PERSONAL SKETCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21729, 19 February 1934, Page 9

PERSONAL SKETCH

" MUCH AN ENGLISH TYPE "

COURAGE IN ADVERSITY SIMPLE LIFE WITH TROOPS INSPIRATION SINCE WAR In the remote days of "before the war" I first saw King Albert, states a personal sketch written by the Morning Post i?. correspondent with the Belgian Army in 1914. There was a ceremonious reopening by him of the British Section of the Brussels Exhibition, Avhich had been burned out. The King, as yet untried in the fire then, gave the impression of being what can be best expressed in the English phrase, "a thoroughly good sort." There was no indication of that in his manner, no hint of boredom or of "woodenness." He looked very much an English type, and it was not surprising to hear that he was doing his utmost to cultivate in Belgium the English sporting spirit, especially as regards games in the Army. Next sight of King Albert was in Brussels in August, 1914, as he passed through the streets of his capital the day after the British declaration of war—a man quite changed, .looking at once veiy angry, very resolute, very confident. As they saw him his people lifted up their hearts; he radiated confidence. Tha King With His Troops

At Antwerp a couple of weeks later: Brussels had fallen and the Belgian Army driven back on its fortress. There was reason enough for dejection. The little country had hoped to see French and British armies heating back the German in front of Brussels. Now the French and British were retreating toward Paris. But King Albert showed, and communicated, the same high, serene confidence. He was about all day, an active xvorker in the reorganisation of the Army and in the preparation of the fortress for defence. From that day I saw King Albert constantly. He was always in the line, encouraging his troops, taking a real share in their leadership. At Sempst, at Wazamael, at half a dozen other places, I have noted him —quite cool under fire, inspiring and directing his army. •Antwerp foil. The Germans could no longer allow the threat on their lines of communication of the Belgian Army, and detached a force to take the fortress. In the retreat to the coast King Albert and his Queen were courageous and helpful to the degree of rashness. A Strong Man in Adversity At Furnes, where the Belgian Army had rallied, King Albert showed the true spirit of the strong man in adversity. With the Queen he lived in a small villa at La Panne, on the beach, and came into Furnes every morning at nine for a consultation with his Staff, and then went out to the line to visit his regiments.

The King's "office" was in the old Hotel de Ville of Furnes, a magnificent hall hung with stamped Cordova leather dating from the Spanish occupation of Flanders. It made a fine medieval setting for a King who was so akin with the spirit of ancient and simple valour. But it was not comfortable. Fuel was very scarce in the town, and the King could rarely have a fire, and then a very poor one of faggots. Fare was very simple. As fuel was so scarce nothing could he roasted, and boiled meat and boiled vegetables, with a very occasional pudding, made up the invariable bill of fare.. The King had the same fare as his officers.

Life at Furnes during that autumn—a fragment of the people holding a fragment of their country under the personal leadership of their King, was like a scene from Homeric times come into the twentieth century, and King Albert showed throughout as a real hero; living a simple, arduous, dutiful life, always unafraid, even when the shells fell thickly; always radiating confidence. He had a feeling that it was not right to leave even for a few days his post of duty, and until the Armistice he allowed himself no respite. Since the Armistice he lias been as indefatigable in the service of his country, and without a doubt his personal example has been a direct inspiration to Belgium's line energy in grappling with its problems of reconstruction.