LIEGE, le-azh, Belgium, (1) the eastern most province bordering on Rhenish Prussia and the Netherlands. Area, 1,117 miles. The surface is diversified with heights varying from 300 to 2,000 feet and well wooded. It contains rich coal and iron mines. The northern part called Herveland is exceedingly fertile and highly cultivated, affording pasturage for cattle and producing large quantities of butter and Limburg cheese. Pap, about 896,649. (2) An episcopal city and the capital of theprovince at the confluence of the Ourthe and Meuse, 54 miles southeast of Brussels. The city has been considerably modernized since 1860 by the con struction of fine quays and bridges along the course of the Meuse throughout the city. It has numerous striking public buildings including the Gothic cathedral of Saint Paul, the Palais de Justice and the celebrated university, occu pying extensive grounds, with special institutes for various sciences, a school of mines, a school of arts and manufactures, and an important library. Liege is one of the largest manufac
turing towns of Europe, owing principally to its situation in a district abounding with coal, iron, lead, copper and marble. Cannons and firearms of every description, steam engines and machinery, hardware of every kind, watches, jeweliy, bronze and other ornaments, woolens, cottons, etc., are made. Liege dates from the 6th century. Pop. about 170,634, chiefly Roman Catholic. Liege was defended by a girdle of forts, six on the left bank and six on the right bank of the Meuse. At the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914 the town was taken possession by the Germans on 7 August, but the defense of the forts was maintained until after the arrival of heavy and siege artillery, and the German advance was thus delayed for more than a week.