ZEEBRUGGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 11

ZEEBRUGGE.

GREAT NAVAL EXPLOIT

SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED

(BY CABLE—rRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTP.IGHT.) (RZUTZa'B TZLEGBAMS.) BRUSSELS. April 23. In cloudy and th<-eateninc weather, the cruiser Caledon, bringing 250 heroes of the historic attack on Zeebrugge oil April 22nd, arrived from Dover and exchanged salutes with the batteries ashore and ships iu Zeebrugge Harbour. There was an imposing 6Cene around the memorial, which is a 70-foot granite column, surmounted l>v figures of St. George and the Dragon, and inscribed: "St George for England." A large force of Belgian troops, in steel helmets, and a detachment of Belgian bluejackets were drawn up on oath side.

The King and Queen oi" the Belgians immediately arrived from Brussels and laid ii wreath inscribed "Albert and Elizabeth" at the foot of the monument.

After unveiling tho memorial. King Albert, speaking first in French and then in English, paid homage to tho incomparable heroes whose fea.t ot arms would rank among the highest records of the British Navy. Lord Emmot, of the Zeebrugge Memorial Fund, replying to King Albert, mentioned that the memorial was erected by tho joint efforts of Belgian and British donors, including inhabitants of the British Dominions and possessions overseas, who were among the most considerable contributors. There was a heavy rainstorm during the eneecheis and ceremony.

Before the arrival of the King and Queen of Belgium, survivors from thb Caledon marched along the beflagged mole to the monument and were frantically cheered, especially the invalids, many of ■whom were limping on sticks. King Albert was in a khald uniform with the crimson sash of the Order of the. Bath. "When unveiling the memorial, he was saluted by the guns of the Caledon and by the shore batttcries, and the British and Belgian bands played their respective National Anthems. At the conclusion of the speeches British sailors and members of the British and Bolgian societies laid -wreathe on the memorial.

[The attack on Zeebrugge took place on the night of April 22nd-23rd, 1918, with tho object of blocking tho port and preventing its use by submarines. The cruiser Vindictive was laid alongside the mole at Zecbruggo to draw the itre from the three blocking ships, and, though only two of these achieved their object, tho whole attack remained a great and inspiring example of careful planning and- heroic execution.]