The Washington times., 1916-12-30
King AIbert's Army Holding
Soil Behind impossible
Barriers.
TRAINING FOR DELlvERANcE
10 Completely Re-equipped and
VIII Be Comfortable This
Winter.

WITH KING LBERT's ARMY IN
BELGIUM (By Mail). Dec. 1b.-Be-
hind basriers OF water that are more
impossible than the strongest barb
ed wire entanglements, the Belgian
army is holding les part OF the west
ern battlefront, and training and
waiting for the day when more OF
Belgium can be .wrested from the
enemy.
The Belgian army, which now holdf
all OF Belgium not In Germany's
hands, In situated In perhaps the most
unique fighting position OF any OF
the belligerent Forces. IL II out of
fighting touch with the enemy, ex'
cept by artillery firing. For tho most
part the Germans are a mile dis
tant--and intervening, In place OF No
Mans Land. u No Mans Water. The
Belgian system OF "lnundating dc
lenses" through the River User. the
User canal and various inundated dis-
tricts puts n unique barrier between
the two forces.
Army u Re-esuipped.
Thanks in part to the allies help
and in part to Belgium's own indomit.
able spirit and the industry o. her
people. King Aibert's army will not
be obliged to suffer this winter the
hardships and privations that fell 20
It's lot during the first two winters
OF the war.
pletely re-equipped and outhtted. In
part. tho equipment has been fur.
nished by the allies. yet a goodiy por.
tion IL due 60 the BelRians them
selves. They have established mum. |
erous factories not only on the rem |
nsnt OF Belgian soil stu left TO them, |
but also IN France.
These factories not only supply |
tho troops, but give employment to |
OF Belgian refugees.
PretectinE Their Army.
Thanks 90 the efficiency OF their |
water barriers. the BeiEians are not
subject 60 German infantry attacks.
They have to withstand only artillery
nrisg-and they are now yquipped
TO give adequate answer 10 this sort /
OF combat. They have constructed
dugouts and other shelters, and
with their new equipment the army
will be able 20 keep reasonably warm,
dry. and comfortable while manning
the dykes along which their nrst line
run.
The BsIEians are perfeeting their
army. Tho cavalry has been entire
ly remounted--Almost without ex.
ception OF American horses bought /
LARGELY In Texas. That portion OF
Belgium which remains In possession
OF the Belgian army doesn't offer
satisfactory ground for cavalry drill.
Therefore tho various Belgian cavalry
take turns In drilling on
French cavalry grounds. keeping up
To the highest standard OF efficiency
while waiting for the time when they
can participate In the redemption OF
Belgian soil.
Have Formidable ARTILLERY.
The artillery branch has likewise
been developed to q point where the
Belgians can boast Of perhaps the
most formidable artillery strength OF
any army OF its sire In the world. The
present war having demonstrated the
supreme role which artillery playa
he allies have seen TO IL that the
Belgian army Il equipped In the full
'st possible manner. To their origi-
lai field artillery the BelgiAns them
selves were able TO add a number OF
batteries from Portuguese. factories.
md France and England have added
III their types OF heavy artillery.
No small contribution was also
made 10 the Belgian artillery by the
Germans themselves. When as a last
'esouree In the fighting OF 1914 the
opened the mood gates that
great portions OF their soil.
he Germans had TO beat such hasty