Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-24
Sends Message by Associated
Press to American People
Expressing Appreciation of
Their Generosity,
LIVES SIMPLY AND IS
CONSTANTLY IN DANGER
Expects to Re-enter Brussels
at Head of Army, but Not
Within Three Months Sug-
geSted,

| t1N~'NN'
~ soss,Ho iourrAl srse,Al lsAssn wissi
Grand Headquarters OF the King OF
the Belgians. In West Flanders. Bel
gium, Sunday, Dec. 20 tvIa London.
Dee, rs, $40 y. m. LIN the council
| CHAMBER of an ancient Flemish town
hall from which he Is directing. under
uermnn shell fire. the resistance OF
his war-worn little army blocking the
road To Dunkirk and Calais. King AL
bert OF the Belsiars today told the
Associated Press Of the stand his sol
diers are making against the Der
man invaders. Tho kings headquar-
ters Is located on one Of the remain
Ing dry areas of that small corner of
Belgium left under his rule.
King Albert also requested the AS
sociated Press 10 convey to the peo-
pie OF the United States his deep grat-
itude for their efforts to feed his sub
iects now under German rule.
King AIbcrt's Appearance.
The monarch was all alone when
the correspondent was admitted 60
the council chamber. not even an aide
being present. The kings tall, angt-
lar. Lincoln-ike form was clothed In
the simple nndress uniform of artii-
lery which was without insignia be-
yond braided shoulder straps to dis
tinguish him from a staff officer.
Physically, King Albert looks hard
cned. but lines OF care showed In his
otherwise youthful face. In manner
he is decidedly shy and he apologixed
for his English. which. however, was
very fluent. The light from smoky
oil lamp barely penetrated the recess
es OF the great beamed hall. from the
walls of which empty picture frames
stared down.
when the Eink saw The ayes of the
correspondent fixed on these blank
spaces. where few months ago In
valuable Flemish canvases hung, he
smiled and said he no longer expect-
ed the Germans to even be in a posi-
tion TO take the frames
Praises His Soldiers.
Modestly he praised the courage OF
his soldiers, speaking OF them with
great kindIiness---as though he were
talking about hiH own children.
Il believe he said. my army Ia
courageous My people. however. are
too democratic for the same discipline
that prevails in the conAcript Euro
B'af ~ HIVE w Will Htf HNitltliiiE
Of the bravery OF my people when to-
morrow you shall have the chance to
witness the peasants working In their
fields under shell fire. concerned only
for the losses of their homes. the de-
struction Of which causes them great
grief"
When Edgar Sengeer. Belgian at-
tache to the Belgian commission for
the relief uf 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 II. the king
turned quickly to the correspondent,
saying:
win YOU be kind enough to con-
vcy TO the American people my deep
gratitude m
Message to Americans.
He then wrote In English tho fol-
lowing MESSAGE
The magnificent generosity Of tha
American people In forwarding i'm
mense quantities or fuodstuffs TO my
suffering people affords me intense
satisfaction and touches me very
deeply.
In this. my .country's hour of trial.
nothing has supported me more than
th' nfhBhtnN anu TIE HuHtIb EtHtl-
osIty Of those who have assisted In
materially lessenng the same; and
desire to offer my deepest thanks and
at the same time 10 convey message
of good will for the new year.
ALBERT King of the Belglans'
King Albert also was anxious to
have the American people know, as
he put IT, the facts OF the story as
to how his troops demoralized and
disorganlzed by their dsheartening
retreat almost to the limits OF their
own country, turned al bay along the
User and held back the Germans
there at frightful cost In killed and
wounded to their army aud OF, the
alInos, incaenlable loss suffered In
the deliberate inundation by its own
ers of the most valuable agricultural
part Of the country.
Saved DunIxirk and Caisls.
lin one Of those terrible nine DAYS
In the trenches along the Yser," the
king said, Il know that seven hun
dred Of our brave Bclgia.s were killed
With the modestv and shyness
which marks his whole manner OF ad-
dress, King Albert continued:
y believe | am not claiming too
much to say that our army saved
Dunkirk and Calais at the battle of
the User"
The king spoke with the warmest
of his soldiers now In the
trenches. praising their good spirits.
When the correspondent expressed
desire to see the Belgian soldiers
actually IN the trenches. he said
You may. but | cannot promise
this Will be without risk. Mrs As
luith expressed the same desire
while she was visiting my wife
short time. When the party was
aiken to the second line of trenches
! big German shell fell nearby and it
lid not make our guests feel com
Lives Intfer Shell Eire