Four years, indeed, this terrible thing went on. Then, suddenly, came “the day of revenge,” of which Cardinal Mercier had spoken in 1917 in his letter to General von Huehne. The mighty German war machine collapsed under the combined effort of the Allied forces. At the end of the battle front, near the sea, was constituted the “group of armies of Flanders,” composed of French, British, Americans, and Belgians, under the command of King Albert. In September, 1918, the great offensive began on the Flanders front. The German positions were taken by storm, and, after a short interruption, the drive went on again in October. Soon the Flanders coast was evacuated, and everywhere, in Belgian towns and villages, amidst cries of joy and tears, amidst Belgian flags kept jealously hidden during four years, the sturdy troops of the Yser came home again, as victors of the right over might. At the beginning of November came the end: the armistice was signed and the Germans compelled to evacuate the country which they once hoped to dominate forever. On a wonderful day in that same month, King Albert and his queen followed by his army and by British, French, and American troops, entered Brussels and saw again rise before their eyes the tower of the historic Hôtel de Ville. The nightmare was over, Belgium was free again. And in ages to come, the children will learn the history of that period, during which Belgium covered itself with glory, because “it stood the test in the hour of the Great Trial.” BIBLIOGRAPHY The best work to be consulted on the history of Belgium is that by H. Pirenne, professor in the University of Ghent, entitled _Histoire de Belgique_, Vols. I-IV, Brussels, 1900-1911. The work is not yet complete: the fourth volume carries us down to 1648. Those wishing to study more in detail the various problems of Belgian history will find the enumeration of original sources and modern books in H. Pirenne, _Bibliographie de l’histoire de Belgiques_, 2d ed., Brussels, 1902. For a list of books published since 1902 see the Belgian periodical _Archives belges_, where the important books and articles on Belgian history are reviewed and discussed.