"PRICELESS AlD."

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 10

"PRICELESS AID."

BELGIUM'S THANKS TO BRITISH ARMY. A LETTER TO SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. The following letter was sent by the Prime Minister of Belgium to Sir Douglas Haig:— .">rd April, 1010. "Monsieur le Marechal, —At this moment, when after the partial demobilisation of the Expeditionary Forces under jour high command you are .about to relinquish your post an.f leave our country, 1 should like to convey tfl you an expression of the genuine gratitude and profound acknowledgments oi the government, the army, and the people of Belgium for the priceless aid and support given by the British Array to the Belgian army in the course of fifty-two months' of war, during which time the two armies lived in the closest and most cordial solidarity of effort. "Your soldiers have been the devote.! friends of the unfortunate inhabitants of these pillaged regions. They have sustained their courage and alleviated their sufferings; they have succoured them in their moments nf distress with an altogether fraternal generosity; they have been the pioneers of the restoration of the devastated and mined towns. The sick, wounded, and indigent, the children and old men—all the representatives of him-,an misery alike—have found a refuge and protection under the flag of Oreat Britain. "Now that this time of great tribulation is over we have been obliged to have recourse once jtiore to the assistance of your troops, and they have not, stinted it, -whether in horsys, wagons, or transport. We lacked everything on the day following victory; Belgium was almost expiring; but, thanks to youi warm bengvolence, she has revived. Louis de la Croix, 1 Prime Minister." , Sir Douglas Haig replied as follows: "Dear Monsieur de la Croix,—ln tlw hamu of all ranks of the troops lately under my command in France and Flanders, I thank you, the Government, army, and people of Belgium, most profoundly for the generous terms in which you have referred to the actions of the British Annies during the long struggle now happily concluded. It was our privilege to come to the assistance of a nation whose loyalty and deep sense of honor made no account of the overwhelming strength of the, forces which threatened its existence, tind it is out lasting satisfaction to know ; tlmt w<> have had a share in setting ri.iht the. wrongs inflicted on your gallant country. That in so doing we have earned gratitude so warm and so pincore as that which is expressed in avery word of your letter, is to us a full recompense for all that we have been fible to, accomplish on behalf of men and women whose sufferings moved our pity, while their courage and spirit in adversity stirred our deepest admiration. "We do not forget, either, the welcome given to our troops by the inhabitants of the occupied districts of Belgium when the advancing armies of tlv Allies brought, them once more in fn.'i men sure the liberty which in their hearts hud never died. Tn thanking von, sr. le Premier Minister, for your letter, you will allow mo to give « teranre in my turn tn the very real aj, preciation of all ranks of tne British Armies for the many acts of kindness rendered to them by the people of Belgium." •