THE BELGIAN QUEEN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 23 January 1917, Page 2

THE BELGIAN QUEEN.

HER VISIT TO THE TRENCHES AND SNAPSHOT OP SHBLLPIRE. A visit to the trenches in Flanders by the Queen of the Belgians is thus described in the Belgian “Logerbode” (Army Messenger) : “ ... The telephone brought the message that the Queen would visit them; the news spread like wildfire; the boys became quite excited. They longed'to see the lady of whom they had heard so often and in such high praise. ‘ 1 in the trenches and their little gardens 7 everything was put into shipshape, neatly, tidily, and carefully. At about five o ’clock the Queen arrived in a connecting trench, accompanied by the commanding officer of the sector, Licut-Coloncl Du Roy do Blicquy. A few moments later the Royal visitor reached the front lino, where she was welcomed by the major, who introduced hi s officers to her Majesty. After receiving some information about the position her Majesty went to the field hospital and inquired about the first aid given to the gassed soldiers. ‘ 1 Our boys stood in rows, and as she passed offered her a respectful salute. Their faces beamed with joy. They , would have preferred to - give more ' boisterous utterance to their patriotism, their loyalty to the Royal house, but the enemy is too near. * 1 For each she had a smile, a kind, charming word. ‘ls that a photo of your family?’ she asked a soldier, who -was wearing a locket. ‘lt is my' wife and child,” he answered, deeply moved; ‘they are far away, and for months I have had no news from them.’ ‘You will soon, receive it now, my friend.' “As she walked on, shells exploded quite near, and, whereas the .soldiers all showed anxiety for their beloved Queen, she was quite unconcerned, and took a snapshot of the immense plumes of smoke sent up by the exploding monsters. “After two hours and a half the Queen left, and the next morning sent a quantity of tobacco, cigarettes, and chocolate for the soldiers of the sector. ’ ’