The Washington times., 1917-07-16
KING GEORGE
NEAR SHELLS
Of GERMANS
At THEFRONT
British Ruler Had lust Left
Ridge When BOmbardmentI
Set In-Rode on "Tank" and
Saw Mimic Trench Attacks.
(contInued from FIrst Page.l

CONTINUED from First Page.l
Queen have just returned. The first
was found in the escape Of the King
from possible death by German shells
on a ridge which he had quilted but
fifteen minutes before the Germans
began bombarding It, and the second
was in the revelation that the Brit
ish armies are now prepared to re-
tirn to the Germans some OF the
'frightfulness" which has character
lied the attacks OF the Germans in
the past.
The hrst point visited by the King
on his eleven-days tour OF the front
was the Messines ridge, where Irish
troops from all provinces fought
shoulder TO shoulder and swept the
Germans before them, in June. As ne
climbed the ridge the Germans wrre
shelling a wood just to his left Brief
as was his visit of inspection. he had
only reached the bottom of the slope
on his return when the shells began
falling about where he had stood
The relief OF the officers who guided
him about that sector was beyond ex-
preston when they realized how mar
row had been the escape Of the King.
Saw Modern War Implements.
The King and the Queen witnessed
two demonstrations Of some OF the
means Of modern war with which the
British are prepared in the future to
combat the Germans. Details of these
are not revealed, but IT is stated that
among the implements used in the
demonstrations were several which
will be used in throwing molten
metal, boiling oil, and liquid fire on
the enemy, both In attacking and in
repelling attacks.
The King and Queen also witnessed
a drill OF armored tanks" and the
King had a ride on one of these mon
sters OF war, with which he expressed
the keenest delight
A special exhibition by the flying
corps was one OF the methods employ
ed OF demonstrating to the rulers the
growing efficiency Of the British
forces at the front. Daredevil aviators
took their machines, with moses
pointed straight into the sky, up. for
thousands of feet, and returned to
earth with the tails OF the machines
sticking straight up.
Queen Inspects Hospitals.
There also was a mimic capture Of
German trenches and prisoners by
British detachments, drums simulst-
ing the roar of the big guns. This
was followed by the beating of of
mimic attack by Germans. The bar
rage fire was initiated. and the gren-
ade throwers, using stones instead OF
grenades, acted parts just as they
would do IN real action.
Queen Mary devoted most OF her
time in France to visiting the base
hospitals and inspecting the means
for caring for the sick and wounded.
The Kings days were crowded
with activity, for he reviewed yir-
tually the entire British armed estab-
lishment in the field, studying eV
cry phase OF the vast machine which
Great Britain has built up in France,
from the various base posts all the
way to the fighting line. Whenever
they passed through French cities and
villages back of the British front
both the King and Queen were given
enthusiastic demonstrations of well
come by the French people.
Deeorate1 PetaIn.
King George entertained President
Poincare at luncheon during his stay,
and later in the shadow Of a she'll
shattered church at Albert, with its
leaning gilded Virgin, he held an in
vestiture at which he conferred ceco-
rations on a number OF French otfi-
GERS, personally pinning on General
Petain. commander-in-chief OF the
French armies operating on the
French front, the gllttering star de-
noting a grand commanLer of the
Bath.
The King also received the Portu-
Euese troops during his visit He was
much impressed by the complexity OF
the races he met within this zone Of the
world war. The Prince OF Wales. who
Is actively serving in the army as a
stan captain. accompanied the King dur
ing his stay in France.