Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-29
LILLE HALLS BRITISH FIFTH
ARMY AS SAVIOR OF CITY

Ere and blood
Some of us knew more about that
than the people of Lille. though they
guessed we had seen these men on
the battlcfields and In places which be-
long to them In remembrance OF history.
in the mud of Flanders and the craters
of the Sommc around Ypres and Arras
and Amicns.
From their own homes 1t IL long
way to Lille. II was four years
Journey and many fell on the way, but
now these men marched with n CLINT
in their eyes. with chins up and chests
thrown out. 40 though 1t had been an
easy way and no further than from
CharinC Cross to the bank. with no barb
ed wire in between. They wore their
steel helmets and their jaws were square
in tho strops--thesc boys who had never
dreamed Of soldering five years ago.
Tbcy were lean and hard. as men who
had lost something of their boyhood.
though many were boys. hut they had
cleaned of the dirt of battle and were
wondcrfully smart. Even their old field
kitchens. which had gone down many
dirty roads with 50 guns around were
poljshed up and had shining look.
and their guns were pretty toys in their
bright polish and did not speak OF death
nor of the mangling OF human flesh.
Bands Play English Tunes
They came with their bands at the
head of each battalion and played old
English march tunes to the people OF
Lille, and then suddenly as they passed
the Statue Of Liberty. the Marseillaise.
1t was as though some electric spark
had fired the crowd. They rose and
cheercd louder than before with shrill
fervor. and then thousands of voices took
up the old hymn which once sang OF
revolt. and now sings of liberty and love
of France. and its music passed down
the streets with passion in 1t.
Some Irish pipers passed playing their
mines to the tune of Cock o. the North. u
and again the people of Lille were stir
red by the spirit OF the music which
this time spoke to them of war and the
march of fighting men over hillsides
where shells are screaming. For all
that was in the Irish pipes whatever
tune they played.
The soldiers had flags in their belts
and rifles and flowers on their guns and
wagons For nearly two hours they
passed and passed-rifemen and gun
neds and Red Cross men and Red Cross
ambulances, engineers and signalers and
cyclists. field batteries and howitzers'
brigade by brigade. and it was good TO
see them. those men who had fought In
many battles. in receipt Of tho hemage
of the people they had helped to save.
1t was a day OF festival and thanksgiv.
ing in Lille and we saw the pride OF
England In it's streets.
Civilians Cheer and Weep
While the fighting near Valenciennes
was in progress a remarkable scene was
taking place in Denain. recently cap
tured by the Fourth Division of Canadi-
ans after severe resistance by the enemy
outside and in its streets. Many hundreds
of people were In the town during thif
battle. lying down in cellars while the
shell fire passed over the housdops ant
machine guns made a tattoo from theiI
windows and roofs When the enemy
retreated at last he left a number OF
machine gunners as rearguard, and these
men fought to the last. When the Cana
dians entered to take possession OF the
town some fierce fighting took place
around the church, and then when the
last shots were fired the civilians came