JOY IN LILLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 23, 22 October 1918, Page 6

JOY IN LILLE

i ftIOVING PEN PICTURE OF LIBERATED , CITY ; I THE HCNS' UNFORGET- > TABLE CRIMES London, October 19. . I Mr. Philip GiUbs, who visited Lille, States "I saw tho ]oy of hundreds of thousands of people who. during he war period, have suffered tragic things am unforgettable outrages to liberty and spirit? Although it was'early morning, tfc streets were- thronged with wclloressed women and children and blackioated men. The city's broad avenues, streets, and parks were everywhere drap!U with English and French flags winch had been hidden carefully, for it meant Prison for any civilian to possess such R'mfols.'-'They are now .being waved bom: every' balcony.' •■• '~,„„ '"The Germans blew up the bridges around the city a few hours 'before fleeIn? but the British- built' toot bnoges fan'which they entered the, town; Iho people opened their arms in a great embrace of gratitude and leva for those [who had helped to rescue them.. It was ah overwhelming and uplifting sight. BeIfore'l had gone far up the first avenue I was surrounded by a great crowd, and k lady broke through, and, clasping both buy hands, she said, •'!• embrace you for 'Ithe gladness you have brought us. bno kissed me on' both cheeks. It was a signal for general embracing. Pretty guis offered their cheeks, and small 'boys pushed through with upturned faces to kiss the soldiers, while old men joined in and mothers lifted children to be kissed/ This'lasted not for a few minutes, but for hour's. Everybody had learned fc-few words of English for greeting, and the people constantly,cried,- 'Welcome!. (Welcome! 'Long- live England! Nearly one hundred English people were liberated' at Lille. ■ ■ ~, I--"The inhabitants of Lille will never forget the German crimes'. They reoall 'the reign of terror at Easter in 1916, when 8000 youiig women ware forcibly sent to work hundreds of miles away. Machine-guns were posted at each end of • the street, and officers ordered the families to gather in the doorways, and they made arbitrary choice. Some women were dragged .from bed screaming, and unspeakable things happened to them titer their removal. Twelve days later 12,000 men and boys were removed. It is generally known that the Germans removed millions of pounds' worth of textile machinery from Lille, and a- neighbouring town and smashed what remained. It was a deliberate plan to kill the industry,, but Lille to-day is a city of thanksgiving.\'r-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.