REDEMPTION OF BELGIUM

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13893, 19 October 1918, Page 5

REDEMPTION OF BELGIUM

LANDSLIDE OF GERMAN HOPES. STIRRING SCENES AT LILLE. GERMANS DEPART DURING THE NIGHT. ALLIES WARMLY WELCOMED. Received October 19, 1.5 p.m. LONDON, October IS. Mr Philip Gihbs writes that the enemy have abandoned Lille and Turcoing. We captured Lombaertzyde and Ostend. From one end of the line to the other the German armies are retreating in France and Belgium. It is a landslide of all their ambitions and military power. To-day I watched scenes of history of which many people have been dreaming for years, until sick with hope deferred. 1 saw the Franco-Belgian cavalry riding into liberated towns, cheered by the people who have been prisoners in their own homes, for dreary years. Their joy whs wonderful to see. Our airmen received the tirst news of the enemy's High! .it Lille by noticing die citizens frantically waving their handkerchiefs. The airmen guessed they had joyful news. A civilian came to our lines and said: "You can go in. The enemy departed in the night." Our patrols Hew across without encountering opposition. The regaining of Lille was the most wonderful occurrence since the combined Allied offensive began. Lille is the prize of many victories. As a result of the soldiers' heroism and Marshal Foch's strategy, the horrors of war are lifting. The enemy's Iron Ramparts are Yielding at last. Our pursuit has not yet become a dashing charge, but already it i.s too fast for the enemy. Almost

every house in the liberated villages Hies the Belgian flag, which has been hidden in the cellars for years against this day. The Belgians emerged from, the cellars at Roulers, and ran to welcome the French troops who ware entering, and embraced thein. The Mayor rushed forward, and cried, "Be careful; the town is mined." The French engineers discovered big charges of dynamite at the cross roads, and under the floors of churches. The Germans looted the last fragment of furniture from every house, and even stripped off the panelling and removed doors and window panes, leaving nothing but the shell of the town. Between 35,000 and 40,000 civilians remained in Courtrai. The Germans forced the able-bodied men to depart. The others refused, knowing that the English were approaching the town. Our machine-gunners, lying in ditches and trenches, hold their Are whiie women with perambulators pass, also old women hobbling with children at their skirts.