DESOLATION OF WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1922, Page 4

DESOLATION OF WAR.

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WORK Op RECONSTRUCTION

A most interesting description of parts of the Western Front, as seen in the summer of 1921, has been received by Mr Clntha Mackenzie, M.P., from Captain Ulandy, of the Imperial Forces who was blinded, but afterwards partially recovered his sight. Captain Blandy and a friend landed at Ostend, which had hardly been i touched by British guns or aeroplanes. 1 “A fine tribute to the forbearance of the Allies, and particularly to the Navy,” remarks the officer. Soon after leaving Ostend the travellers were in 1 familiar war scenes of shattered houses fliid churches and broken trees. A feature new, but to become familiar, was masses of rusty iron along the roads where the debris had been placed by the peasants before the cultivation of the soil began. Dumps of shells, “plum puddings,” and other missiles still were to be seen. Referring to the ruins of Ypres, Captain Blandy remarks that he understands that the Cloth Hall is not to be restored beyond being made safe, but it to be left as a “monument to German ‘kulture.’ ” Before the war Ypres had a population of about 17,000 and some 4000 houses. Not more than 100 houses have been so little damaged as to be capable of reconstruction without Ireing pulled down. The rebuilding operations are of a very piecemeal character, and, give the town a quaint appearance. “There is no common plan,” says. Captain Blandy. “It looks as if the former owners were tenacious of their rights and interested only in the rebuilidng of their own property.’ Old houses are appearing from the ruins. The building is of an unequal order, usually of the “jerry” kind. The Belgians arc working hard—from B a.rtt. to 6.30 or 7 p.m. seems to be their hnrnial day—but they appear to be rushing up the houses without regard to the future. THROUGH RECLAMATION OF FIELDS.

“If their building operations a.re sketchy, the reclamation of the Belgian fields is thorough,” says the Writer. “The industry of the peasants is untiring. They beat and level out the land with thteir cumbrous mattocks and later with tractors. I regret to say that I saw hardly any British agricultural implements—the Americans seem to have a real half-Nelson on the trade. The courage and patience of the inhabitants have done wonders. The trendies have almost disappeared, and the shell holes, except the biggest, have bee’n obliterated. Only the very worst areas, such as Polygon Wood ail'd Hill 00, liavo not yet been reclaimed. We were amazed to tiud Passcliendaolte Ridge aiul St. Julien smiling cornfields, and this is a very dry summer. It is lucky,” remarks Captain Blandy, “that the Flanders Plain is so moist, tliougti most of us thought otherwise a few years ago.’* • “The ramparts of Ypres are an object Vess'on oil the scieiVce of defence,” says the traveller. “Built by Vauban iii the 17th cent dry, the great brick walls Add bastions stood the four yte'Ars’ boihbnrdih’oiit almost without harm. The scat's Bit them 'show h'ow often thby W'eVc hit, but evHl the highest- ‘enlmps’ made blit little iinpressiott. They certainly vindicate the value of very thick earthwork faced with brick against even model'll artillery.’ ’ MESSINES A COMPLETE RUIN.

Massines itself was, perhaps, the nu)st complete ruin in Belgium. A good part of the famous ridge of Messih’eS lias heel) brought into cultivation again, but two of the mine craters of 1317 are untouched. They are deep And partially filled with water. Rifle and machine-gun piis around one crater were almost the only works of the kind which remained distinguishable. Many of Übp broken trees in Plug street Wood were sprouting, and the undergrowth everywhere was rampant. The crest of Tvemmel ITill was bare; it being inches deep in pieces of metal, relics of the furious bombardment in 1918. Yimy Ridge was almost unchanged. Arras was found less battered than the travellers bad expected, only 5 per cent cf the houses being damaged. Serre, near Hcbuterne, was the most complete picture of desolation Captain Blandy s'a’.v. Oh the site of the church t\Vo '..ri.ks were found after a search. In tli'e vdihity were i\Vo shell cteters 30ft ilt'cp and 40ft wide. Little work c'f 'r‘eeok.siiiVcHuh idl'd been doho 'in the Sh'nViv.c coiVntrv.

LESS RfcCONRTRUCTTON IN FRANCE. ReconstrteTi'dn was Much less adViViYced itt i'YiVtl'ec iliab in Belgium, the explanation being that France was a. much greater task and far fewer Men in proportion. “A large part of the Manhood of Belgium,” comm Aits Captain Ll'aYidy, “cither came t'o England dr were under Gci te an rule during Most of the war. Thus Belgium has a reserve of item-power, whereas France has not.” Notwithstanding the magnitude a'f* the task the French peasants (had accomplished wonders—though the travellers Were told that the fact that the French Government granted compensation only to those who actually settled on their old lands was the m.H reason for the return of many. In most of the villages the people were “pigging it”, in shacks —old army huts of “elephant houses.” The roads, perhaps owing to the good'offices of the sappers, w6re in first-class order. "The .horrors of war indeed still continue,” says Captain Blandy. “Almost every day there are explosions of ‘dud’ shells, and one which occurred during our stay cost the lives of sir. men. The , inhabitants have an awkward habit of J popping off old bombs, etc., at all times j and on one occasion, while we were j resting on the ruins of the old chateau : of Thiepoal, we came once more under j direct fire from an enthusiast who apparently was loosing off old Mills’ bombs. Anyone who wants to see the : battlefields,” concludes the Writer, “should go in the next two years, or , there may I>e no battlefields to see.”