The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-25
BELGIAN AND RUSS REVERENCE MEMORY OF FIRST PRESIDENT
Heads of War Missions Vise Tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon and
 Pay Tribute

Mount Vernon, Va, June 24-Bel- gium and Russia united today at the tomb of George Washington in pay- ing homage to the American patriot and to the spirit of liberty and free dom which his memory incarnates. The official diplomatic mission from the Belgian and from the new Russian democracy pledged themselves and their countries to every effort for the destruction of autocracy and the safety of democracy.
 The two missions, accompanied by members of the cabinet and other high government officials. went down the Potomac on the presidential yacht Mayflower. The predominance of mill tary uniforals and white civilian dress made a most impressive sight as the gathering formed in a semi-circle about the tomb, over which flew the Belgian, Russian and American flags.
 INTRODUCED BY DANIELS
 Secretary Daniels introduced first, Baron Moncheur, head of the Belgian mission, and then the Russian special Am bassador Boris A. Bakhmetieff. Each made a brief adrdess of tribute to Washington and of reconsecration to the ideals he represented. Baron MOncneur, dlQeQ Dy 1IeuIeHdnL GeneIdl Leclerq and Ambassador Bakhmetieff, aided by Lieutenant General Roop, placed floral wreaths on the tomb be- side similar wreaths laid there oy Foreign Secretary Balfour of Great Britain, Former Premier Viviani and Marshal Joffre of France, and the Prince of Udine of Italy.
 MONCHEUR EARNEST
 Baron Moncheur spoke very earn estly and slowly:
 "In this solemn hour. when human freedom Is locked in a death strug- gle with the powers of darkness, we founder of American liberty.
 Although his body lies here, his work survives. and his spirit still lives in the American people. I know of nothing which typifies that spirit bet ter than the words of Washington when, in bequeathing his sword to his nephew, he added the injunction that defense of liberty and justice, and that, when once drawn. it should never be sheathed before the complete vic- tory of right over justice.
 'It is that spirit which animates your nation in the present as in the past. You looked across the sea and saw liberty struggling in the grasp 
 enemy of mankind. You came to her aid, and by throwing your mighty sword into the scales you have in sured that right will prevail; and that the world will be made safe for all honest nations-the small as well as the great.
 You have done what Washington would have done, and, therefore, in paying homage to the father of your country, I offer tribute of devotion and gratitude to the whole American people"
 Ambassador Bakhmetieff said:
 SPEECH OF RUSSIAN
 With a feeling of deepest venera- tion we have approached the sacred tomb. In the life of nations there happens to be times when the trival everyday existence, with all their common interests and petty strife, shallow feeling and routine activity are substituted by epochs of blazing and impetuous developments, unre- strained display of genius. epochs when customs. habits and national in- terests are swept away in the ire sistible tide of events. epochs when days count for ages, epochs of his- torical catyclysm, round points of his- tory of mankind. Such epochs carry the greatest calamities and the great est blessings.
 But great Is the burning idea1ism