Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-26
ALL ENGLAND
TURNS0UTT0
PAY TRIBUTE
Chief Greeted by King and
Queen-U. S. Flags
Cover Buildings.


Mrs. Wilson were in buckingham
palace this afternoon after a jour
ney from Calais to London during
which they were accorded all the
honors ever given royalty. Never
has royal procession except those
of great national ceremonials ex-
cited such interest as the first state
visit of an American president.
The drive from the station to the
palace was made through streets
lined with the guard regiments in
khaki. Fresh flags hung overhead
and covered the buildings, while
windows, balconies, sidewalks and
open spaces were filled with people,
many of wnom wore the American
colors.
All Eyes on Wilson.
1t was a brief spectacle First
came the sovereign's escort of
troops from the household cavalry
with helmets and steel cuirasses.
Then came the carriages with King
George, and President Wilson. and
Queen Mary, Mrs. Wilson and
Princess Mary These were fol-
lowed by three others, which passed
almost unnoticed, as all eyes were
on Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson and the
royal family.
Route of Procession.
[ Although the trip was a short
one, it lay through a most inter
estipg section of London From
Charing Cross the route ran along
the north side of Trafalgar square,
with the Nelson monument tower
ing on the left and the National
gallery on the right, its gray walls
almost covered by huge American
and British flags 1t continued
along Pail Mall, turning northward
| at st. James palace and up St
| James street TO Piccadilly-the
chief landmarks along this stage
being the solid, weather-worn build
/ ings Of the old London club, now
decked with bunting they keep for
/ special occasions The procession
( drove westward along the north
side of Piccadilly, passing a tract
Of clubs and big hotels and pala-
/ tial residences, notably the home of
I the duke of Devonshire, with the
Red Cross flag over it, and the res
idence of the duke of Wellington,
at the entrance Of Hyde Park,
where the procession turned
The party drove past Wellington
| Arch and along the southern side
OF the park, there fanked on the
right by the wall of the palace
/ ground, and then into the broad
plaza before the palace, and into
the palace forecourt.
Crowds Line Streets.
I prnh1 n Mt
part of the spectacle for the presi-
crowded everywhere to greet him
. The day was a holiday, and the
workingmen and women made the
most of their opportunity, and to
no stratum of British humanity
could the president make a strong
er appeal.
Welcomed in Old Station.
While the formal features of the
event were well staged and man
aged, the human factor presented
the most interest. The interior of
the grimy, old station, where King
George welcomed President Wilson,
was carpeted with red and the walls
and roofs were hidden behind mass
es of flags Club windows were
mostly monopolized by men while
the hotels and stores along the way
were filled with gay parties.
L. s. Flag Everywhere.
That such masses Of American
flags could be produced at such
short notice was a revelation of
LOndOn's resources and none appre-
ciated them more than the Ameri-
can soldiers and bIuajackets among
the spectators.
Trip On Schedule.
The presidents trip to London
was carried out according to sched-
ule. His train, which left Dover
at 1888 o'clock, arrived at Charing
Cross station on time.
AS the presidents train crossed
the Thames and entered the station
great cheer went up from the
crowd. A salute OF IL guns was
fired from the Tower of London and
In Hyde park.
Cold But No Fog.
Before the presidents arrival 1t
seemed as though London was TO
have its eoldest day OF the winter.
There was ice in the streets and
white frost on the grass. Fortu
nately. however, there was neither
the rain nor the fog which usually
prevails in December.
Before II O'Clock streets in the
west end were filled with holiday
throngs afoot and in motor ears.
Across St James street was a
huge blue banner with the words,
"The citizens of Westminster well
come President Wilson" in gold let
teTs.
All England Turns Out.
Sightseers poured in from all
points. There were thousands OF
soldiers and sailors. many hundreds
of school children shepherded by
nuns and teachers, hundreds of flag
venders, burnt cork minstrels with
banjos, costers on donkey carts,
bishops in black CATERS. generals
in various uniforms and women and
girls in their new Christmas furs.
From the war Office and other
government buildings il WhIta