The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-24
He Was Deeply Affected BY
Havoc Wrought BY Ger
mans During the War.
GREAT CROWDS CHEER HIM
Demonstrations That Might
Have Been Accorded Hero at
Every Turn as President Wis
! it's Towns.

Brussels, June 23.-President
Wilson with King Albert and Queen
Elizabeth as their guides, saw the de-
vastation visited upon Belgium by
the Germans upon their visit here
last week. The first part of their
visit deeply affected the Americans,
not only Mr.. Wilson but those accom-
panying him. The second phase was
of an entirely different character.
In the forenoon almost no resi-
dents were encountered. In the af-
ternoon the appearance of the Presi-
dent at Ypres, Ostend, Zeebruge and.
finally, Brussels, was made the oc-
casion of demonstrations that might
have been accorded conquering
hero. With the President and Mrs.
Wilson were Miss Margaret Wilson,
B. M. Baruch. Norman Davis, Gen.
w. w. Harts, Herbert Hoover, chair
man of the inter-allied food commits
sion and Commander Baker.
Prepared for Long Trip.
The night run from Paris ended
at Adinkerke, Just across the Fran
co-Belgian frontier, where King AL
bert, Queen Elizabeth and a party of
Belgian officers received the Presi-
dent. The Americans had breakfast
on their train and stepped out of it
prepared for their long drive. King
Albert wore his officers suit of
khaki, in which Americans in Paris
have come to know him better than
in any other dress. Queen Elizabeth
wore a simple white dress, with a
dark blue motoring coat. Beneath
the Presidents long duster he wore
a frock coat, and during the trip he
wore a golting cap. Mrs. Wilson
was dressed in dark blue, with a silk
autoing coat. Brand Whitlock,
American minister to Belgium, ac-
companied the party throughout the
trip.
There were no ceremonies on the
train other than the ordinary greet
ings and introductions Through
the little stations between which had
been elaborately decorated. the party
moved to a long line OF cars and be-
gan it's trip into the shell-torn and,
as yet, abandoned country.
Studying Destruction.
From time to time the cavalcade
halted to permit the visitors to study
at close range some piece of destruc-
tion that was unusually thorough.
Nieuport was the first halt. Presi-
dent Wilson who was riding with
King Albert followed Queen Eliza
beth and Mrs. Wilson, and walked
through what had been the city of
Nieuport to the ruins of the canal.
From Nieuport eastward along the
old line of trenches to Dixmude
where the lines at one time almost
touched each other, the party alight-
ed at one or two places to examine
the nature OF the trenches. 1t then
went on toward Ypres. All that
part of the ride was in an almost de-
serted country. There were very
few refugees and there could be seen
little attempts towards reclaiming
the soil.
1t was like a dead country. Here
and there a civilion was encounter
ed but always his face expressed
seemingly hopelessness. Ypres,
however. showed a somewhat greater
display of animation. Notwithstand-
ing the terrible destruction wrought
there. a few former residents have
found their way back and a dozen
or more frame buildings have been
erected to serve as hotels. restau-
rants. drinking places and small
shops.
Semblance of Government.
A semblance of civil government
has been restored in this district, and
the burgomaster appeared before
the President, thanking him for
what America did for Belgium. The
British garrison and number Of
British nurses added to the crowd
that gathered to welcome the party
The work OF salvaging war material
on the Ypres battlefield is almost
completed but enough remained to