YPRES, epr (Flemish, Y peren), Belgium, a town in the province of West Flanders, in a plain, on both sides of the Yperlee, 28 miles south-southwest of Bruges, 53 miles by rail. Ypres formerly was one of the most important manufacturing towns of Flanders, and in the 14th century had 200,000 inhabitants and em ployed 4,000 looms. Its manufacturing prosper it y had long departed prior to the European War, 1914-18, but a striking monument remained in its cloth-hall (Les Hanes), an immense build ing of the 13th and 14th centuries, in the form of an irregular trapezium, surmounted by a square tower or belfry. One of its wings was used as the town-house, and other parts were occupied by different public establishments and concert rooms. The Gothic cathedral of Saint Martin, dating from the 13th century, was one of the most remarkable religions edifices in Belgium. The chief manufactures were cotton and lace. The population numbered 19,000. Ypres was made by Louis XIV in 1688 one of the strongest fortresses of the Low Countries, and in the great European wars seldom escaped a siege or bombardment Jansen (q.v.) was .bishop of
Ypres, and was buried in the cathedral of Saint Martin. During the European War the town was ri.duced to ruins. Its location on the most hotly contested 'debatable land' on the western flout, made it the scene of many a grim strug gle between the German and British forces, and three great pitched battles being fought over the vicinity. Here the British troops barred the way to the Channel ports. The first battle of Ypres began 14 Oct. 1914, the second on 9 Nov. 1915, and the third on 31 July 1916.
In Mardi 1919 the Belgian government inti mated their desire of making Canada a grant of land in the city of Ypres for the erection of a memorial museum and shrine to the brave Canadian soldiers who in the defense of liberty had made the supreme sacrifice on the battle fields of the famous Ypres salient. It was also suggested not to rebuild the city but to leave its ruins standing as a lasting monument to un justifiable and ruthless German aggression. For an account of the Ypres battles see WAR. EUROPEAN — lIQILrrAaY OPERATIONS ON TH E W ESTERN Faoisr.