Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-24
PIONEER AMERICAN
FORCE IN ENGLAND
King and Queen Receive Initial
Detachment of Surgeons
and Nurses.
CORDIAL WORDS OF WELCOME
Impressive Ceremony at Buck
ingham Palace Marks New
Landmark in U. S. History.
CORDIAL WORDS OF WELCOME

's''.>i'o.N' Hih N iuE iub
Queen Mary. accompanied ny tho Prince
OF Wales and Princess Mary. to-day
received and extended a welcome to
the surgeons and nurses Of Americas;
which shortly will take its place be-
side tho British allies at the lighting
front in France. 1t Was a simple. but
impressive. ceremony. one which will
tory as tho first @: it's kind TO occur
within the walls OF Buckingham
raIace.
Formality there wa.--such as is de-
tion was shorn Of much OF its r;Eidne -
hy tho attitude of the royal family
There existed no doubt among spec
;ators that the hearts of tho King and
Queen were in their greetings.
Especially was this felt as the King
stood before the medical corps. aud in
a voice ringing with sincerity en-
pressed the pleasure which II afforded
him and the Queen to welcome the
Americans. He voiced his deep APP
probation Of Americas prompt re-
sponSe To the needs Of the allies
FART OF FOURTH BASE HOSPITAL
or THE UNITED STATES ARMY
In tho detachment are twenty five
Surgcons. under command OF Major
Harry l.. Gilchrist. and siXty-iive
nurses. in charge OF Miss Ellison. All
belong to the Fourth Base Hospital
of the United States Army.
1'l, presrptatipp tcol. pla.c ,p
terrace facing the wonderful gardens
"f tho place. II was ono of those
halmy days which make sprinE,imc
in England famous. y canopy had
been erected over tho terrace and on
the ground front. and in this tho kmcri-
can detachment was drawn up before
the arrival Of the King and Queen
AS tho surgeons. in smart khaki uni =
forms. and nurses with blue, crimson
lined capes and neat white caps. stood
there with the wide cXpanse of green
lawns and gardens forming "A back
ground, they presented a picturesque
scene upon which more than one
British spectator commented approy-
nGly.
soon after the members of tho CORPS
had taken their positions. the members
OF the royal family stepped from the
palace. and stood on the terrace. SUI
rounded hy group. including the
American ambassador and Mrs raEc.
The King stepped forward, received
and returned a salute. For a momcnt
Ii" stood looking over tho little com
pany drawn up before him, and then
began To speak.
KING APPRECIATES PROMPT
AND GENEROUS RESPONSE
1T Is with the utmost pleasure and
satisfaction that the Queen and well
come YOU here to-day" said King
George. We greet YOU as the first
detachment Of the American army
which has landed on our shores since
your great republic resolved 10 join in
the world struggle for the ideals OF
civilization
We deeply appreciate this prompt
and generous response TO our needs
1t is characteristic Of the humanity
and chivalry which have ever been
eNinced by the American nation that
the first assistance rendered the allies
is III connection with the profession OF
healing and the work OF mercy"
When he had concluded, the King.
with the Queen. the Princess of Wales
and Princess Mary. descended the steps
@h" LOON UP their position lmm ediately
in front Of the medical corps The sur
Se"ns were first presented by Ambas-
sador Page. and the presentation Of the
nurses followed.
The members Of the royal family
shook hands with those composing the
detachment. and 10 each spoke a word
OF welcome and expressed best wishes
for his or her future in France
unUrrS.o thar Tho =,
detachment is being trained in British
methods, and will proceed to France a
pioneer force. which will be able TO
teach other American medical CORPS
the methods employed IN active service.