The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-24
In Lengthy Interview Bel gium's Ruler Graphically
 Describes His Country's
 Bravery and Sacrifice :
DEEPLY. TOUCHED BY SUPERB GENEROSITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE
T Believe My People Are Courageous" He Says, and Some Day I Shall Ride Into Brussels at the Head of a Belgian Army"

Grand Headquarters of the King of the BeIsians in West Flanders, Bell gfum, sunday, December 2O.--(vfa Lon- don. December 23, S,1O ?. m.)--In the courcil chamber of mn ancient FIem- fish town hall from which he is direct ing, under German shell fire, the re- sfstsnce of his war-worn little army blocking the road to Dunkirk and Ca- lais, King Albert pf the BeIgians to- day told the Associated Press cor-es- pondent of the stand his soldiers are making against the German invaders. The Kings Headquarters Is located on one corner of Belgium still under hi. rule.
 ? King Albert also requested the Asso- ciated Press to convey to the people of the United States his deep gratitude for their. efforts to feed his subjects under German military rule.
 The monarch was alone when the cor respondent was admitted to the council chamber. He wore the simple underess uniform of a general of artillery with out insignia, beyond braided shoulder stripes, to distinguish him from a staff officer.
 Physically, King Albert looks hardened, but lines of care show in his otherwise youthful face. In manner, he is decidedly shy, and he apoogized for his English. which. however, was fluent.
 trhr xtt Fvoyn ev,,ofxx, All L. ~.,. 1,o ., 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 invalu- able Flemish canvases hung. he smiled and said he no longer expected the Ger mans to even be in a position to take the frames.
 Praises Courage of Troops
 Modestly he praised the courage of his soldiers.
 T believe he said. my army Is courageous. My people, however, are democratic for the same discipline that prevails in conscript armies. You will see something of the bravery of my peo- pie when tomorrow you shall have the chance to witness the peasants working in their fields under shell fire, con- cerned only for the losses of their homes, the destruction of which causes them great grief.' When Edgar Senger. Belgian attache to the American commission for the re- lief of Belgium, entered and presented King Albert with a 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:
 'Will you be kind enough to convey to the American people my deep grati- tude?'
 He then wrote in English the follow ing message
 ''The magnificent generosity of the American people in forwarding immense quantities of gifts of foodstuffs to my suffering people affords me intense sat isfaction and touches me very deeply.
 Tn this, my country's hour of trial. nothing has supported me more than the sympathy and the superb generosity of those who have assisted in materially
 
 fer my deepest thanks and at the same time convey a message of good will for the new year ALBERT.
 King of the Belgians."
 Facts of The Story
 King Albert was anxious to have the American people know, as he put it, the facts of the story of how his troops. de- inoralized and disorganized by their dis heartening retreat almost across the linn it's of their own country, turned at bay along the Yser and held back the Ger mans there at frghtful cost in killed and wounded to their army and of the almost incalculable loss suffered in the deliberate inundation by it's owners oi the most valuable agricultural part of, the country.
 ''In one of those terrible nine days in the trenches along the Yser." the King tCsntinued on Page Two)