Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1919 — BELGIUM RULERS ARRIVE IN N. Y. [ARTICLE]

BELGIUM RULERS ARRIVE IN N. Y.

King Albert and Queen Elizabeth Reach Gotham on George Washington. ARE GIVEN NOISY WELCOME Monarch Issues Message to American People Saying He Brings Profound Gratitude of His Countrymen for Help. New York, Oct. 3.—King Albert of the Belgians, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Leopold, who came to America personally to express their gratitude for the aid extended by a generous nation to their martyred country, received a noisy welcom*'to New York when aroused at dawn by the firing of salutes as the transport George Washington steamed past the outer harbor fortifications. It was a truly American welcome, such as has greeted returning heroes from France since the cessation of hostilities, and not even deference to royalty was observed to still siren or whistle. Escorted by 12 Destroyers. A flotilla of 12 destroyers under command of Rear Admiral Horace Plunkett escorted the George Washington up the Narrows and up the bay to army pier No. 31 at Several other municipal boats and yachts proceeded to Quarantine to greet the vessel, but did not form part of the official fleet. As the ship came up the harbor salutes of 21 guns were fired from Castle WUl||ns, on Governor’s Island, and from the coastal fortifications. In response the George Washington broke out at its masthead the flag of the Belgian royal family and the national banner. American warships responded by dipping their colors. Message to Americans. —। Upon his arrival here King Albert of Belgium Issued the following message to the American people: "At the moment of setting foot on American soil, the king of the Belgians desires to express to the people of the United States the great pleasure with which the queen and himself are coming to its shores at the invitation of President Wilson. "The king brings to this nation of friends the testimony of the profound sentiment and gratitude of his countrymen for the powerful aid, moral and material, which America gave them In the course of the war. The name of the commission for the relief of Belgium will live eternally in the memory of the Belgians. "The king rejoices at the prospect of visiting the cities whose hearts fought with the cities of Belgium and whose continual sacrifices knew no measure. He happily will be able to meet the eminent citizens who, animated by the highest thoughts, placed themselves at the head or organizations for relieving the sufferings of the war. “The American people, their splendid army and their courageous navy, powerfully served a great Ideal.”