AT MENIN GATE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1928, Page 2

AT MENIN GATE

TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD. Australian Press Assn.—-United Service (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, August 8. A'pres legionaries have been arriving since dawn. The town is crowded with troops and spectators congregated at Alenin Gate for the service of remembrance. The Prince of Wales motored from Lille and met Prince Charles of Belgium under the ruins of Clothhall. After Lord Jellicoe had wreathed the Belgian memorial on behalf of the Buitish Legation, the Archbishop of York took the service at Alenin Gate. Addressing the pilgrims he said when we remember the sacrifice, toil and treasure of blood offered on the fields of France and Flanders, the question springs to the mind, Was is worth while? 'Hie unfaltering reply must be “Yes,” a thousand times “ Yes.” Failure to honour the national pledge is something that no safety or prosperity can atone. SPEECH BY THE PRINCE. LONDON, August 8. The Prince of Wales, during an interval at the concert, in response to a great demonstration, went to the platform and made an impromptu speech. He said : “ I am proud to be a Legionary on my seventh pilgrimage, a great event in our lives, and in the life of our organisation. Why should we have taken four days of our precious holiday to visit the places which, once, when waiting for a 1 strafe ’ to begin, we hoped never to see again. Firstly, it is to pay a tribute to our comrades buried in foreign soil; secondly, to show an interest in the happier conditions on the battlefield, and to congratulate those who have worked the change. Also we have come to cement our wonderful friendship with our comrades of the French army.” There was great cheering when the Prince concluded : “ Vive la France ! ”