IN NORTHERN BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2235, 22 August 1914, Page 8

IN NORTHERN BELGIUM

■ 'A' LEVEL PLAIN. If tlie war strays into northern Belgium tho sctoo of action will be very different from the beautiful, wooded Ardennes, on the French, border, into which the main army of invasion appears to' bo making its way. Instead of the many-folded forest country the landscape would be 0110 level plain almost as thick with cultivation as a Chinaman's gardon. These plains of tho Netherlands are not bare to tho horizon. They aro intersected constantly by long, straight avenues of poplars, which run beside the high-raised roads. Every here and there can be seen crossing tho country an embankment, which may be a railway embankment; but is more often the raised retaining wall of a canal which actually flows some feet above the surface 'level of the surrounding district.- Tho chief Toads are exceedingly well paved with cobble stones, but the byways are apt to degenerate into a morass. The helds are; divided for the most part, not by hedges as in England, hut either by ditches brimming with water'or by a dry furrow. The farm houses and villages aro scattered thickly . throughout tho country, for Belgium -is more densely populated than any country in Europe. The language of tho people m the Ardennes and southern districts is French, and French will carry a foreigner through any part of Belgium. But tlie language which tho people of tho coast and northurn Belgium speak amongst themselves is Flemish, which is very closely akin to English. ''Bring warm water," for example,would bo understood by the Finnish housemaid in anv Belcian hotel.

• Tbe Wellington Rifle Clubs Reserve Corps will assemble in Molesworth Street (in front of Messrs. Judd and Randell'g Shop)., between 1.20 and 2.30 p.m., when rifles will bo issued, after •which, at 2.30 p.m., the corps .will parado at the Government Buildings. A- special lecture on. "Tho Great European Conflict and After" will -be delivered in the Carlton Hall, Marion Street, at 7 p.m. to-morrow.

Tho Best Map of the Seat of' War can now be obtained showing all Towns of. importance, Railways, Steamer lines, and distances. Size, 26 x 22 inches. Prico Is. 3d. posted. Map Department, Box US", G.P.0., Wellington.—Advt.

A tree that smokes is ono of tho natural wonders of Ono, Japan. Strange to say, it smokes only in tho evening, just after sunset, and 1 the smoko issues fvom the top of tho trunk.