FRENCH TROOPS LEAVE BELGIUM.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2601, 9 April 1915, Page 3

FRENCH TROOPS LEAVE BELGIUM.

London, February 9

Within the present week the last French soldier will leave. Belgian sqil and the defence of this part of the extended western battle line will be left in the hands of the Belgians and English. This is regarded here as an indication that the Allies do not in-:,, tend to make any forward movement in the region of the flooded Yser. Recently the French brought the largest part of their African army to Nieuport, where it reinforced the French marines and Alpine holding this gateway to Calais. With the. assistance of the Belgians, St. Georges was captured and some advance made in the sand dunes along the Belgian coast, but it is evident that no fur? ther advance is likely at this time in that region? While it is felt by the commanders of the Allied forces that the sadly depleted Belgian army, with the assistance of that section of tho English army occupying Belgian soil, can keep the Germans at bay, tho action of tho French jn withdrawing their troops has met with some criticism from Belgian officers, who feel that they are again being left to bear tho brunt of the most disagreeable fighting on tbe west line. They lack enough men to giro their soldiers frequent relief from tho trenches, where, on account of the nearness of the water to the surface, conditions are worse than anywhere clso on the battle Hue. Strategic necessity was lb* reason given for tbe withdrawal.