BELGIAN SOLDIERS' APPEAL

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 June 1918, Page 3

BELGIAN SOLDIERS' APPEAL

TO THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND.

BRITISH GIFTS FOR BELGIAN SOLDIERS

THE following letter was received this week from M, Emile Vandervelde, Minister of War Supplies and Member of the Belgian Government: — We beg to appeal to the citizens of free Australasia, whose sons have so willingly responded to the cry of distress of invaded Belgium. Rather than give way to the Germans the whole of the people of Belgium have preferred to stand and fight for the Freedom of the World. The Belgian soldiers are still in the trenches while their families are under German rule on the other side of the firing line. Every day new recruits are joining the Belgian Army, coming from Belgium at the risk of their lives, having to make their escape through barbed and electrified wires, In the marshes of Flanders, side by side with the soldiers of the British forces, amongst whom the sons of Australia and New Zealand have covered themselves with glory, our boys are doing their utmost to re-conquer their country. Australasia is helping to free ] Belgium and to secure her independence once more—the solemn promise of all the Allies —and her sons are giving their lives for this noble cause. Australasia will certainly show her liberality by supporting the appeal of the Belgian soldiers. All correspondence to be addressed and cheques to be made out to — M. Emile Vanderveld, British Gifts for Belgian Sodiers, Australian Fund, . 32, Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.I. This Committe is engaged in sending comforts of all descrip tions and money to the Belgian soldiers at the Front. In order to give some idea of the importance of the work carried out by the Committe, it is sufficient to say that from the time of its foundation up to the present day, the sum of £51,585 Is 2d has been collected, and in order to show the activity of its parcel service to the troops, it may be added that during a period of 12 months 32,000 parcels were sent to individual soldiers. How you can help' us: —<By donations, contributions voted by Councils Committees and Boards, subscription lists,ilag days, street collections, collecting boxes in public halls, restaurants and shops, bazaars, fancy fairs, sales, concerts, etc. The Belgian soldiers will be most grateful to you. ?