BELGIUM'S ARMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 47, 19 November 1917, Page 5

BELGIUM'S ARMY

STEONGEE THAN AT 'BEGINNING ■ OP THE WAE. v

Eeuter's Agency has received from an anthoritative Belgian military source the | following statement regarding the present condition of the Belgian Army. Publication of this is regarded as ail the more necessary in view of certain unfounded rumours, doubtless of enemy origin: "To-day our army is much stronger and bettor equipped than at. beginning of the war. ; Lately the Allied offensive in Flanders has necessitated certain changes. Though no soldier has been withdrawn from the army zone, the Belgian front has been somewhat reduced lately. It used to go from Niouport as far as Boeslngho, 20 miles south, an important sector, considering their small strength and lack of reserves. This is the line which they never ceased to hold from the end "of dctober, 1914, till theserecent ohanges occurred. , . '"At first entirely dependent on the Allies for its equipment and ammunition, the Belgian Army has become more ana more self-sufficient, thanks to the war industries established In France since August, 1915, for which many skilful workmen Ttero taken from the army. Owing to' this Tiork- of reinforcement and reequipment our soldiers wero able to cooperate with suoh success in tho second battle of Yprcs, where their counter-at-taoks on the extreme left helped to combat the effect of the first German gas attacK and to support the heroic resistance or the Canadians. . . . Thero is not a day whon the Belgian Army has not bravely paid its tribute to the war and taken its share in the common sacrifice. "The morale at the front is excellent, especially since the British and French successes in Flanders. • Our soldiers, Flemings and Walloons alike, are only too anxious to join in the fray. Tlus spirit is'greatly encouraged by the presence of tho King, who has never left Belgian soil except to pay a few abort visits to the Allied armies, and who is livin» constantly with his soldiers ami for his soldiers. This devotion of tho troops to their chief is only equalled by their worship of the, Queen, who. at the side of her.husband, always takes tho keenest interest in the wolfnre of the wounded, and endeavours means in her power to eTioouTage the men and alleviate their sufferings."