100 years ago

THE first contingent of Belgian refugees destined to be entertained in York and its environs had arrived, and received a great reception in the city.

Ringing cheers were given at the station as they stepped out of the train from London, and were conducted by members of the local committee to a fleet of motor cars in waiting to convey them to the Mansion House. There were many young children among the party, some with toys, and they seemed thoroughly to enjoy the proceedings, but on the faces of the grown-up persons were lines of care and anxious looks.

The oldest refugee had closed the last page of his 60th year, and the youngest was a tiny mite of 18 months in the arms of its mother. They had left their native land six weeks before, and were drawn from Malines, Louvain, and Liege. One man had left all behind him on the approach of the Germans. His escape had been effected only just in time, for as he got down the village and turned round he had seen the Prussian soldiers had entered, and that his cottage was in flames.

 

50 years ago

THE US Secretary of Defence, Mr Robert McNamara, believed that it would be possible for “tens of nations” to have nuclear weapons 10 or 20 years from now.

Mr McNamara said in an interview in Chicago released by the Defence Department, that this might come about from a combination of factors, including reduction in the cost of nuclear warheads and the systems to deliver them on target, advancing technology and the spread of that technology throughout the world.

“We anticipate in the years ahead, because of the advances in nuclear technology, the cost of nuclear weapons will fall dramatically,” he said. “As it falls and as the technology becomes simpler, we can expect more and more nations to acquire capability for both developing and producing such weapons.”

 

25 years ago

NEVER mind yuppie lager louts, the Vicar of Tadcaster was equally worried about pensioners who seemed addicted to drink.

The Rev Malcolm Anker had spoken out about the “English disease” after a day trip to France, which he had found a revelation. He recounted in the parish magazine how many passengers on his coach spent almost the whole day drinking or buying drink to bring back with them. He said he was not talking about “young yuppie lager louts but ordinary people in their sixties”.

Mr Anker said the drinking began at 8am when a man in his sixties opened a can of beer. Arriving in France, the coach had called at a hypermarket, where beer was ready in specially prepared crates, and the coach was loaded with alcohol.