BELGIAN REFUGEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 5

BELGIAN REFUGEES.

FIRST ARRIVALS IN NEW ZEALAND.

(Pbr United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, February 22. Ten refugees from ±Jtlgium are- among the orc-vv or the Shaw, btiviii and Albion Company's steamer Matatua, which arrived hero yesterday morning. It is behoved that tney are the first from that afflicted , country to reach New Zealand. "When the refugees joined the ship," stated the navigating officer of the Matatua yesterday, ' their condition was pitiable, as they had only the clothes they stood in. Scrao were present at the fall of Namur and Brussels, and tho recital by them of German atrocities was simply horrible." One of the deck boys, who passed through the siege of Antwerp, relates in quaint English his firet experience during the bombardment of that city by Zeppelins:— Eet vas like zo carnival; everybody get cut of bett in dere tail shirt, and rush about street like dey vas mad, looking for shelter.

After the fall of Antwerp, and during tho house-to-house looting, Uiis boy, along with his father and mother, was taken prisoner. His sister was shot before his eyes—a brave Belgian girl, preferring death to dishonour. Ho was made to carry the German Hag ahead of tho troops during their march through the city, but, night coming on, he managed to escapo during confusion and darkness, and after many adventuree finally reached Holland,' where he was sent to England, along with many others, finding in England refuge and weicome.