The Washington times., 1917-04-23
British Commissioners
~ Fooled CroWd at Hotel
Curious Washingtonians Were Expecting Top
Halted Frock-Coated Delegation, Not Few
Youngsters in Golf Caps and Tweeds.

1 to their own lines. Early In the
battle he himself was wounded in
the kneeZhe still walks with a bad
limp-but he kept right on fighting.
And after he had chased the last
"Boche" off, ne flew calmly back to
1 his own camp, and asked for treat
/ ment for "a bit OF a scratch" He
said never a word about his fight.
Men In the trenches had seen the
battle, however, and they did say
something about 1t. The result was
| that Major Rees, then a captain. was
promoted, and given that most coveted
OF ali, British decorations. dhe Victoria
Cross. He had already won the mill
/ tary cross several months previously.
| But this hero bldshed like a school
girl when asked about his battle last
night.
IL was very lucky. that was all, !"
he said. 81 was wounded early in
the scrimmage. / had been lucky
1 enough to shoot one OF the Germans
down, when l saw another coming to-
ward me. head on. had about con-
cluded that 1t was all up with me,
when noticed he was flashing a red
light-meaning, I am seriously at
tackled; come at once
81 thought IL that was the way he
: felt about IT, might help him on. So
I / was lucky again. and managed 70
get him. When he went down two 9th
er German planes, coming up, turned
and flew back to their own lines. ]
dropped down about 200 feet. lodged
| about. and finally was lucky enough
to get a couple more
1That's All There Was"
Then the others few OF and 1
went home-thars all there was to
it"
The reporter suggested that 1t was
/ enough. and Major Rees blushed
again
/ Geoffrey Butler. master diplomat.
here in the capacity of a sort of
general factotum, Is another essen
TALLY Interesting member OF the mis-
sion, which, by the way. is officially
known in England as the British
Mission to the United StateS Of
America-"
| 1t was Butler who told the story
of the trip over, and described little
intimate details about the person
aIities OF his fellow members.
1--WE left England very openly. ap-
parently," he said. I'VE were on
one OF our fastest ships.
Then, for twenty-four hours we
lodged up and down the coast to
fool the Germans. A dense fog came,
and under its cover we put into q
very small port That night, when
it was quite dark, we really started.
We were accompanied out OF the har-
/ Dor by few destroyers-but once
outside they left us, and we made
our way ON our own" We had ao-
! solutely no convoy. Our only pro-
lection was our speed.
/ mo, we didn't have the ship en-
tirely to ourselves. There were a
/ great many Canadian women and
children on board, going home.
! Ship Dodged About.
"Of course there was a great deal
Of strain all the way across-and we
lodged about quite a Bit But the
trip was entirely uneventful. We
landed at our port in Canada-Fd
rather not tell its name, because we
have to get back, you know-abso-
lutely without adventure.
"Mr. BaIfour probably was an un-
concerned over the sub menace as
any one in the party. He spent al
most the entire trip reading philoso-
ply and penny-shockers (which
translated into an Americanism,
| WOulQ De 0Qlno uONclS y.
"Mr. Balfour. you know. Is passion
ately fond OF 'penny-shockersJ He
lean literally bury himself in one.
T tried one myself on the' way
over. Got IL from one of the sailors
/ think It was called ''The Man With
the Missing Toe. or the Bloody I'm
print on the Stairs" 1 told Mr.. Bal
four about IL that evening. He wal
interested at once.
"'Who wrote it," he asked.
Il told him 1 really hadn't noticed
and he shook his head sadly.
That's it, he said. We seldom
do. So ungrateful! So ungrateful?
According to Mr.. Butler. the visit
of the mission is primarily compli'
mentary in character.
I'VE in England have felt that We
ought to pay our respects to this
country in person" he said.
Glad to Help.
"Tf, during our visit, there is any
possible way we can help Americs
with our experience, we shall be only
too glad to do so. We shall be only
too glad to answer any question we
can, and to give any Suggestions that
are desired. But we shall volunteer
no advice. We are not here to butt
our heads into anything. We feel
that the United States should be al
lowed to conduct its war in what
ever way IL. itself thinks best.
I'VE are anxious to help, but we dc
not wish to force ourselves and oul
advice, on your Government"
Would you advise the sending ot
American. troops across?" he was
, asked.
1--WE will have an answer to that
question IL IL is asked" he replied
"If il is not asked, we shall be silent
We have a very keen realization OF
the needs of the war, but as 3 said, we
shall be very careful. We have nc
wish to butt our heads into your af'
fairs, without being asked to-"
Mr.. Butler related many little de
tails OF the trip across, which may
not be printed, for fear they might
= reach eyes for which they were MOI
, intended. He was IN the midst OF one
: of these descriptions when news
| paper correspondent attempted to s,ir'
; prise him with what he evidently
: considered a very cagey question.
, when was it," he asked. that you
. thought you sighted that submarine?' >
. Butler turned and smiled.