New-York tribune., 1901-03-16
THE ROYAL TOUR REGINS.
DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE AND DUCE-
Fss OF CORNWALL FROM LONDON.
r.RFYING OUT AN IMPERIAL FUNCTION
PLANNED BY THE LATE QUEEN
LORD wOLSELEY's DEFENCE.

LORD wOLSELEY's Defence.
tcop,riFht. 1901: b. The New York Tribune)
lBY CABLE To THE TRIBrNE.l
rondon March 16. a. m.-Tmperiaism tri-
,,rnnhs even in season Of national mourning
The departure Of the Duke of Cornwall for
Australia and Canada has been conducted with
q dignity and stateltness commensurate with
she importance of the event and the honor Of
.he self governing commemorative. The King
and Queen have accompanied the Duke and
rmchess OF Cornwall Portsmouth in semi
sste and the royal yacht will escort the ophir
out Of the harbor to-day. In the place of gun
carriage. with cavalcade of royal mourners
and auestruck and reverent multitudes. there
was flashing glimpse Of three royal landaus
with outrders and positions and an escort of
Household Cavalry. and crowds of joyous specta-
,ors cheering heartily the King and Queen and
heir 10 the throne The first halting place from
Marlborough House was Victoria Station where
the majestic funeral march through Londo, be
can a few weeks ago. But the black. purple and
white trappings Of mourning had disappeared
and the platform was carpeted with crimson
and the special train was gayly decorated with
bunting. and the royal saloon fragrant with
roses.
The passage of the train to Portsmouth was
watched by groups al the stations. who cheered
Justify whereas heads were barred and there was
silent homage when the last progress of Vic
toria occurred. The Solent instead of being
ssntinelled by a fleet of battleships firing min
ute guns. was agleam with color Every ship in
the dockyard and harbor dressed in rainbow
hues The ships manned. and the hands
were playing as the train trundled by the har-
Dor station about > O'Clock, and there We're
guards of marines and bluejackets and massed
ban6s al the south jetty. A royal salute came
from the feet soon the Kings stand
srd was hosted the Victoria and Albert and
the flags were futtering and bands playing until
sunset.
II the contrast between this gayety and
sp5udor and the last voyage or Victoria across
The soent striking one Imperialism had
its dues and the heir to the throne. embarking
on the Ophir, honored the Kings chosen
messenger 10 his worldwide empire When the
ophir weighs anchor to-day for her long voy-
age the Alberta will pilot her down the harbor
with the King and Queen. Princess Victoria and
Princess Charles deck, and with a fleet of
torpedo boat destroyers astern, and when the
royal yacht finally turns within sight of Osborne
the same swarm of black wasps which headed
the funeral fotilla across the Solent to the ac-
compartment Of booming guns and the requiems
Of naval hands viii escort the King to Ports
mouth. The joyous imperial function will be
reniniscence of the majestic tribute Of sea
power TO Queen Victoria. These details have
been deliberately planned for the -ophr and two
royal yachts, with the Kings family. last night
were near the anchorage where the Queens bier |
remained under guard of mighty fleet The
mission Of the Duke Of Cornwall TO the colonies
was one Of Queen Victorias last imperial prof.
ects, and the royal family uniting in carry
fng il out.
The Windsor naval guard, which saved the
situation when the horses attached TO the gun
carriage became unmana geable, will be at Ports
month to-day at Queen Alexandra's request TO
receive Victorian decorations for their last ser
vice IN the beloved Queen. While the work of
empire building goes on Victoria is not for
gotten.