The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-19
DOCUMENTARY PROOF
ALSO SUBMITTED
Wilson Was Received With
Great Acclaim by Belgian
People, Being Cheered by
Vast Throngs in the Cities
Which He and Mrs. Will
son Visited.

Brussels, June 19--President Wilson,
who reached the Belgian capital last
night after days trip from the border
which took him through the districts
devastated by the war, began the second
day of his visit to Belgium this morning
by motoring to Charleroi with King Al
bert. The king expected to show the
American executive the destruction
wrought by the Germans at Charleroi
and present him with documentary in
formation Of the wholesale and system
attic destruction practiced by the Ger
mans.
The president was not accompanied on
the CharIeroi visit by Mrs Wilson, who
was somewhat fatigued after yesterdays
trying journey.
I luncheon at the American legation,
the appearance of the president before
the Belgium Chamber of Deputies and
his reception by Cardinal MERCER at Me
lines were on today's program.
In the palace the president had met
all the members of the Belgian cabinet
and Cardinal Mercier. BY calling first,
the cardinal offered q diplomatic route
for the presidents call upon him at Me
lines to-day.
The general council of the Belgian la
Dor party has addressed message to
President Wilson, in which it says:
'rhe labor party repudiates any peace
pf violence and awaits the reign of
definite peace assuring the sovereignty
of labor and the triumph of President
Wilson's principles"
The address recalls the intervention of
she United States in the war, and adds:
IF the working classes everywhere
were masters of their destinies it is be-
yond doubt that the presidents program
would have completely triumphed at the
peace conference and Belgium would
have obtained complete reparation for
the losses she suffered"
Brussels, Wednesday, June is by the
Associated Press President Wilson
and Mrs. Wilson, with King Albert and
Queen Elizabeth as their guides, saw
the devastation visited upon Belgium by
the Germans. The first part of their
visit deeply affected the Americans The
second phase was entirely different.
In the forenoon almost no res dents
were encountered. In the afternoon the
appearance of the president at Zeebrugge
and finally Brussels was made the occa-
sion of demonstrations that might have
been accorded a conquering hero
The night run from Paris ended at
Adinkerke, just across the Franco Bel
gian frontier, where King Albert, Queen
Elizabeth and party OF Belgian officers
waited to receive the president King
Albert wore his officers suit of khaki
and Queen Elizabeth a simple white
dress, with dark blue motoring coat
Brand Whitlock, American minister to
Belgium, accompanied the king and queen
and Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson throughout
The trip.
From time to time the cavalcade halt
ed to permit the visitors to study at
close range some piece Of destruction
that was unusually thorough Nieuport
was the first halt. President Wilson,
who was riding with King Albert, fol
lowed Queen Elizabeth and Mrs. Wilson,
who descended from the next car, and
walked through what had been the city
of Nieuport to the ruins of the canal
The only houses that were intact or
even habitable we're one or two frame
shacks which were recently erected for
the entertainment of tourists.
From Nieuport eastward along the old
line OF trenches to Dixmude, where the
lines at one time almost touched each
other, the party alighted 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 deserted country. There were
very few refugees and there could be
seen little attempt toward retaining
the soil.
1t was like dead country. Here and
there civilian was encountered but
always his face expressed seeming hope
lessness. Ypres, however showed a
somewhat greater display of animation.
Notwithstanding the terrible destruction
wrought there, few former residents
have found their way back and dozen
or more frame buildings have been erect
ed to serve as hotels, restaurants. drink
ing places and small shops. They reflect
the only industry in the place, catering
to tourists, both official and unofficial.
A semblance of civil government has
been restored in this district and the
burgomaster appeared before the presi-
dent 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 ma
terial on the Ypres battlefield is almost
completed, but enough remained to add
to the depression of the king and his
guests. Scores of battered and broken