EARLY DAYS OF WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10431, 8 November 1919, Page 11

EARLY DAYS OF WAR

LECTURE BY MISS LOUISE MACK.

Last night, in tho Concert Chamber, Miss Louise Mack gavo her iirst lecture on her experiences at the war. Miss Mack's story was told with much intensity, and sho made the most of tho thrilling events in the early days of tho war. O.n her arrival in Antwerp tho Germans were already in Brussels, and the former town was filled with refugees; and yet tne place had an air of gaiety for these people, who, though thoy had lost everything, thought they had found a placo of safety. The chestnut trees were in full leaf, tho banners flew on all the houses, and the streets were thronged. Miss Mack described some of the sights in Aershot, when that town was retaken by the Belgians. When there she saw a Belgian officer suddenly go mad at the sight of some German prisoners, and if was not surprising after what he had Been of tho ravages inflicted on his country and its people. There, too, she found a Belgian woman who had remained during the German occupation, and had kept her inn open. Sho was the only woman to remain. Miss Mack said she had a great desire to go to Brussels, and, hearing a young Belgian say it was quite easy, she asked him to take her. They start-. od with a Belgian professor in a cab, and by devious ways arrived at Ghent. There they were told they could book by train only to Grammont. However, at tho latter placo they were offered a lift by tho peasants for .30 francs, "40 if we get there," which sounded ominous. Joined by a Belgian hanker and a Red Cross lady, they went in -a carriage, and though finding the Germans everywhere and being stopped on several occasions, they arrived safely. When they got to their destination Miss Mack found that the correspondence from the outside world, forbidden hy the German masters of the town, hid been carried in one of the oushipns of that carriage. Such, she said, was the spirit of Belgium. She went at once to the Town Hall and saw Mr Mex, the burgomaster, who was a little man, very plain to look at, with grizzled hair and beard. There was nothing m his appearance to account for his hold on his people. But though ho was arrested next day and impriaoned, his spirit remained with the people of Brussels. Small boys '.in the street would dress as soldiers in paper uniforms and imitate the Germans. Miss Mack described how sho saw a group of English nurses at a church service, and afterwards spent some time with them, among them Edith Cavell, and later gave an account of the latter's death, and the efforts made by the American and Spanish Ambassadors and ono heroic Belgian to save her life.' On leaving Brussels, Miss Maok was taking a lift with some peasants, whensome youths offered to drive her in a oart. In horrified tones a Belgian told her not to go. These boys were engaged in daily journeys to Ghent, whence they smuggled into Brussels the forbidden English and Belgian papers. Miss Maok wont with a party of peasants forty miles by road, and got back to Antwerp to find that town very different, for it was preparing for a siege. There was panio in the town, and people were rushing out of it by every means possible. The nows that tho British were coming stopped this panic The King had telegraphed to England for assistance, and after the arrival of the English brigade there was oalm for a short time. But the Germans continued to advance, and town after town fell. : Very thrillingly Miss Mack described tho thirty-six-hours' bombardment of tho town, and the stream of refugees whioh never stopped. Every now and again a shell would fall among them, but its effect was only momentary, and tho rush continued, the : flight of a million people. When the town decided to surrender rather than bo blown to pieces, tho war correspondents there consulted'as to what they 6hould do. Most decided to go, but Miss Mack determined to stay and aeo tho Germans enter. Fortunately, she ! said, she could spealc tho language. She disguised herself aa a peasant | woman. In speaking of !her determination to stay, Miss Maok said that though war was a terrible thing, it engendered a great spirit of comradeship among all those vfho took part in it, and no one was over a stranger. It was this spirit which drew people into it, and it was 'this, she thought, that tho soldier missed on his return. Everyono ought to endeavour to make lifo bright Tor the returned men, so that thoy should not miss this spirit of friendship too much. At tho conolii6ion of her lecture, Miss Mack showed somo very interesting pictures of scenes in Belgium, and also France. To-night, in the Concert Chamber, Miss Louise Mack will deliver a further lecture.