THE RESTORATION OF BELGIUM

Shannon News, 9 July 1926, Page 3

THE RESTORATION OF BELGIUM

“Belgium emerged from the war and its long period of enemy occupation a damaged and waterlogged hulk. Her industries had been largely destroyed, her export markets had. disappeared, her financial power had been crippled. She was left with nothing but the indomitable will of her people, their skill and their experience,’’ says Mr J. Pieton Bagge, British commercial secretary at Brussels, in a report on the economic situation in Belgium. “Seven years have now passed since the great work of reconstruction, both material, financial, industrial and commercial, was begun. To-day material reconstruction has been practically completed, factories have been iebuilt and rc.equipped, railways, canals, telegraphs and telephones have been repaired, world markets have been reconquered to a great degree,-and finances have been considerably straightened out. But this is not all. Belgium has not been content merely to repair the hulk and restore it to its pre-war state. She has sought to introduce all improvements suggested by modern progress and render herself fit to take her place among those of the foremost nations of the world.’’ Mr Bagge surveys in detail the recovery of pre-war industries and develop, ments in new directions, and concludes: “The damaged and waterlogged hulk in 1919 is now a seaworthy vessel, equipped with the most modern machinery and improvements, manned by a good crew, and officered by men of great experience and courage. The dangers of 'navigation are, however, still serious, and those in charge will have to be continuously on the lookout, and courage and endurance will be required from all hands., Are the Belgian people capable of such a task? Their past history gives a sufficient answer. Their courage, their will-power and their sagacity will not fail them in this last stage of that great trial begun in, 1914. Moreover, they have behind them the moral and material support of powerful sympathisers, whose admiration and respect they have earned by the manne rin which they the stupendous task of repairing and refitting their vessel, and by the sac. rifices , they have imposed on themselves in so doing. The next few months should see the vessel well on its way, slightly battered by sto* ms perhaps, but with the harbour of [stable prosperity looming big on the horizon.”