug.-Sept., 1914), and the enemy made no attempt at that time to occupy it. On Sept. 6, however, 5,000 Ger. infantry appeared near the town, and encountered stout resistance from Belgian troops entrenched between Scheldt and railway to Malines, The following day General von Bochn called. upon burgomaster to surrender under threat of bombardment; and on the 8th, convention was signed whereby they promised not to bombard town on condition that Belgian troops there were withdrawn and civic guard disarmed, and grain, fodder, and petrol supplied to Ger. troops. After fall of Antwerp and retirement of Belgians and British along coast towards Fr, frontier, Ghent was evacuated (Oct. 11-12). It was left an ‘open city,’ and on following day Germany arranged for its ‘peaceful occupation.’ It was for four years in enemy hands, but was recovered by Belgians in final stage of grand Allied offensive in autumn, 1918, and was entered on day Armistice was signed (Nov. 11).