The Alaska daily empire., 1916-08-19
ENGLAND'S KING VISITS SOLDIERS
 ON THE SOMME
Inspection Is Carried out Quietly without Any Display and Without Any Reyiew-PrnCe of Wales Goes with His Father During Trip to
 the Boys on the Fighting Line.

King George. as announced in The Empires dispatch of Thursday, was a visitor on the Somme front for ten days. He returned to London late Wednesday night The following account of the trip was received in mail matter which arrived on the Mariposa this morning.
 As a matter of precaution the wis. it was kept secret and there was no display or big reviews. as on the occasion of his visit last fall. The king simply went about seeing all sections Of the army at work and the fields it had won. The flutter Of bit Of bunting bearing the royal coat of arms as a motor car sped along the roads in clouds of dust caused motor truck drivers and pass. ing batallons to start and look around. exclaiming. the king" The Prince of Wales was with the king all of Che time.
 Like Two Officers
 The monarch was dressed in khaki with the crossed batons of field marshal on his shoulders, and the prince wore a uniform Of a lieuten- ant in the grenadier guards. Neither wore any decorations and but for their features. which were immed- lately recognized everywhere they might have been taken for two Of party of officers making round of inspection.
 At one point on the line the king met Gen. Sir Henry Rawlinson, com mander of the fourth army which delivered the main attack. and Maj. Gen. Congraye. whose corps stormed Montauban and Mametz. Alighung from his automobile near Fricourt the king went into the first line Of British trenches from which the Brit ish made their charge. Now will breast the parapet as my men did" he said mounting it. He walked across the old "No mans land' and saw the effects of the British shell fire on the maze Of Qualifications and trenches which the British had wrest- ed from the Germans
 Looked On at Battle
 Standing on the edge of a big shell crater the king looked with sail or's telescope he was carrying out across the foreground of desolation toward Pozieres, the Bazantine, Long ueyal and Delyine Wood. He watched the curls of black smoke which sig. niiied that the German guns were busy. while near him a battery Of British guns was sending screaming answers.
 You seem to have missed that he aid to Gen. Rawlinson, mdicat ing silver of wall standing in Ma. metz.
 But there is nothing that is not down at La Boiselle as you will see, your majesty" said Gen. Rawlinson We improve as we advance"
 When the king wanted to descend one of the deep German dugouts' Gen. Rawlinson warned him that they had not an been cleaned out vet and when the king came back up the steps. sniffing. he said:
 It smells pretty strong.
 Gave Them a Surprise
 Remarking on the depth and spaciousness of the dugouts, with their beds. tables and chairs he said to some soldiers of reserve bat allion stationed at the point: 'Eyi' dently the Germans expected to make a long stay. but you gave them a surprise and they are not so com fortable now
 A dramatic moment occurred as the king was walking across a field swept by British charge. He came to a grave at the bottom of she'll crater bearing the inscription:
 "Unmown British soldier Both the king and the Prince of Wales halted and saluted the cross.
 "It was sporting of the king to come here" said one of the soldiers, and it Fritz only knew it wouldn't he begin strafe with his guns? As 1t is WhlsHing Percy might let loose any minute" Whistling Percy is the name for a noisy shell from the German guns.
 Took Away Souvenirs
 In common with all visitors the king took away some souvenirs in the shape of empty shell cases and bits of German equipment As he was leaving the field the soldiers of the reserves. the transport men, gunners on relief and others in the neighborhood followed him until there was a large crowd around the party before they entered their au- tomobile. Somebody called for three cheers for the king which were giy- en with a will.
 Sir Douglas Haig, as the kings host. told him what was worth see ing during his visit and then the king laid out his own program each day. This led him 10 have look at a town which had been shelled recently by guns Of big caliber As he and the prince went about leis- urely examining the enormous era ters in the square and the ruins of the old town hall, his attendants
 hon,