THE YPRES LEAGUE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3137, 2 October 1922, Page 2

THE YPRES LEAGUE.

A message from Ypres dated July 30, says the first reunion of members of the Ypres League, to celebrate one of the three great battles in the Ypres salient, was a ( decided success. Over 800 men and women from all parts of Great Britain journeyed to' the shellwrecked city to meet the Belgian members of the league, who were strongly represented—a fact which showed that the comradeship cemented by common sacrifice in the war has whole-heartedly continued in peace. The people of this ancient city were reinforced from a wide countryside to welcome the British pilgrims, nearly all the male members of whom took part in the terrible days of the defence of the salient. Most of them wore their war decorations, which ranged from the Victoria Cross down to the Military Medal. A considerable section of the British delegation was made up of relatives of men whose remains lie in the well-kept cemeteries of the Ypres region, and these brought floral tokens, wreaths, and bunches of English wild flowers to show their affectionate remembrance of those who helped to save Ypres from being overrun by the Germans.

' The league's intention to have an annual pilgrimage could not .have had l a better inauguration,. When the column of British ex-Service men was marshalled at the railway station, it was met by Belgian veterans and disabled men as 1 escort. General Comte Greindl. representing the Belgian Government, and Lieut.-General Comte de .Jonghe d'Ardoye, of the Belgian section of the league.' marched side bv side with FieldMarshall the Earl of Ypres, the president, whose presence in the city was warmly welcomed by the inhabitants. The Minister for War sent from Ghent the splendid band of the 10th Infantry, with the buglers, whose accompaniment to the band's playing of "Keep the Home Fires Burning" was acknowledged bv the British veterans to make the finest music they ever marched to. Preceded bv many silken banners and surrounded by an enthusiastic populace, the column" swung past the glorious ruins of the Cloth Hall into the Grand Place, where the relatives of the British dead were given the place of honor by the stand from which the speeches were delivered. The Burgomaster, speaking on behalf of the citizens, extolled the British Army's effort in closing the door of Ypres to the German hordes, and paid a tribute to Marshal French's part. The Earl of Ypres read his speech in French. Engrossed on vellum, it will fipd a place in the city archives. The gallant field-marshal said the British came to Ypres because it was vividly revealed to them that the crucial theatre of war lay in this northern country, where the German legions were hurling themselves forward to gain at whatever cost the Channel ports. For over four years the British Army dwelt here in defence of the city. Some 200.000 of our countrymen were slain, and there was not a street or building that was not as familiar to them as the best-known spots in their native land. To them it was a sacred trust committed to their keeping, for it was the gateway to Calais and the other Channel ports. They were wardens of the gate. Standing again in the Grand-place, they greeted the people of Ypres as old allies, comrades), and friends, feeling almost as fellowcitizens by virtue of the sacred charter signed and sealed in blood. It was well that the whole world should ever bear in mind the glory of those days. Comte de Jonghe d'Ardoye said the comradeship of British and Belgian must never be forgotten. He expressed pleasure at the decision that British members resident in Belgium should be members of the Belgian section of the League. The Earl of Ypres laid a wreath at the Cloth Hall, and the members afterwards spent the afternoon, in the various cemeteries. In their excursion to the salient at the weekend the members of the Ypres League learned many things which will be useful to them in drawing up th programmes for future pilgrimages. Some 800 men and women undertook the trip. It was a large number for a first excursion, but it is probable* that future pilgrimages will have to be planned on a much larger scale, and the organisers will profit by the experiences of Saturday and Sunday. Nearly all the male members of the party were ex-soldiers who served in Flanders during one or more of the three great battles of Ypres, and in renewing acquaintance with the city and country about it they were amazed at the changed appearance which Belgian thoroughness, energy, and patriotism have brought about. The trenches in which they fought have been filled in, and beautiful growing crops make their positions difficult to locate. Ruined buildings there still arc, but these arc rapidly being demolished, and the redtiled roofs of new houses and farm buildings would make it difficult for a stranger to imagine that this sector was rendered one of the most desolate in the war regions, were it not that blasted trees and huge heaps of barbed wire and other material used in the defence of the line are still blots on the fair landscape.

What most impressed our war veterans was the progress made in the reconstruction of Ypres. The old city will not be entirely restored for a long time, for, it is believed that the famous Cloth Hall cannot appear again in its complete architectural glory for sonic ten or fifteen years, so delicate and painstaking must be the work of preserving every feature of the historic pile. Hut buildings in other parts of the city have taken the pJac** of the heaps of brick and rubble wh>ch our fighting men used to pass, and the cny is partially herself again. T'":".:ghout Sunday groups of men stood about the city recalling incidents which occurred during strenuous days, and not even the new and dignified buildings could hide the geography of Ypres as they knew it under the shell scourge. They were pleased to see Ypres passing from its terrible ordeal and entering upon a new lease of vigorous life.

Some of the excursionists said probably they would not see the city again. Others, particularly women relatives of men who fell in the salient, declared that they were making the first of their annual pilgrimages. They warmly approved the work of the Ypres League, as giving them the opportunity of honoring The memory of their menfolk. Most of them carried to the cemeteries in the salient bunches of flowers from their gardens or handful* of wild blooms from English fields. and many brought back a flower plucked in the vicinity of the graves of their revered dead. It is obvious that as 200.000 British soldiers fell in the salient, and two millions of our troops lought and won in it. an enormous number of people will welcome the League's proposal to organise annual trips.

The citizens of Ypres were delighted to receive their British visitors. The Burgomaster, M. Colaert, in their name, paid a tribute to our army's effort, and representatives of the Belgian Government and army voiced the sentiment of the two peoples that the comradeship cemented on the field must continue as strongly in times of peace. The Burgomaster highly appreciated the presentation to him of Karl French's address, inscribed on vellum.