The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-21
DUKE IF ABRUzZ| LEAVES NEW YORK Italian NobIeman Soon Returns
 to America
WILL WE'D MISS ELklNS
It Is Understood That the Duke Has Gone To Get Consent of ItaIys King To His Marriage To
 American Girl.

Rome, March 20-The Duke of Abruzzi is returning to Rome, according to a re- port in wide circulation here tonight, to obtain the full consent of King Victor Emmanuel to his marriage with Miss Katherine Elkins, daughter of senator stephen B. Ell1ins of West Virginia AL though confirmation of the report is lack ing the fact that there has been no offl- cial denial given out in Rome, and the statement made at Washington that the duke would again visit America in the near future, seems to lend considerable weight to it.
 Should it prove true that the duke return to Rome at this time is for the purpose of obtaining royal consent to his marriage, some announcement on the SUD- ject is likely to follow his arrival here. Italian court etiquette provides that in the case of the marriage of any mem- Der of the royal family official announce ment must be made several weeks in ad- vance of the event by the president of the police to the reigning houses, the royal princes, members of the diplomatic corps anu mgn onncIals or state.
  most complimentary manner of the duke and the young American lady with whom his name is associated, declaring that an excellent impression has been produced by the probable entrance of Miss FL kins into the royal family of Italy. The aristocracy seems especially pleased at the prospect of welcoming another beau tiful and accomplished American woman to their circles.
 After a flying visit of three days to Washington, the Duke of Abruzzi left at 10 o'clock today as unceremoniously and as mysteriously as he came to the city. It is said he will depart from New York tomorrow en route to Italy, sailing probably by the Cunard liner Lusitania with his valet. Practically all the informa ton obtainable at the Italian embassy regarding the dukes future movements is that he will re- turn to the United States in the near future. His leave of absence from command of the warship Regina Elena has expired and he is returning home to again assume charge of the
  tween the Duke and Miss Katherine Elkins, the daughter of Senator Steph- en B. Elkins of West Virginia, has re- suited from the royal visitors trip to America no one at the embassy is win- ing to say.
 In view of the various publications respecting the Dukes visit to this eoun- try and especially to Washington ani the reputed results the Italian ambac- sador consented today to give out through his secretary an informal statement bearing on the subject. t was substantially as follows:
 "The question of an engagement IS private matter and nobody has d right to know anything about it. The statement that there was a meeting Of the Elkins family at the Italian em- false. No member of the Elkins fami- 1 ly has been at the embassy either dur 1 ing the Dukes visit nor for long 1 period prior to that time.
 l "rhe duke was in this country on reg | ular leave of absence granted him by the minister of marine while his vessel is un- 1 dergoing some improvements. The vessel | is at Spezzia, one of the principal Italian ports The dukes leave is now exhaust l ed and he goes back to resume command 1 of the vessel. The duke is leaving on the i best of terms with his acquaintances and | friends. To some of them he has given