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[Page 502]
journeaux intendits les actions d'eclat ete votre brillant Armee. Maintenant nous savons officiellement combien ces renseigements etaient en dessous de la realite. C'est pour cette raison que l'Administration communale de Marcinelle est fiere de recevoir aujourd'hui un des chefs de cette belle armee et de vous dire a vous, General, et aux brillants officiers sous vos ordres toute notre admiration pour votre bravure et les actes d'heroisme qui perpeteurent votre memoire et glorifieront votre pays.
Nous regrettons profondement que notre petite commune n'ait pas les ressources et les attraits qu'une ville presente pour recevoir dignement et avec tout l'eclat qu'elle merite une armee de heros qui s'est couverte d'artant de lauriers que L'Armee Australienne dans cette lutte gigantesque coutre la barbarie.
Mais croyez le bien General que notre reconnaissance et notre admiration n'en sont que plus profondes. J'ai la conviction que pendant votre trop court sejour parmi nous vous trouverez au sein de la population l'accueil le plus cordial et le plus fraternal. De son cote l'Administsration communale et les divers services communaux feront l'impossible pour vous donner toutes les facilities desirables.
En agissant ainsi nous savons que ces temoignages n'exprimeront qu'insuffisament toute la reconnaissance dout nous vous Sommes redevables.
C'est guide pas ces sentiments qu'au nom de l'Administration Communale je leve mon verre a vous, General, a vous, officiers d'elite, a la brillante Armee Australienne a la grande Armee britannique."
[Translation of the address]
["General Rosenthal and all you Officers
On behalf of the town council of Marcinelle I extend my warmest welcome to you :
The day after the liberation of the territory, we had the great honour to receive here the official delegates of the grand armies of Britain and Belgium and to express, on behalf of the entire population, our admiration and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the allied nations in favour of an oppressed Belgium. Today, Gentlemen, after having finally regained our freedom and independence, we can all the better appreciate how much moral and material suffering we would have had to endure if barbarism [the barbarians] had gained the upper hand in this country.
Also, we will forever be beholden to the noble British nation, which did not hesitate to come to the aid of our country when it was so abruptly invaded by the barbarians even though they had guaranteed its neutrality. So now, having witnessed this unforgettable spectacle, history and we can relate to our great-grandchildren how the immense British empire put all its resources towards the defence of civilisation, [both] its always Invincible fleet [and] the armies of all the nations belonging to its empire. If there was downright competition among all these armies, the Australian army surely would be among those that won the most laurels on the glorious battlefields. – Already, des pite the occupation and the censorship, we had secretly been able to learn from the forbidden newspapers about the glamorous actions of your brilliant army. Now we know officially that those reports fell well short of the reality. The town council of Marcinelle is therefore proud to welcome today one of the leaders of that great army and to tell you, General, and the brilliant officers in your command how much we admire your bravery and the heroic feats, which will live on in your memories and will glorify your country. We deeply regret that our small township does not have the resources and the attractiveness of a city to accommodate you in the style and with all the trappings worthy of an army of heroes that have covered themselves in so much glory in this gigantic battle against barbarism as has the Australian army.
But rest assured, General, that we have nothing but the most profound gratitude and admiration. I'm convinced that during your short stay here you will enjoy the most cordial and fraternal welcome among our people. The town council and all the communal services will do their utmost to satisfy all your wishes. While doing so we are fully aware that it will only insufficiently express the gratitude we owe you.
But guided by these sentiments, and on behalf of the town council, I raise my glass to you, General, to you, elite officers, to the brilliant Australian army [and] to the great British army."]
I made reply as follows:-
My dear Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
I deeply appreciate the honour you have shown to myself and my troops by thus welcoming us here today as representatives of the British Army, and expressing your thanks for what service has been rendered to Belgium.
We all realise what a debt of gratitude the whole world owes to the Courageous King of Belgium and his people, for was it not due to the splendid efforts of the Belgian Army in holding back the advancing German hordes that the British Divisions were able to take their places in the battle line in sufficient time to ward off disaster.