Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-24
KING Of BELG|ANS
PROUD OF HIS ARMY
Gives His Followers Credit for
Stopping Germans on Way
to Coast.
GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNTRY
In Interview, He Tells of Fright
full Sacrifices Belgium
Has Made.
GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNTRY

i ri.A-\DfsltS. sunday. December 20 (via
London. December 23).-In the coun-
Gil chamber OF an ancient Flemish
town hall. from which he is directing.
under German she'll fire. the resistance
of his war-worn little army blocking
the road to DunkirlS and Calias. King
Albert OF the Belgians to-day told the
Associated Press OF the stand his SOL
dlcrs are making against the German
invaders. The Kings headquarters
is located on one OF the maining dry
areas of that small corner OF Belgium
still under his rule. King Albert also
requested the Associated Press to con
vey To the people Of the United States
his deep gratitude for their efforts to
feed his subjects under German mill
tary rule.
The monarch was alone when the
correspondent was admitted to the
council chamber. He wore the simple
undresa uniform of Il general of artiI-
lery without insignia, beyond braided
shoulder straps to distinguish him
from his staff officers
LINES OF CARE SHOW
IN HIS YOUTHFUL FACE
Physically. King Albert looks hard
ened. but lines of care show in his
otherwise youthful face. In manner
he is decidedly shy. and he apologized
Tor his English. which. however. was
fluent. The light from Il smoky oil
lamp barely penetrated the recesses
of the great hall. where from the walls
empty picture frames stared down.
When the King saw the eyes of the
correspondent fixed on these blank
spaces, where few months ago in
valuable Flemish canvasscs hung. he
smiled and said he no longer expected
the Germans even to he in n position
to take the frames.
Modestly he praised the courage of
his soldiers.
Il believe" he said. my army is
courageous. My people, however are
100 democratic for the same discipline
that prevails in conscript armies You
VIII see something of the bravery Of
my people when tomorrow YOU shall
have chance to witness the peasants
working in their fields under shell fire.
grieving only for the losses of their
them great grief"
When Edgar Senger, Belgian attache
to the American Commission for the
Relief of Belgium, entered and pre-
sented King Albert with report from
the commission, showing that enough
food was in sight to feed his people
until February 12, the King turned
quickly TO the correspondent, saying:
VIII YOU he kind enough to convey
to the American people my deep graft
euue. ne tnen wrote III English the
following message:
The magnificent generosity of the
American people in forwarding i'm
mense quantities of gifts and food
stuffs to my suffering people affords
me intense satisfaction and touches me
very deeply
I'm this. my countrys hour of trial.
nothing has supported me more than
the sympathy and the superb gen
erosity OF those who have assisted in
materially lessening the same. and l
desire to offer my deepest thanks and
at the same time TO convey n mes
sage of good will for the new wear.
(Signed) "ALRERT.
King of the Belgians"
King Albert was anxious to have
the American people know, as he put
1t, the facts of the story of how his
troops. demoralized and disorganized
by their dishcartening retreat almost
across the limits of their own coun
try, turned at bay along the User and
held back the Germans there at fright
tul cost in killed and wounded to their
army. and of the almost incalculablc
loss suffered in the deliberate inunda-
tton by its owners of the most VAL
uable agricultural part of the country.
IN one OF those terrible nine days
in the tranches along the Yser" the
King said, Il know that 700 of our
brave Belgian soldiers were killed out
right"
THINKS HIS ARMY SAVED
DUNKIRK AND CALAIS
King Albert continued: II believe I
am not claiming too much TO say that
our army saved Dunlkirk and Calias at
the battle OF the Yser."
The King praised the good spirits OF
ms soldiers now in the trenches. When
the correspondent expressed a desire
to see the Belgian soldiers actually in
the trenches. he said:
You may, but / cannot promise that
this will be without risk Mrs. AS
puith expressed the same desire while
she was visiting my wife 4 short time
ago. When the party was taken to
the second line of trenches big Ger
man shell fell nearby, and 1t did not
make our guests feel comfortable.
When the correspondent inquired rs
10 the Kings own safety. King Albert
smilngly replied: 1--WE must live
under shell fire here"
Later inspection showed this remark
literally true. as scarcely Il square mile
of Belgium left under the rule of her
King is free from the danger Of shell
fire.
King Albert repeated his expressions
of appreciation of American relief for
his people as the correspondent was
about TO leave. especially singing out
Brand Whitlock. the American minis
'Ci " bSiE iuil, etHu ituBn -. gibson,
secretary Of the legation, for their eff
forts in Belgium's behalf. He declared
Mr. Whitlock had done splendid work
in BRUSSELS as mediator between the
Belgians and their conQuerOrs and ex-
pressed the hope that Mr.. Whitlock
would remain Mt his post until the end
of the war. And l understand that
Mr.. Whitlock came to Brussels for a
rest remarked the King. with n grim
smile.
King Albert was averse to discuss
ing the ruin which has overwhelmed
the country. saying simply: "You will
know something of it yourself to-
morrow. when you see our destroyed
towns"
Your Majesty. 1t has been predicted
that you will re-enter your capital
within three mouths" the correspond
ent said. The King shook his head,
sadly saying: Not SO soon. but some
day I shall ride into Brussels ut tho
head Of the Belgian army"
Bidding the I correspondent good