Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-12

unusually large or cumbersSms piece
Of the smuggled stun was greeted
win cheers from the crowds
Kiss FIRST SOLDIERS
AND, GIVE FLOWERS
The advance Belgian cyclists pcdalcd
down ,o the PLACE dArtervcldse before
for each corner. They were inobbcd.
Ihey we're dragged from their MA
Flowers were stuffed in the straps Of
lncir cas1oes and woven amid the
sp1kes Of their wheels.
me iirSt Iicleian soldiers Client folk
had seen in four years. These little
brown fellows were the concrete OF
dreams and signs and prayers They
were gods.
Other belgian soldiers crossed on
pontoons where the retreating enemy
had destroyed bridges over Client S
network of encircling canals The iiuX
or madness grew frcnzied, Precious
wines and cordiais were hurried TO the
streets and pressed upon the hclmctcd
pioneers of freedom Girls begged with
Kisses and tears for buttons from the
troopers BrcatcoatS-and took them
wiily-nilly. Extemporizcd bands-most
mandcered by the Germans were
formed TO march as escorts before tho
advance guards.
GLORY OF TIE FIRST
DAY Or DELINERANCE
The folloy and the glory Of this nrs,
day of delivcrancc WAS transmitted
into eXaitation almost apprcXimatirc
pain Of representation two days there.
after This was when King Albert and
bis Queen came 10 Ghcnt. riding on
horses a, the head OF the First Divis-
ion, which WAS Clients own
Client is little changed in it's rhys-
zeal aspect from the days when tho
Duke OF AlVa and his Standards i'm
burghers An old-timc SAVIOR OF
peaked gables leaning over twisted
streets still marks the core Of the city.
I.f Ssrir y
towing from the windows Of the messy
houses instead OF banners of modern
uDon the heads Of tho women leaning
from those windows 30 he "a dream
pageant Of the, triumph Of Hnrgundy's
thunder Of the great bells King be-
loved rode before his steel casqucd
men: beside him his ,Quean and son:
THANKSGIVING came in the high clear
voices OF boys from the opened doors
Of 81. Bavons.
NO NEWS FOR WEARS
OF RELATIVES IN WAR
Consider tho miracle that was visited
unon Client that day: Four years cut
father. brother. husband. whether they
he alive or dead streets and homes
filled with booted, heavy-jowled ty-
tain by every ar;i'ice conceivable an
ovcrpowerinr atmosphere. of dread
arbitrary exactions and poverty made
more Uncomfortable through structures
npo ,ho syen the ,h meanes' lnh1r H yer
slavery to beyond the Rhine, and maid
e ehln ksn, in iieopnrdy Of nmspea *
four narrowing years; Their. in . day
retmrn TO the world. 20 life and Sc;
ones-if indeed there we're not gaps
in the ranks OF steel caSsqued men TO
tell that certain beloved ones could
never return because of their great
sacrifice. Yes. and the King came
from exile on the sands OF - panne,
sionate patriotism OF the BelGians
With reason did ancient Ghent Civ"
itself. TO folly and madness and rev
erentiai alteration passing understand
ing.
HOMING INSTINCT IS
STRONG IN FIEMISH
There we're ,other pictures in. the
odd. earthly bits of peasants ira gcdics
rneriting the brush, of a Miilais;. STUFF
lar with the character of the Flemish
pleasant his reaction 10 the tides %
wonder. Stolidly is his TO a degree et,
which would make the American In
dian anpear almost tenperamental hy
soning hor,in. instinct carried your
Jan and Elizabeth through adventures
another. Ian and his apple cheek cd
wife round their lihcrat ion from Tho
O. h,i, yohe sqnnrHix in ne m4s,
from their accustomed calm.
The Belgian lire was approaching IN"
willow ciumr for Lai!es along the mo-
andering strip Of water housed its
hanging murk overhead came the UNI
ceaStnS rumhl" and mutter OF German
wheeibarrnw being ,r%ndled ' over %
Tin ,rs rGof The leaves Of he trees
NO l.,.a !, of -
bullets We're passing through. Tho
battle was furious and deadly
scRuhnED nESrITE Guns
The major or Il Belgian battalion
holding section of the advance line
had taken for his HEADQUARTERS a low
b a3lsry Of in action " @rderies
and motorcycle messengers came ana
went: AS we. approachcd the farm
with pail and mop apnear at the
door; VIGOROUSLY sh" attacked the
swabbins ali unsonscious of The i u5-
roar OF arrives" cropping minute by
minute, to find AMI exterminatc that
we made TO enter she scowled a warn
ing which caused US 70 ~ our mud
The Flemish dame was concerned
only for the ncatncss Of her poor stone.
] was walking with my head drawn
away down between my shoulders.
muddy footprints this morning"
rhuckled the major upon greeting us
I'm afraid she thinks us a careless
lot"
FREEDOM COMES As
SHELL FALLS INTO HOUSE
Here. where spattcr of airplanc
bullets had come through the tiles not
two hours before. was tho cleanly
DANES family--threc ow-hcadcd
youngsters sitting about the irepiaces
Watching a huhbling and aromatic pot.
operator and his visitors were irtrud-
crs who must he tolerated and treated
with courtesy if possible. But it was
obvious this family. which had gone
TO bed the night before with two Ger
man soldiers bi1lc.cd in the hayloft and
awakened to lind the Erlgians fight