MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

KING AND QUEEN AT THE FRONT. AN APPRECIATIVE MESSAGE. London, July 10. The King has issued a special order as follows: At the conclusion of my fourth visit to the British armies in the field leave with of admiration and gratitude for their past achievements and fuiiue eftorts. I witnessed on all sides the scenes of your triumphs. The battlefields of the Somme, Ancro, Arras, Vimy and Messines have shown me what great lesults are attainable by the courage and devotion of all arms of the services under efficient commanders and staffs. Your comrades, men and women of the home industrial army, claim your remembrance by their untiring service in helping you to meet the enemy on tenns, not merely e<]ual, but daily improving.

"It was a great pleasure to the Queen to accompany me and become personally acquainted with the excellent arrangements for the care of the siok and wounded, whose welfare is ever close to her heart.

"The Empire's armies and the workers of the homelands, during the past three years, have risen superior to every difficulty and trial. The splendid successes already gained in cooperation with ilio gallantry of our Allies have advanced us well towards the completion oi the task we undertook.

"There is doubtless a fierce struggle to come, but the heavy strains on your endurance have been borne with a spirit of pluck which has brought you so far and will never fail you under God's guidance, until the final and complete victory of our just cause is assured."

Official: Their Majesties have arrived home after spending a fortnight in France and Belgium. Accompanied by the Prince of Wales they visited Sir Douglas Haig's headquarters, all the headquarte: , of the armies and the lines of communication The Queen visited a large number of hospitals and institutions in the eommunicating areas. Their Majesties visited the King and Queen of the Belgians.