New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-12
Mayor and Citizens
Officially Welcome
Mission at City Hall

Members OF the muHlCipdi govern
mert and an assemblage Of New York's
most prominent citizens extended the
hand OF official welcome again yester-
day 20 allies % the United States.
This time it was to Englishmen, with
Mr.. Balfour as the central figure, at
another reception at the City Hall.
The same brilliant setting which was
prepared for Marshal Joffre and the
members OF the French mission was
the background yesterday. The same
tumultuous enthusiasm greeted Mr..
Balfour and his distinguished asso-
ciates at the official ceremonies in the
aldermanic chamber in City Hall.
The spacious room was overtaxed by
the throng OF members and guests OF
the Mayors Reception Committee,
which gathered to pay homage to Eng
lands former Prime Minister. AS he
entered the chamber, accompanied by
Mayor Mitchell and Joseph H. Choate,
former British Ambassador and chair
man of the reception committee, the
crowd burst into cheers and hats we're
waved for several minutes. Mr.. Bal
four bowed and smiled in all direc-
tons. Mayor Mitchell delivered spir-
tied address of welcome.
General Bridges Cheered
Tho all oroo. 6-u~o aoJ hrou1a 4
face OF Lieutenant General Bridges
lowered above the crowd ss he walked
into the chamber behind Mr.. Balfour
and Sir Cecil Spring Rice, British Am
bassador. He was loudly cheered. Ad-
miral Sir Dudley r. s. de Chair, the
representative of the British Navy in
the mission, and. Lord Cunliffe, gov
ernor of the Bank of England, also re-
ceived ovations. as they followed close
behind the other members.
There was an exchange of friendly
greetings between Mr.. Balfour and Mr..
Choate when the latter was introduced
by the Mayor as New YOrk's foremost
citizen" Before Mr.. Choate began his
address. Mr.. BalfoUr stepped down
from the rostrum, where the commits
siorers stood under high bank of
evergreens and the Allied flags, and
warmly shook Mr.. Choates hand as
the assemblage cheered
In his speech, Mr.. Choate paid a high
tribute to the former Prime Minister
friendship betw cen England and the
United States"
Mr.. Balfour declared that the en-
trance of America into the war had
given England new courage and added
try's magnanimous action in throwing
all her resources into the cause of the
Allies. His speech was frequently in
terrupted by cheers.
"You are going 10 share our fort
unes." he said, share our trials, share
our struggles, and, Mr.. Mayor and gen
tlemen, share cur triumphs"
Mission an Hour Late
The British mission was an hour be-
hind the scheduled time in arriving at
the City Hall. Shortly after 2 o'clock
the first few hundreds Of the 1000
school boys and girls began to tile
into the west end OF the Court OF
Honor TO the music Of the eth Regi-
ment Band, which was stationed in the
plaza. Decked in red, white and blue.
and carrying the flags Of all the Allied
powers, the children marched TO their
places on the lawns and were lined in
solid masses facing the hall. There
were several companies Of little girls
dressed in Italian costumes and carry
ing the flag Of that country, as a mark
Of respect 70 the Italian war commits.
sioners who arrived in this country
without ceremony and mad no part in
yesterdays reception.
The children sang America" Rule
Britannia" and "Tipperary" during the
two-hour wait. They were warming up
for their part TO come. Several hun
bred Boy Scouts followed the school
children into the court, and climbed
on tho high blue pyramid erected at
the back. A division Of the members
Of the Veteran Corps OF Artillery
marched in behind their band and took
up positions OF honor on eithe: side OF
the court. A company OF six-footers
of this organization in picturesoue