Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-06-20
SEES EVIDENCE
OF HUNS WORK
IN BELGIUM
President Wilson Travels Thru
the War-Devastated
Country.
GREAT TERRITORY
WHOLLY DESERTED
People Everywhere Seemed Depress-
ed at Hopelessness of Ever
Rebuilding Cities and
Towns.
by The Associated Press)

III uooCAo3 w CoiISSudy, julie To-
President and Mrs. Wilson, with King
Albert and Queen Elizabeth as their
guides, today saw the devastation
visited upon Belgium by the Germans.
The first part of their visit deeply
affected not only Mr.. Wilson but those
accompanying him. The second
phase was of an entirely different
character.
In the forenoon almost no residents
were encountered. In the afternoon
the appearance of the president at
Ypres, Ostend, Zeebrugge and finally
Brussels, was made the occasion of
demonstrations that might have been
accorded conquering hero. With
the president and Mrs. Wilson were
Miss Margaret Wilson, B. M. Baruch,
Norman Davis, General w. W. Harris,
Herbert Hoover, chairman Of the
Inter- Allied Food commission and
Commander Baker.
The night run from Paris ended at
Adinkerke, just across the Franco
Belgian frontier where King Albert,
Queen Elizabeth and party of Bel
gian officers waited to receive the
president.
There were no ceremonies on the
train other than the ordinary greet
ings and introductlons. Through the
little station building which had been
deliberately decorated. the party NOV
ed to the long line of cars and began
its trip into the shell-torn and as yet,
abandoned country.
Party Hats Often.
From time to time the calvacade
halted to permit these visitors to
study at close range some bit of for
LITIGATION or some piece of destruct-
ion that was unusually thorough.
Newport was the first halt, President
Wilson, who was riding with King
followed by Queen Elizabeth and Mrs
Wilson who descended from the next
car and walked through what had
been the city of Newport to the ruins
Ct the canal. The only houses there
which were intact were one or two
frame shacks which were recently
erected for the entertainment of
tourists.
From Newport 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. It then went on to-
ward 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 to-
ward retaining the SOIL
Thru Dead Country.
1t was like dead country. Here
and there civilian was encountered
but always his face expressed SEEM
ingly hopelessness. Ypres, however,
showed greater display of animation.
Notwithstanding the terrible destruc-
ton wrought there few former resi-
dents have found their way back and
a dozen or more buildings have been
erected to serve as hotels, restau-
rants, drinking places and small
shops. They reflect the only indus
try 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
president thanking him for what
America had done for Belgium. The
British garrison and a 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
complete but enough remained to add
to the depression of the king and his
guests. Shattered battered and brok-
en- tanks on both sides of Ypres serv-
ed to justify its Characterization as
1.-THE tank graveyard"
Visit Historic Mole.
The party had luncheon in picnic
style in the Houlthout forest. This
piece of wood, like all others in that
zone, is but a skeleton of a forest.
It was we'll back of the old German
lines. In Menin where the work of
destruction was less marked the peo-
pie gave the party its first. greeting
Of. the day. The town was decorated
and apparently all the inhabitants
were in the streets.
The visit at Ostend was most in
teresting. Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson were
taken out to the mole which was
broken last April " the British, and
from there saw the rusting parts of
the hulls of hulls of vessels which
were sunk in the channel to the sea.
Brussels was reached at 9:15
o'clock tonight. Through the cheer
ing crowds in the streets and past
buildings bright with the flags of
Belgium and the United States, the
president was taken to the palace
where he was presented to members
of the household. He was tired with
much driving at necessarily high
speed over bad roads and retired
comparatively early. His hosts have
planned program for tomorrow
which will take up every minute of
his time until late at night. During
the day he will deliver at least three
addresses.