THE SPIRIT OF BELGIUM.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 4

THE SPIRIT OF BELGIUM.

On the ocoasion of the birthday of King Albeit, the Belgian Cabinet addressed the following -telegram to His Majesty; ‘•For the third time in the course of the long and stubborn struggle between the. soldier defenders of the right and the German armies, the instrument of com quest and oppression, the members of the_ Belgian Government offer to Your Majesty on the occasion of your fete,the homage of their faithful and respectful devotion. They affirm their warmest admiration for the Sovereign who for over two years has awaited with unshakable crurage for the dawn of deliverance at length to rise. The present hour is’ for our unhappy country deeply filled with anguish. As the war is prolonged, the occupation of the foreigner becomes from day to day more cruel. After the imposition of crashing taxes, after arbitrary condemnations and inflictions of the capital penalty, the German miltary authorities are now deporting huge numbers of able-bodied citizens, hunting them pitilessly in town and country, driving them afar, like cattle, to deliver siem to forced labour. This barbarous fashion of demonstrating to tb© Flemish race how false word the protestations of protecting its vitality and its rights Jin. with insolent hypocrisy been placarded by the civil, governor on the walls. The attack now made on the liberty of I>' gian citizens has swiftly given the lie ■to the false promises of the enemy. Like the King himself, the Government, suffers deeply at each fresh news of the wounds inflicted on our land, but, despite the bitter martyrdom, it is steadfast in its certitude of an avenging victory as it is confident in the indestructible future of Belgium, and sees shining in the sombre night which now envelops them the brilliant destinies of the land."