ON THE BATTLEFIELDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1920, Page 5

ON THE BATTLEFIELDS.

SCENES IN BELGIUM, PARIS STILL GAY. . The battlefields of Belgium were visited by Mr. Harold Beauchamp during his recent tour in Europe. Mr. Beauchamp stated that he saw a good deal of the da? vastated area. Starting from Ostend, hft passed through Wcstend, Nieuport, YaerJ Ypres, and on to Ploegeteert. "Each of these towns, knd many others whose names I cannot recall," ha said, "was reduced to a raas9 of ruins, there being scarcely one stone left 'upon another. It is no exaggeration to say that it would bj almost impossible to find one building untouched by shot or shell lire. .Truly, it,was a scene oi abomination and desolation! Between the towns and villages, gunfire has blast* < ed the beautiful woods tliat made the Belgian countryside so attractive and picturesque in pre-war days. In fact, the country to-day looks as if it has been swept by bush fires of unparalleled magnitude, black stumps now marking the place of noble trees. As one motors through this devastated area one sees further evidence of the war in the shape oi huge masses of barbed-wire, sheet! of iron and steel (twisted into all Borts of fantastic shapes), wrecked tanks, shell and cartridge cases, dug-outs, shell holes, etc., and in this low-lying sedgy country —a. sea of mud in winter time—one can picture the awful sufferings of our hoys When at Ploegsteerl I crossed the frontier and spent a little time in Armentiere* with a couple of British officers, who are attending to the restoration and cave of British cemeteries in that part of France and Belgium. It was my sad privilege to view several of these cemeteries, and I can testify as to the efficient manner in which they are being looked after by the British authorities. Shortly, I understand, a standard memorial iB to be erected at the head of every grave—no distinction, quite properly, being made between officers and privates. They are nu equal in the sight of Qod, and each made the same supreme sacrifice. Return* • ing to Oatend, by another route, I saw Langemark, where the Canadians bo greatly distinguished themselves, and near to Langeumrk, the big gun that was used in shelling Dunkirk. "In the course of my journey I noticed many German prisoners—all looking sleek and well fed, and Chinamen engaged in restoration work. It was almost the close of the season when I was in Ostend, yet the town was full of visitors, mostly of the tripper class. Thousands were indulging in bathing, whilst large numbers patronised the race meetings (held almost daily), the Casino and other places of amusement. With bands playing and people indulging in all forms of enjoyment, it was difficult to realise that only a few months ago Ostend was in the occupation of the Hunsl The city was not damaged much by the enemy. "The weather in mid-October becoming wet, cold and foggy, I left London then for the South of France, breaking my journey for a few days in Paris, which city was full of visitors. The streets, gardens and parks in the gay city all ; showed signs of. neglect, very little publie . money being expended thereon in war time. The most noticeable thing in Paris, and indeed, throughout the whole of France, whilst I was there was the great scarcity of small change. Owing to the : abnormally high price of silver, the franc . is intrinsically worth more than its face ' value, which induced many people, especially of the peasant class, to hoard. Xhe supply of filthy one franc notes waa quite unequal to the demand, so that in making purchases or paying for service# " rendered, it was frequently necessary to 1 part with a five-franc note for something ; costing, say, 1, 2 or 3 francs; it Was ~ either that or going without the article, or service, required., In many places, such as shops and restaurants, notices •' were affixed to windows, etc., "No change given." Just before sailing per R.M.S. Ormonde. Iroin Toulon, a most drastic regulation was passod by the French Gov> prnment, prohibiting any person from > leaving the country with more than 1000 ' [rancs —or the equivalent thereto of any money in his possession. This difficulty, Df course, is overcome by travellers de- . positing with a bank any money they may have in excess of 1000 francs, and taking a draft for the amount of such ' '■ leposit. Any infringement of thi< regr,lation is punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, and confiscation of out : « J aoßiy." ; 'i