BRITAIN’S GRATITUDE

Southland Times, Issue 18928, 30 April 1923, Page 5

BRITAIN’S GRATITUDE

MONUMENT TO BELGIUM. UNVEILING CEREMONY AT BRUSSELS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright ) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) BRUSSELS, April 27. (Received April 29, 5.5 p.m.) The Prince of Wales arrived on a State risit to the King and Queen of the Belgians in the cruiser Caledon. Brussels was en fete. The route to the palace was gaily deccrated with British and Belgian flags, and the buildings were illuminated. The chief official function was the unveiling of a statue erected by Britain near the Palais de Justice in grateful recognition of Belgium’s part in the war. After the unveiling the Prince delivered a short address and massed bands played the National anthems. PRINCE OF WALES’S SPEECH. BRUSSELS, April 28. (Received April 29, 11 .5 p.m.) The Prince of Wales’, unveiling the British memorial in the presence of a huge crowd, asked King Albert to accept it on behalf cf his subjects. The monument was offered by the British nation as symbolising Britain's profound and unalterable gratitude towards those who succoured her prisoners of war and distressed soldiers. The monument would perpetuate the mtmorv of the glorious brotherhood in arms. The King, replying, said that Belgium would never forget the sublime sacrifices of the British soldiers who made the Ypres salient the unshakeable bastion of the Allied line. The monument forever would illustrate the heroism of the British race. THE PRINCE EULOGISED BRUSSELS, April 29. (Received April 30, 12.30 am.) The Prince of Wales was given a banquet at the Palace. King Albert thanked the British Empire for the monument, which, he said, was a re-affirmation of a longstanding friendship on which Belgium could always rely. He described the Prince as the incomparable ambassador of his country, in finking the peoples of the Empire.