RUINED YPRES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2471, 26 May 1915, Page 8

RUINED YPRES

A GRUESOME PICTURE Private who ruled as king (Rec. May 25, 5.55 p.m.) London, May 24. Th'e "Times's" correspondent with British Headquarters gives a gruesome description of t'he devastation at Ypres. "This zone," he writes, "is riddled —J roofless houses, broken furniture. "There is a deathly stillness in the streets. Human remains are everywhere, and the sickening smell of decay 'overpowers the scent of _ the spring flowers. Jackdaws are cawing amid the ruins, and starlings are rebuilding their nests. ' . "The altar.of Saint Martins Church is still draped in black. The last bombardment interrupted a Mass for the dead, and the sacristy is full of vestments - and candlesticks, tumbled together, aud covered with the yellow dust'from the explosives. In the graveyard there is a shell crater, from which toman bones protrude." The correspondent, says that this is a most highly organised mechanical war, depending on modern science." "As a last resort, there is the human factor, the fighting man. Despite artificial Bids, wo are depending on the samo qualities which gave us victory in the days of the bow and arrow. I believe that in the' human factor we are superior to the enemy." Ho gives an example: A British private was asleep in a cellar when Tpres iwas vacated in November. When he awoke he placed eleven of the townsmen tinder an iron discipline, and shot ■looters on sight.' Ho himself was in/'clined to the. bottle, but he prevented (drunkenness in others. He was known as the King of Ypres. His kingship lasted a week, when he was court-mar-tialled. For maintaining orderliness in the place he was forgiven for his other delinquencies.—"Times" and Sydney : "Sun" services. .. | CROWN PRINCE UNDER A , CLOUD REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SUPERSEDED. Ceneua, May 24. No official agency has reported the Crown Prince's movements in the army for some. time. It is asserted that he has been superseded. t His blunders began by overruling the advice of senior officers at the Marne. THE "OPEN DOOR" IN CHINA 'AMERICAN NOTES TO THE TWO EASTERN NATIONS. Peking, May 24. The United States has handed Notes to China and Japan, stating that she cannot Tecogniso any agreement impairing the treaty rights of the United States, or the political or territorial integrity of the Republic or of the international policy called the "Open Door Policy." A WARM RECEPTION i r AIR-RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF .ENGLISH COAST. London, May 24. British aeroplanes drove off a German airoraft at the North Foreland yesterday morning. CONVERT TO CONSCRIPTION < OBLIGATION FOR. SERVICE IS . . . , UNIVERSAL.. 1 London, May 24. The ''Ernes" in a leader says that Mr. Ellis J. Griffith's (Under-Secretary for Home Affairs) announcement of his conversion to conscription gives timely utterance to the thoughts Hid feelings of the nation. "The obligation for service is universal, and nobody is fit to have a voico ill the _ government of England unless he is willing to defend it with his life. Millions realise but dimly that the nation's fate is in the ■balance, aud it is necessary that the Government should drive home the lesson. The people's answer is certain."— ''Times" and (Sydney "Sim" services. AN INDISCREET ALIEN GERMAN FINED IN SYDNEY.; (Rec. May 25, 9.40 p.m.) Sydney, May 25. 'At 'Albury a German named Schmoork Was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for spreading reports likely to causo alarm amongst civilians. Evidence was given that Schmoork had declared that the Kaiser had more brains than all the British; that the latter were cowards, not game to fight their own battles, and had'to get help from all the other nations; when tho War. was over Germany would be the winner. The police stated that the accused had .previously been cautioned for his inflammatory utterances. EMPIRE DAY IN OVERSEA ' DOMINIONS, VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. May 25, 11.55 p.m.) London, May 25. There were few formal Empire Day oelebrations in England, and these chiefly in the schools. Many leaders of the Empire Day movement were engaged ill other national services. Victoria Day was celebrated throughout South Africa, largely by children's functions. Thore were numerous remarkable demonstrations of loyalty and many military paradea in Canada.