The Irish standard., 1917-07-07
THE TWIN CiTiiEs "a
GREET BELGIAN
war COMMISSION

war COMMISSION
Dramatic Scene at Como Park When
Archbishop ireland Assures Them Of
American support-Baron Moncheur
AI'udes Happily to Father Hennepin
as Native of Belgium, Establishing
Sentimental Bond With the North
west.
The members Of the Belgian War
Commission will never forget their
profoundly moving and pathetic ex-
perlence at the demonstration in their
honor held at Como Park, St. Paul,
where they were addressed by Arch
bishop Ireland. When the warrior
prelate gave them his strong assur-
ance that the flag of the United States
would never be withdrawn from the
battle fields of Europe until the suf-
fering people of Belgium had been re-
stored to their home. And that if need
be the one hundred million people of
the United States are ready to lay
down their lives for the cause of hui
manity and the restoration of the
rights of these devastated people, the
visitors were completely overcome.
Tears of joy and gratitude appeared
in their faces, and General Leclercq
broke down in the effort to express his
response in words, but reverently en-
braced and kissed the Archbishop.
Baron Moncheur, Major Osterreith,
and Count D'Ursel all with tears in
their eyes did likewise, while in the
vast concourse of spectators hundreds
wept under the spell of the tense emo
tion. Seldom indeed in human expert
ence is witnessed scence so intensely
dramatic and inspiring. General
Leclercq, a robust and seasoned caval-
ry commander, who led in the defense
of his country against it's first on
slaught of the Germans, and who has
been made familiar with the bloodshed
and carnage of many battle fields after
recovering his composure said: "You
may not fully understand what this
means to us, but our people will know
and we will carry the message to
them" Such was the climax of the
never-to-be-forgotte scene, the pathos
of which words fail to describe.
The Archbishop's Address.
"Our hearts go out to Belgium, to
King Albert, to Cardinal Mercier and
the noble work they have done," said
the archbishop. "The decision rested
with King Albert when the Kaiser's
forces demand passage through that
country and in spite of the awful odds
the Belgian army faced the invaders
and held them until help came.
although the Belgian flag bespeaks
one of the most heroic nations in his
tory of the world, promise you that
the Star Spangled Banner means vic
tory, that the Star Spangled Banner
has never known defeat and will not
know it in this war.
"The boys who have gone across the
water to fight the war that your ma
tion has carried on for three years will
see the flag dipped in blood, but will
never return with it marred in defeat.
All Honor to Belgium.
Belgium is a nation that has held
to it's ideals. It is thrice welcome in
America. Other missions from other
countries have come and they have
been welcome, but Belgium is especial
ly welcome because America feels that
it is indebted to them for what has
been done for this country and all
humanity in that first stand against
the enemy. .....
Before the Star Spangled Banner
will go down in defeat, every one of
the hundred million people in this
country will go with it and also all of
the nations vast resources.
"You have seen this terrible suffer
ing in your country, and have seen
your own people deported into slavery
in an enemy's land, but before the
Star Spangled Banner is returned to
this country you will see all these
things right and your land returned
to it's own" .....
In reply General Leclercq stated
that: Despite the terrible suffering
of our people, not one Belgian soldier
nor one Belgian man or woman has
ever regretted the decision made by
our king"
Baron Moncheur then expressed tt
the people of the Northwest the spe
cial gratitude of King Albert and the
Belgian people for its generous all
they had given in relieving the hunge
and want in Belgium.
At Como Park.
There were over ten thousand pee
pie at Como Park to participate In tn
Fourth of July celebration, the prlr
cipal feature of which was the receI
&;o,, 70 %bo Do1oion CommiSS sion Ir