New-York tribune., 1906-04-24
KING SENDS GREETING.
TO ST. GEORGES SOCIETY.
General Woodford Explains Why
Foreign hid Has Refused.

PAOSiuSIt OF the society. the luke OF NorIolh'
head of the Royal Society of st. George after
congratuating the society it's anniversary. |
said; Deeply deplore calamity at San Fran
CISCO Lieutenant Colonel Count Gleichen. who /
Is cousin of King Edward VII. and re- |
sponded TO the toast of The Army" while de- |
ploring the calzmity spoke in the highest terms |
OF the management of the situation by the
United States Army officials. Sir Percy Sander |
son. British Consul at New York, paid a tribute |
10 the American people for meeting so vast
disaster in such a splendid spirit and assured |
those present of British sympathy. In fact. |
every speaker made feeling reference to |
San Francisco's sorrow.
The occasion Of the dinner was the 12Oth an
niversary of the society, which is always held
on St Georges Day. Edward F. Darrell pres- |
dent of the society, the toastmaster, and |
sitting with him Sir Percy Sanderson, Rear
Admiral Joseph B. Coghlan, Lieutenant Colonel
Count Gleichen. c. V. o. c. NJ. G., D. V o.;
Captain F. G. c. Ryan. r. N; Consul General
Uchida, Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke, Colonel Will |
lam Jay, General Stewart L, woodford. Hart
Lyman, Austin B. Fletcher and others.
General Stewart l.. Woodford, ex-United Min
lister 10 Spain stating he speaking for Pres-
dent Roosevelt and addressing the members of
the society, explained the attitude assumed by
the President in refusing help from other ma
tions which wished to send aid to stricken San
Francisco. The general, in part, said:
The President, in the midst of the horrors of
san francisco, kindly but firmly declined the
assistance offered by the other nations, and eS-
peclally, through ST. Georges Society, the as
sistance of England. The President meant sim
ply that, bowed as the American people were
under their load, it was his wish that the Amer
'can people show TO the world that under such
an adVersty the United States would take care
of its own. would rise equal the terrible oCca-
sion. would feed their hungry, would give
drink to their own thirsty would clothe their
iDdOnitab
courage which this people has always exhibit !
ed under stress of distracting calamity, set up
their flag and move TO the assistance of the city
that once was and build a new city, even though
the earth shook beneath its foundations.
In doing this, in refusing your great benefi-
cence. the President stiu feels that he is greatly
honored, the American people are. in that
England. and the other great nations, not only
sent messages of regret, but offers of substan-
tial material aid We felt that the nation, as
a nation, should set an example TO other nations.
The generals words We're greeted with pro-
longed applause.
President Darrell after short opening
speech, in which he said that Englishmen were
not backward in feeling expressing sympathy !
with Americans in their recent sorrow, read a
cablegram from Sir Francis Ponsonby. secretary
TO King Edward. as follows:
"The King desires me TO thank st. Georges
Society for their greeting"
President Darrell referred to the dinner of the
society at which Whitelaw Reid, American Am
bassador to the Court of St. James's, was pres
ent, and which took place just before Mr.. Reid
sailed to take up his duties. I'VE all re-
member the delightful speech Ambassador Reid
made" he said And know that the hearty
send-off you gave him was greatly appreciated
by him"
Sir Percy Sanderson responded to the toast
His Majestys Representative" saying, in part:
It is not from the charitable side only that the
work Of St Georges and kindred societies must
be viewed, if rightly to appreciate its
value. There is a social side, the promotion of
social intercourse among their members" and
when we consider how many of the membrs of
these societies, although of British origin. are
either American born NaturaliZed United
States citizens. how large a4 bearing this
may have the relations between the two couTl-
tries What these relations are is aptly illus
trated by some of the events of the last twelve
months. To take only two instances, the visit
Of Prince Louis of Battenberg and that of Lord
Grey; the dinner given to the prince in this hall
initiative Of St. Georges Society was remark
able in itself. but hardly remarkable that
dinner which followed within a day two,
when some $500 British and American seamen
of the war vessels of the two squadronS sat
down TO dltlher to8ether' An occasion that
should think was quite unique. That visit was
marked by cordiality throughout. and such was
again the prominent feature Of the speeches at
the time of the visit of Lord Grey, the Gov
ernor General of Canada.
If I refer to the disaster at San Francisco it
is only to pay tribute of homage to the cour-
age and devotion of the American people, a
calamity vast met with promptitude and
generosity unparalleled. There is no need for
me to speak of British sympathy for the suffer
ers The sympathy Of the whole world is with
them. but if you come to consider material in
terests you will probably find that British and
American interests are more closely interviewer
in this case than those of any other country.
Count Gleichen. whom President Darrell in
troduced a veteran Of two Soudan cam
paigns and Of the last Boer war. responded TO
The Army
BRINGS HOME THE SENSE OF EMPIRE.
The last time I was called on t. make a
speech was in Canada" said Count Geichen.
The time before was in Berlin the time before
that in Cairo, and ] think my previous efforts
were i'm South Africa and Algeria. | mention
this because [ think il will bring home to you,
as it does to me-, the sense of empire. The Brit
ish Army extends all over the world. And it
has been a very busy army this last century.
During the reign Of Queen Victoria sixty-four
years. there We're eighty-two campaigns. quite
fair allowance. I think.
This ought TO make the British Army prac-
tical army. and l think it has done so. But a
few days ago / inspected Fort Ethan Allen. and
] was immensely struck by the practicalness
Of the American troops there. They had work
manIike look about them. There was not so
much Of the show and glitter of the business,
but they looked like business"
Rear Admiral Coghlan responded to the toast
If The Navy" for the American side of the
question and Captain Ryan for the British Ad-
miral Coghlan began by making a pun. disclaim-
ing authorship for it. however. At these gath
erings" he said. 'it is the menu on the table
that gives you pleasant evening but the menu |
sit by"
After the groans had died away Admiral