BELGIAN MESSAGE TO BRITAIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16240, 25 November 1914, Page 12

BELGIAN MESSAGE TO BRITAIN.

"ETERNAL TIES OF BLOOD." THE KING AND M. POINOARE. (FhoH Ocb Own Cobbespondent.) LONDON, October 9. The Dβ Nieuwo Gazet of Antwerp published on September 30 a two-column message in English from the Belgian people to tho British nation. Appended are some of the principal passages: — " We ieel it incumbent to tell you a word in your own language, which we trust will reach tho innermost of your noblo hearts. It is the word which every Belgian has on his lips in these dark times. It is the expression of the most heartfelt thanks. Thanks from nation to nation, from people to people, from man to man. " During these unspeakable trials which our poor little country has had to put up with for tho laet two months, your people of Great Britain and Ireland have remained our hope and our trust. If wo havo not despaired during tihis hurrioane of fire and blood, it is because we havo never forgotten that you aro watching over us, and that you will never permit our destruction. " Even at this dark moment, when the final result of this gigantic strife of tho civilised world against the returning barbarism might leave doubts, wo may pluck up new courago with the unshakeable conviction that Great Britain and Ireland will never permit tho yoke- to bo put on our dear Motherland, even if all that remains of that Motherland would bo a smoking heap of ruins. " AH ours who came to you havo found a brother and a sister there, and how many of you have taken upon themselves witii a light mind and a warm heart the duties of parente for poor orphans who have lost father or mother—nay, both—in thie terriblo war? To how many havo you not restored tho belief in righteousness and generosity during these black nights of despair? And have you not 6ent thousands and thousands of your beet to us? —your soldiers, chivalrous and undaunted in battle, spi'llirrg thoir blood of thoir own free will by our side and along with our French Allies for tho holy ' cause of free- civilisation ; your doctroeses, doctors, and nurses coming mostly from the highest claeees of society as administering angele amongst the horrors of war? TRUST IN BRITAIN. "Your soldiers and, your benefactors of all eorte, how rein we crystallise them better than in the ro-pected persons of your King, always an example of soldierly and statcemanly honour; your Queen, a mother and consort of your doubly-crowned Sovereign, who condescended to visit tho humblest of our refugees, tendering consolation and hope. " Meantime —wo don't forget it—your powerful fleet watches night ami day, rules, suro of her force, the oceans, and bars them, tho equroe of all life, relentkesly to tho ruthless invader of our unfortunate littlo country, tho despicable breaker of tho laws of nations. Your navy, frionds of Groat Britain, is a suro guarantee that tho world will bo sot free from tho nightmare it now suffers under. " But what wo, in Antwerp, havo to toll you on this small spot of our Belgian Motherland, not yot soiled by tho, foot of tho barbarian invader, now that wo already hear tho cannon of the enemy thunder against mir walls, ie that no trial, as awful as it may be, shall shako our trust in your .

power, in your" nobility, and in your sense of justice, and that with fullest confidence we put the fate of our Motherland in your hands. " You will—no matter what happens— maintain the independence which you have once given U6. As little as may remain of Belgium, there will be no tiny epot left as big as a heart where in blood and in tears there will not blossom the flower of eternal gratitude for the noble British nation."RUSSIAN MESSAGE. A Russian Address to the Belgian Parliament runs: " Russia is following with unbounded admiration the heroic and valorous struggle of the Belgian army against a cruel and implacable enemy, and it is with the most profound sympathy that we receive the news of the incredible sacrifice of the brave Belgian people. Your exploits recall the lieroic deeds of your ancestors. Your heroic conduct has been the first and greatest holocaust of redemption by shattering the assault of German insane fury. ' Glory to the heroes. . Long live the brave Belgian Lion, and may your device ' Union makes strength, , triumph* It will then bo on the ruins of the insensate edifice which was to be the memorial of universal German hegemony that we shall see the reign of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity established." ENGLAND AND FRANCE. The following is a translation of President Poincare's telegram to King George: '• On leaving the General Headquarters of the French army, I have had the great pleasure of visiting to-day Field Marshal French at the British General Headquarters, and the valiant British troops. I take this happy occasion to renew to your Majesty my most cordial congratulations, and I would be grateful if your Majesty would transmit them to the fine army which is fraternally fighting shoulder to shoulder with the French." Kinrr George replied: "I heartily thank you, Moneieur Id President, for informing me of the visit which you so Icindjy paid to the Headquarters of my army in France. I will gladly convey your message of congratulations to my troops, who are proud to be fighting side by side with the gallant French army." LORD ROBERTS'S MESSAGE. Field-marshal Earl Roberts addressed the following message to the youngest citizens of the Empire: "Children of the Empire: " You have all heard of the war; you have all heard of the fighting forces sent from every port of the Empire to help the Mother Country. Why are we fighting? Because the British Empire does not break its promises, nor -will it allow email nations to bo bullied. " Now, the British Government promised, with all the Great Powers of Europe, including Germany, that no army should set foot on the territory of the little nation of Belgium without her leave; in other words, she ' guaranteed the neutrality of Belgium. , " Germany, however, was bent on war, and on dominating other nations. Britain did her best to keep the peace, but Germany (breaking her word) marched her armies into Belgium to try and conquer France. "Children of the Empire, this is why we are at war —to hold our promise, to help our friends, and to keep the Flag of Liberty flying, not only over our own Empire, but over the whole world.

" God Save the King and Empire."