A Peep at Ypres.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1922, Page 4

A Peep at Ypres.

30 YEARS TASK OF EERUTLDfNf

liv Sir (i regur.v Eo-der)

Picture lo yoiil'si lvus an aim,,' oi three Hmii.-aml workmen travelling da,\ !, v tinv Irmn burge-g I'rum Gbelli, from finiss'ds. from Rmilers, and many other smaller towns to Hi" desolate station at Ypres! Thev find tho stalion-yaril literally clinked with Uriahs, tiles, and all manner of I• uiD!inmaterials. They join forces with some thousand others who live in lints either in or dose around what remains ol the ramparts ol the ancient town. ~ Thev aie all at work mi the prodigious task of re-creating the town left de-.nlalo Lv tiie war. They look on it as a work Unit will take at least thirty year.:, of which but two are gone by. When the armistice came in 1!>1L there was no 1 a house left standing in Ypi'cs. There were I lie vaunt remains of the famous Cloth Hall still standing high above the 'ground: there were the scanty remains of the gieat ( atiieili a 1 Hi St .Martin elo-e by, of which the beautiful central doorway was the due! feature, and the remaiusnf three other churches were yet visible. All was chaos, hardly a load traceable! And now alter two years ui stead), mid well-organised labour there is order gradually coining. Several hundred red-ronied houses are ill various stages of completion. Some aie already finished and their owners, wi ell shopkeepers, are making a bravo show of useful articles. Some of the hotels have already stalled business rnrniil, some '.villi nothing: hrt wooden shaut’-’s, some with paii..of buildings still awaiting completion. Everything that malms town life pos-

sible iii*t'tls renovation. Tile main road i'roin tlie slat.'!,n to tin* Grande Place is im]>;• s ::i'' 1 : tor wh'iictl traffic, for the main seni■ ; r i•■•itl. . Tiioso is n ii i i!r a or!; ~n it under I 111 l irin:.i • ,ia i il'-'lir.lll. LuiVCl’ ! dim n, liy w 11 ai :l rhe one:) ma- ( ji s: ic I a I!,- '■ .i . i ere is another little ! aimv nci»i■ - n'i '.I ■ water-service. Tlie (Jraii ! Pin; •• is a piteous sight. Hut even l 1 c ( i ii' Mali is already lidicl up. All an.mid iL are great jiiK s of sli.ias thiil have been cleaned a’id is" l icailv for rebuilding. The stair.ses’ in i lie inn them tower is clear, and men are at work making good tlie iiiiu-t Slight '.hat was blown to liicies. T' e ea-.tern markci-lia 11 is quite clear, its ;!:"!■,■ al end/ r.dlo :tvd and its columns reset. t. I tie , I':edrnl lit t|c more than a partial clearance lias been made; the vu-nl liiiiie'i of sgt Peter, on the Lille isi,cl. mi (tie**■-lln-r hind, has passed well i:, vmtil tlnit stag,', and (lie bricklayers arc busy with tlie interior arches, i T!- '.. hole place, in shot t, is a perfect hive oi industry, and there- is .a wiiudei ful spirit of quiet happiness born of zealous work. Pass out of the Lille flute to the corn nr ktmv. n as “Hell-tire Corner,” and ; l-t ill" c e range round to Kemmcl , Hill, to the railway dug-out cemetery, i and von get the eouhiast. Within the ; all l.:isiii''ss : without, all dosolaj; i ;. i. ;• 1 1 ; .. l>:** itelgians, ! •at i has I,ecu. has done little his will’, nr than cl.-nr- the roads and ■ ' Yprcs and t ! f whole district are iu- | .he'l i-ogc- at this stage of reeon-