The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-05
ROYAL WELCOME ID 7
 AMERICAN SAILORS
Several Hundred Are Enter
 tained in London
TURKEY DINNER GIVEN
Every Attention Is Bestowed Upon the Blucjackets, Who Are Also Re- ceived at the American
 Embassy

London, December 4.-Sir Thomas vesey Strong the lord m yor, and the corpora tion of the city of London yesterday gave luncheon at the Guild hall to 75O Amer lean sailors from the visiting fleet at Gravesend and Weymouth.
 The biuejackets arrived by train at Charng Cross headed by Commander Sims of the Minnesota and the officers of his staff, and accompanied by the hand Of the Coldstream Guards, which the war office had ordered out for the occasion. marched through the streets in the west end of the city to the ancient hall, where so many famous guests have been hon ored.
 A big crowd assembled outside the sta tion, and lining the streets upon which traffic had been stopped by the police, gave the Americans who carried the Stars and Stripes and their ships colors, a rous- ing welcome. Arriving at Guild hall, the visitors formed a quadrangle while the band played the Star Spangled Ban ner"
 Sir Thomas received Commander Sims and his officers in the reception hall and
  the dining hall greeting the guests. The blue Jackets were seated at long tables in the main hall, At the head table was the lord mayor with Commander Sims at his right and with aldermen and uni formed officers around them In the gal lery the lord mayoress entertained Mrs Reid, wife of the American ambassador, and the wives of the visiting officers The menu was simple but plentiful, including turkeys and great barons of beef carried in with pompous ceremony, plum pudding and mince pie. The dining was followed first by formal toasts to King George and President Taft. Sir Thomas then welcomed the sali- ors. He said 1t had been a privilege to receive the officers of the American fleet yesterday, and the corporation of the city of London was equally proud to receive in the same hal to-day the men of the American navy, adding:
 T offer the heartiest welcome of Eng land, where no one is more popular than the man behind the gun. The American jack tar is regarded with a large share of that affection which is felt for our own men,"
 Replying, Commander Sims spoke with enthusiasm of the friendly mahner in
 
 received in London. This, he said, could not happen in any other country, but was made possible by the strong ties of blood between the two countries. Speak ing for himself he believed that if the time ever came when the British empira was menaced by an external enemy they might count upon every man, every drop of blood, every ship and every dollar of their kindred across the sea. Chief BOatSwain'S Mate ID. l.. Henson Of the battleship Minnesota replied on behalf of the men, expressing thanks for the entertainment in neat speech. which tcok the Englshmen present by sur prise, and which was frequently inter- rupted by the guests with spontaneous cheers for the lord mayor and the city of London.
 A vaudeville performance followed, Englands foremost artists taking part. Later the sailors marched to Dorchester House where they were given a recep- ton by Ambassador Reid It was the first time that blue jackets had been entertained at an embassy.
 At Crystal palace today a football eleven from the battleship Idaho defeaf- ed the team from the battleship Con necticut of the first division, to 0. there- by winning the navy championship.