ATTLEFIELDS VISITED.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 251, 22 October 1919, Page 5

ATTLEFIELDS VISITED.

SCENES OF DEVASTATION. STEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS. The Hon. W. H. Triggs. M.L.C., who -eturned by the R.M.s. Niagara from a risk to Europe, spent some time iv the .var-devaHtatexJ regions in France and Belgium, and witnessed the signing of the freaty of Peace at Versailles. Accompanied by Mrs. Trigg he was also privileged to attend all the great functions in •onneetion with the peace celebrations in London. Mr. Triggs, interviewed by a "Star"' representative, said that when he visited the battlefields in May last the passport restrictions were strict, and'military permits difficult to obtain. In company with Lieut.-Colonel Stndholme. C.M.G.. D.5.0.. he motored through both East Franco and Belgium, visiting most of the places where the New Zealanders fought. They then went on to the Rhine and spent a few days at Duren. near Cologne, with the British army of occupation. Mr. Triggs says that although an army of Chinese labourers and hosts of German prisoners were engaged in salvage and clearing up operations, the battlefields were then strewn with war debris of every kind, and notices were posted on every hand giving warning of the danger of handling live ammunition still lying all over the place. The scenes of devastation were even worse than it is possible to conceive from the most vivid descriptions. The mere work of clearing the grounds seems in itself almost a hopeless task in many cases, and it must take years to re-estahlish homes and factories in place of those go ruthlessly dcst royed. When Mr. Triggs left England in September, the French Government were running one-day trips to devastated regions on the line of railways, the Belgium Government were doing the same thing in regard to the country round Ypres. and an American firm is planning to bring over tourists from the States, but excursions must for some time to come be confined to places within a few hours' run from a large town, hecause of the utter absence of accommodation, even for meals, in the devastated regions. The only way to make a comprehensive tour of the battlefields is in a motor car carrying one's own provisions and carefully planning the journey so as to secure a place in which to sleep at night. Possibly arrangements may be made later for relatives lo visit the graves of who have fallen, but at present only a very few have been ablr to enjoy thi« privilege. As for joining in the hordes of "personally-conducted' sightseers, the thought must seem repel lent to those whose object is to visit the graves of those whom they have loved ami lost. OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND. Referring to the general outlook at Homo, Mr. Triggs said there seemed tc be a feeling akin to despair among mam leading statesmen and captains of indus try on account of the labour unrest anc the consequent delay in setting to worl -in the only way which can repair tin ' ravages of war. namely, by increaMnt the production of every necessary of life i It is hoped that the Dominion will set i ! good example in this respect and that ul I Ornately tbe inherent commonsense anc i sturdy determination of the British raci | will assert themselves and re-establis-1 the Empire on a firmer foundation thai ever.