MR. ASQUITH VISITS THE BATTLE-FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2483, 9 June 1915, Page 5

MR. ASQUITH VISITS THE BATTLE-FRONT

A PANORAMIC VIEW. London, June 7. Mr. Asquith's four days' tour'of the British front was denuded of ceremonial functions. He drove to Poperinghe, and from a hill enjoyed a wonderful panoramic view of the ground where fclip fiercest fighting occurred. Far away in the south, the ridge of Notro Dame de Loretfce could be seen making a thin bluo line on the horizon. Half, a < turn to the left brought I),ixr ] lmide, and Dunkirk into focus, with the : sand dunes gleaming white through the haze. Between these two "extremes lay ; the British front as it 'lifts existed for . eight months. In the centre of the ' landscape lay the shattered remains of Ypres. ' A murky, dusky red pall of smoke arose thickly while Mr. Asquith climbed to the top of the hi 11... The Germaiis , were again sholling the'town, trying"to J demolish the remains of, the Cathedral and the Cloth Hall. Several houses j wore burning fiercely. Puffs of smoke to the north also showed that the enemy was still shelling Steenstraato, while_ at intervals - shrapnel was seen bursting over the British lines at Wyfrschaote and Messines. The clear day- . light enabled the Prime Minister to trace distinctly the opposing trenches within a few yards of each other, looking like the white weals of an. old wound upon a man's sun-tanned face. A hospital for convalescents, to receive men who are run down by the strain of trench warfare, delighted' Mr. Asquith. One thousand three hundred 'beds have been provided since it started, and 13,000 cases have been treated, nearly a regiment beiiig_ returned ■ monthly to the firing line, in full-vig-our. Mr. Asquith drove through the men who had carried out the great "push" at Neuv9 Chapelle, and chatted with his ex-colleague.. Brigadier-General Seely. He examined the wire entanglements, dugouts, arid weapons of trench warfare, and returned ,to headquarters through an interminable stream of motor, vehicles of every conceivable description carrying supplies to the front.