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The Huron Expositor, 1997-12-31, Page 44 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Dec.mber 31, 1997 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 JACKIE FITTON • Editor GREGOR CAMPBELL - Reporter BARB STOREY - distribution TERRI-LYNN DALE - General Manager & Advertising Manager LARRY DALRYMPLE • Sales PAT ARMES - Office Manager DIANNE McGRATH - Subscriptions & Classifieds A Bowes Publishers Community Newspaper SUBSCRIPTION RATES LOCAL • 32 50 o year .v odronce. plus 2 28 G S SENIORS 30 00 o year .n odvonce, plus 2 10 G S T USA & furcal 28 44 o year .n esdvonce plus S78 00 postage. G S T exempt SUBSCRIPTION RATES Published weekly by 5gnol Stor Publishing at 100 Mon St , Seaforth Publication mod registration No 0696 held of Seoforth. Ontario Advertising .s accepted on condition that in the event of o typographical error, the 6dvens.ng space occupied by the erroneous .tem, together with o reasonable ollowonce for signotvre. wall not be chorged, but the bobnce of the advertisement will be pod for of the oppl.coble rale In the event of o typogroph.col error, adverosing goods or services at o wrong price goods or services may not be sold Advertising is merely on otter to sell and may be withdrawn 0, any time The Huron Expositor n not responsible for the loss or domoge of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or other moter.ols used for reproduction purposes Changes of address. orders for subscr.ptons and undelw- eroble copies ore to be sent to The Huron Expositor Wednesday, December 31, 1997 biaxial and Business Offices - 100 Main Sheet.,Sedort6 Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527.2858 Moiling Address - P.O. Boli 69, Sealerth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspope Assoconon, Ontoro Commun.y Newspapers Association and the Onbr.o Press Council Publication Mail Registration No. 07605 Resource visitors needed District health units in Huron and Penh are looking for "parent resource visitors" to begin intensive training at the end of January in connec- tion with a provincially -fund- ed program called "Healthy Babies. Healthy Children." it "is designed to help new parents connect with commu- nity resources." according to last week's press release from the Huron County Health Unit. "It will pro.ide a limited new service that involves home visits to expectant and new parents who arc in the greatest need of support." "Starting in January hospi- tals will ensure all new par- ents in need of support or ser- vices will be connected with the program's co-ordinator at their local health unit. In Huron and Perth the co-ordi- nator is a public health nurse experienced in working with young families and commu- nity resources.' Further details are available' by calling the Huron unit (at 482-3416 or 1-800-265- 5184) or the Perth unit (at 271-765(10 or toll free at 291- 9613). Needy dinner falls short • Organizers of a Christmas day dinner for the needy in Exeter say they were shocked by the poor turnout. More volunteers than guests showed up. Christmas dinner was pre- pared for 1.000 hut only about 100 showed up. The abundance of extra food. most of it donated. including 180 kg of turkey and 450 kg of potatoes. was giycn to the London branch of the Salvation .Army. • The Queen, the Pope unplugged You know, I'm getting really burned out on the great Christmas speeches every year, namely those delivered by the Queen and the Pope. They're always the same -- the doom, the gloom, the prayers for peace. the wishes for a better world. blah, blah, blah. Nobody listens any more. I didn't listen this year, or last for that matter. Instead I wrote the speeches they'd really like to give if they were set free from their spin - doctors and public relations geeks. Now the Queen of England has had yet another annus horribilis which even a bad Latin translator interprets as "a real bummer." Ladies and gentlemen. direct from newly renovated Buckingham Palace and the House of Windsor Museum. let's give it up for The Queen! "Good evening. First of all. ... excuse me. Philip! Tell those bloody American tourists to shut up. I'm addressing The Commonwealth! No. I'll not sign any more coasters. "First of all ... excuse me. Philip! Get off of that chambermaid. You know very well that one belongs to Charles. Good grief and the people thought only Andy was randy! "First of all it's been another wretched year for the Windsors. One of our burned down and then that proper bitch, Kitty Kelly wrote a nasty book about us and then the worst ... 'They tell me I never cried in public before but it was just so horrible, so sudden. so wrong. Yes, as all of you well know, I had to de- commission the Royal Yacht Britannica recently. God I loved that boat! "What? Oh shut your cake - prosperous new year. All the best. Buck up. We'll beat the Jerrie% -- Winston assures me of it. Ta ta. Ladies and gentlemen. direct from The Vatican with B.B. King on lead guitar and Bob Dylan on the harmonica. here he is, the guy who's tight with The Big Guy -- Pope John Paul, George. and Ringo"! "First of all I'd like to thank hole Philip! I'll call it a B.B. King for giving me bloody "boat" if I want. I'm "Lucille." Yes. to all those the Queen -- you know -- I people who always wondered could have you beheaded. about me -- yes. I finally got "Yes the Britannica, God a woman. So you can tell all rest her soul will no doubt your gay friends I'm no become another royal tourist longer 'just another man in a attraction. We're becoming a dress! Okay' proper freak show, we are. "Pretty soon Fergie will be out front on the side walk sucking her own toes and the Yanks will be stuffing one pound notes in her brassiere. "And then they'll hook Charles up to an invisible wire and he'll fly around the ballroom, flapping his ears. "A terrible year. yes, but I would like to thank the 29 per cent of British people for your continued support of the monarchy. "I'm not leaving. you know. Never. All the bloody horses in Britain couldn't drag me out of my palace so forget about it. And remember. I own all the bloody horses in England. So have a castles, I forget which one. Big loads on old roads "I don't know why all these rock stars are suddenly hanging around me but it's fun. And I don't know what kind of insense they're burning around here but yesterday my Swiss Guards did a musical ride around St. Peter's Basilica and they don't even own horses! Yes. I'm 77 years old and it's time FROM THE PAGES OF THE HURON EXPOSITOR JANUARY 7,1898 BiG LOADS - The farmers of the county have of late been recording the big Toads which they have been hauling to the various towns. hut the record which we set a few weeks ago. as told us by Mr. Robert Govenlock. of McKillop. has remained unbroken by the teamsters of today. Here. however. is another of the old time loads orrarne sace Eighty years ago lodes). January 7th. 1918. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George demanded the restoration of Alsace and Lorraine to France. The two bordering provinces. "torn from her side in the Franco- Prussian war. - Yes. it's pretty remote from Seaforth in both time and dis- tance. But it is important ...If we are to learn and respect the lessons of history. . My father never said much about his war. I'm sure it brought hack sad memories of the death of his twin broth- er who was killed not long before the armistice was signed. Although in the early thirties when 1 was a small boy. 1 do remember hearing names like Ypres. the river Somme. Arras. Pachendalc and Vimy Ridge. He spoke as well of a place called Alsace and Lorraine for 1 seem to recall a chum of his in the 161st Battalion had ancestors who were Alsacian. I'm sure at the time I didn't realize they were two sepa- rate French provinces. i remembered this in 1976 when I drove- from Lahr. Germany crossing the French border near Strassburg into the province of Alsace. 1 was on my way to the village of Anncaux just south of Camhrai to visit the grave of dad's twin. my uncle Clarence. 1 stopped in Strassburg to do some sight- seeing and have dinner...the city is famous for it's restau- rants. in the window of a second hand store I noticed a small hook with the title "Lorraine Alsace - Promised Land". I bought it for 3 francs. 1 was surprised that it was printed in English. It was published in 1918 and it was written by Albert de Dietrich. Dietrich was a wounded French offi- cer who was assigned. through the auspices of the American YMCA to give lec- tures to soldiers from the United States. about the French and their history. 1 didn't notice until 1 got home that it sold for one franc in 1918..and that it was published as part of a cam - Gratitude expressed Dear Editor: The Huron Adult Day Centre is very fortunate to he a member agency of the Huron United Way. i would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people of Huron County for the wonderful response to thc United Way annual campaign. For the first time since United Way started up in Huron County in 1993 their goal has been surpassed. and although due in large pan to Champion and Sifto contributions. it is also an indication that other citizens in the county are recognizing that giving to United Way can benefit so many of the more vulnerable members of our community. and remember. every dollar donated stays right here in our community. Rosemary Armstrong. Executive Director, Huron Adult Day Centre Reminder All letters to the editor must he signed and include a day -time phone number where the writer can be reached. The Huron Expositor does not publish unsigned letters. Thank you. paign to promote the return of the territory of Alsace and Lorraine to France at the end of the war. It is the area between Belgium and Switzerland where the borders of France and Germany meet -a natural battleground for centuries. From the 'days of Julius Caesar through Charlemagne.. to the holy Roman empire through the 30 year's war in the 17th century up to the. first great war...Men from half the countries in the world fought and died on this tiny stretch of ground. 1 bought the hook out of curiosity and I suppose as a souvenir: For it looked to be a relic from thc past with a name I recognized...and it was in English so I could read it. What brought it to mind again now was a passage or two in a book I am reading. "Vicky". the life of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter the Princess Royal of England. who became a German Princess when she married Prince Frederick of Prussia. read in the hook where Countess Bismark. wife of Emperor Otto Von Bismark wrote. "I would shoot every heathen Frenchman. down to thc little babies...and throw in many fire bombs until Paris is destroyed forever." Eventually France was defeated. Emperor Bismark. who condoned looting and killing French civilians'. demanded Alsace and Lorraine for Germany as part of the spoils of victory...and it was taken. in the peace treaty signed on May 1st. 1871. The first paragraph of Deitrich's booklet set the tone of it's 40 odd pages. It gave the reasons why the ter- ntory of Alsace and Lorraine should he handed back to France at war's end in 1918. "The natural frontier of 0-11 the Years Agone which knocks all the modern fellows into a cocked hat. Mr. Robert McMillan: of Roxboro, tells of a load of wheat which was brought into town some twenty-five years ago. when he was buy- ing grain for Mr. Brewer. who was then running a mill at Roxboro. It was hauled by a Mr. Adams. of Gorrie. all the way from Wroxeter. and contained 157 bushels. or nearly four and three quarter tons. Let us hear of a load that can beat this record. CONTINUED on Page 9.. 1 had a little fun. For 20 years, I've been coming out on this balcony at Christmas begging you people to quit killing each other. to share your wealth and your food. to be kind to each other. And what kind of a world do we have today? An oyerheaied open sewer with the rich on one side and the poor on the other and bombs and gunfire raining down on everything. "No. I never thought I'd have to say this but -- you people really (a very had Latin word here 1 me off' "That's it. No more Monseigneur Nice Guy. I got a few good years left and I'm going to live a little. "I'm the most travelled Pope in history. 60 countries. a billion people. a 101) million miles. Yeah. well where's my frequent flyer points!?! You think I couldn't use new luggage and discounts at better restaurants everywhere? "And the Popemobile' It's a freakin' van with a blister on the roof. Two year ago I asked them to install- a CD player and they thought I was off my nut. "No. I'm sorry. I -m mortal. I don't get a wild card in this one. I'm checking out like the rest of you and before i do 1 "I want to have a patntball war with the Archbishop of Canterbury. His Anglicans. my Micks -- winner take all. "I want to go sit on a park bench with a bunch of crab old coots and tell them I used to be the Pope hut 1 quit because the mitre was giving me a migraine. "I want to wear. Jeans and a sweat shirt. lav on the couch with one of those clickers .ind watch a really good soccer riot on television. I'm going to try one more year to make decent people out of you savages. so listen up. And this time ( mean !t -- don't make me bring Him down here' - Promised Land France in the east is formed by a rampart. the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. Between these two lies Alsace and Lorraine. heroic land, always coveted. always offered in sacrifice in the blood of it's children. on the smoking alter of it's ruins: But it's glorious and tragic destiny ever brings it back to it it's mother country." The real horror of that great war and what my dad and his brother endured was brought home to me after my father died and I read the letters they sent to their mother and sisters. In 1961. the letters and the diaries they kept were passed on to me. The diaries are difficult to read for they tell of the loneliness and the terror and deprivation of cold battlefields with deep mud and barbed wire...and trying to take cover from the blast of shells and the whining of shrapnel....and attacks of poi- son gas. It was to be a war to end all wars..hut it did not. A short two decades later the same sort of demons that sparked the first war were at it again...with the same kind of unconscionable massacring of innocent civilians...this time the main victims were Jews. The last two pages of the small booklet brought into frightening focus what men were capable of advocating prior to the great war - and what others were capable of doing. I will not comment on what is written but rather let the frightening words stand for themselves. "We are of the race of the God with the hammer and we wish to inherit his empire." (Felix Dahn.. German History. Vol. 1. page 10) "By all means we must get rid of France first in order to have a free hand in our world power politics. It is the first condition of a healthy German politic. We must knock down France in such a manner that she will never be able to stop our way." (General Bernhard. Germany And The Next War, page 103) "God will provide that war always returns. It is a terrible remedy but it is necessary for the good of humanity. Treitschke. Politics. page 761 "It is necessary that civi- lization raises temples on mountains of corpses. on oceans of tears. and the agony of deaths. Yes. yes. at must." (Maruche! {, Hasseler. The Cause Of The Wier. page 75, "We decorate our dwellings. we rung our hells. we sing hymns of rhunks,giv- in,g because XXXl persons are sent to the bottom of the ocean by one of our sub- marines. Yes. such manifesta- tions are truly German and Christian.- (Sermon of the Reverend George Hoeher in a church near Leipzig follow- ing the sinking of the American passenger liner Lusitania ). The last page of the booklet begins with a few words from the author....The application of these principles is to he found in the following words from the documents taken by myself from German pnson- crs (Albert de Dietrich). From thc diary of a soldier of the Landwehr..,, "Arrived at the entrance of a Lorraine village. we came across the grave of a com- rade of the Landwehr. To avenge the death of our com- rade we set fire to the village and put to death five or six hundred people." From an unfi fished letter taken from a soldier... "On entering a village we heard firing. Immediately, the column was made to stop and the inhabitants were descend- ed to the public square and the massacre began. 1 bayo- netted fit e Wren anti rhrt t' girls." Guest Column by Clare 16E'.Stcott In the f 9hlts when President De Gault: t.'.'k France out ot Matti it vs.1- necessary to mt•'c Inc Department ot `atl.tr.,i Defense schools .tut ot the city of Metz. in the heart .'t Lorraine. to Lahr and [leaden in Germany The s, hook were for the children of Canada'. `aro Forces sta- tioned in Europe and ►►ere established and operated by the Ontario Department ot Education. it was with surprise and pleasure to find when I met to Ottawa with the civilian head of Nato Armed Farces Schools in the earls 19611' it was none other than Al Smith who taught me at Seaforth Collegtatc. I93S tit 1940...and one of the later teachers at the Canadian Nato Base in Lahr was Harry Scott. another student ot Al'..' and former Seaforth High School principal. Although at the time 1 didn't fully reahic it's histor- ical significance 1 had an opportunity during the move to see much of the arca by car. 1 now recall in so many places in both the Alsace and Lorraine provinces there were scars of many wars. So many concrete and stone bat- COAtTINUED on Page 9.