Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-29

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ine asG weep1no.
While they cNesreA among ne cana
dians>in their steel hats. who came TO
rescue them. they gave the men ccRse,
but could mot ofYer them food. for they
had none: and the Canadian did not
stay. but after drinkins the coffee and
shaking hands with the women. who
patted their muddy uniforms ana poured
out their thanks. they said:
Now we must be getting on after old
Heinie." as they cali the Germans, .se.
cause we want to hnish this war, don't
you see. Madame7''
SO those hard, tough men. went on
again after the enemy and drove MIN
to the outskirts Of valenciennes, where
he is now more closely pressed.
But today these very men came bacN
for a while to take part. IN n thanks
giving ceremony by the people Of Denain,
Of which they were heroes II was =
touching episode In this war. and saw
that some Of the soldiers had wet eyes
now and then.
Denain Ia not pretty town. II 10 In
the coal mining region of France ana
like most coal mining villages IN tne
world with rows OF red brick cottages
beyond Stag heaps and factory chitrncys
leading upto the big church which is
the center OF life and spitituality OF the
town. The church Ia ugly also. ana
with none Of the beauty OF rredievai
architecture, but there IL a spiritual
beauty here today--the gratitude OF
many hearts redeemed ny the courage OF
men from four years Of servitude and
horror. and Thanksgiving for the mercy
that had come to them somehow or
other
Canadian Rescuevs Honored
The people Of Denain. poor though
they are, and still half starved. had
found or bought or made thousands oi
f,ags, English fags and French fags
and had hung them across the streets
and from the windows Of the houses
outside the church and down the high
street. the Canadian soldiers of the
Fourth Division were lined up. ana fne,
grim fighting men they looked In their
steel helmets like seventeenth century
men-at-arfns. .''-
outside the church there was a grour
Of priests in gold-workcd- vestmentf
glinting In the autumn sun that pierced
through the mists and behind them q
row Of girls dressed as Alsatiaf maids
wItn COlOTeO 1TDChS VIZ oO''s
on their heads; and each Of them car
ried n large bouquet of flowers for one OF
the officers Of the Canadian corps as q
tribute to heroes.
General Currie. the Canadian corps
commander and the general commanding
the Fourth Canadian division. came with
their brieadiers and other generals and
staff officers. and then came young
English captain who was received with
n royal salute by the Canadian soldiers.
It was the Prince of Wales. and one
of the Alsatian girls went to him and
put a great bouquet In hIs arms, and
he bowed Tow and smiled his thanks.
Masses of flowers were given to the
Canadian officers and there came up n
little procession of old men In black,
bearing a banner which they gave to the
general commanding the division as n
g,ft from the town Of Denain TO the
province of Quebec. They were veterans
of the war Of 1870. and for the second
time they had been delivered from the
Germans.
The doors of the church were wide
omen and the officers and old men and
women followed the Prince Of Wales IN
side while the priests in their gold vest
ments wei.t to tine altar and praised