In Flanders.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 September 1917, Page 2

In Flanders.

THE DiUKE OF COXXAUG'HIT AND T.HJE VICTORS OF -MESSINES AN- INTERESTING PARADE. (From Mailbolm Rlor-is, Correspondlent witli the New Zealand Forces in Field). iln the square of an old Flemish town behind the lines, a day or two ago, was a parade of Imperial troops) in connection with the visit of -the Duke of Connauglit to the Corps under which the New Zealanders fought in the battle of Messinep. There was a, special muster of the New Zealand Rifle Birigade, of which the Diuke is Colonel in Chief. In additioh other iroops (o<f aE arms were represented tin the parade.

Tlie square w!ais bright (wnitli buntling in wliich. the flag of (England, the Tricolour and the Belgian flag Were prominent. From eveny window of the shopp and houses in the square, soldiers and civilians watched the ceremony. Tlie red capes of British nurses made a splash of codor in the drab background of khaki. (Grouped at one side of the squa'rle were the trophies from the battleground of Messines—field and machine guns and ■otluer weapons that the Germans had left behind them in their flight. The Duke, acccxmapined iby General Plumeir, of the Second Army and 1 iGenerail commanding the /Corps, was received with a royal salute, as he reached the saluting base. Then, accompanied by the army and corps com. mandetrs and .the djivijsioinal generals, he made a close inspection of the troops. The officers on parade with the troops were introduced to him and each was> greeted with ia hearty handshake. Above the patrol of planeis flew at varying altitudes, and looking up we watched thieir graceful! (evolutions. Sttili higher, to invtifidble 'heights of 16,000 and 17,000 feet had clilmfcjeld' the triplanes. The precaultSloni waa necessary for the parade was in easy reach of the German bombers. Indeed; the parade was scarcely dver when the white puffs of the bursting shell of our anti-aircraft guns eoluOd be seen high above on the outskirts of the town. But the masked bands played brglit music and the ceremony went on as quietly as if it were being held in England beyond the .reaieh of wair alarums. The inspection over, three routing cheers wene .given for King Geargjo. His Royal Highniess then returned to tlie saluting Ibalse and the fcroops marched piast in column of route the New Zealand [Rifles leading. Afterwards the Duke met a number of and staff (officers, and the civic authorities of the town, with! whom he chatted foir a few minutes before proceeding albng the front to other scenes. To the New Zealanders the day was of special interest, for it was the first occasion u'pon wMch tlijci Eliflkfe !had seen tlieir Colonel in Chief. It was partliiciiil'arly fitting that thtey (dhioujd meet thins—on the battlefieldk of France, and at a time when tliqy were fresh from their part in the dieifeat of the enemy in the ©attic of Messines.