South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-27
MILLIONS GREET
WILSON WHEN He
REACHES LONDON
Gathering Principally of the
Plain PeopIe-0therS Go
to Country for Holiday.
MOnarChS Popular.

LONDON. Dec. 27.-The great
moment Of Pres't wilson's first day
n England was when he stood with
The King and queen and Mrs. Wilson
in the balcony of Buckingham pal
ace today, facing a multitude which
.tretched down the Mall 20 the ad-
niralty. half a mile distant, and
oyerf,owed St. James park on one
side and Green park on the other.
only a corpOraFs guard could hear
the presidents brief speech, but the
people, who had demanded that he
show himself, gave him a greeting
more clamorous than any other
guest of the nation has commanded
within the memory of the oldest
LOndoners. The days events consti-
tute a tribute 10 the president and
the United states which Will be his
toric.
The official ceremonials a recep-
ton by the Dover corporation and
the navy: the welcome at the sta
ton by the royal family and the
chief officials of the empire, and the
state progress through the heart of
/ LondOn-were colOred with touches
medieval pageantry. even to
/ the crimson coated beef eaters from
4 the Tower bearing halberds which
/ the British people cherish. That
I the central figure of the royal pro-
I cession. in quaint state carriages,
attended by military escort and
+ household officials, should be q civil
/ ian wearing a black coat and silk
/ hat gave a flavor of novelty to the
scene.
Come from Everywhere.
But the assembly of the people
was spontaneous. That was the chief
note of the day. There had been no
time to erect stands, and windows
were not advertised for rent. The
people simply flocked in from all
quarters afOOt in motors and other
vehicles, carrying flags and their
lunches. and standing for hours IN
the cold for a chance to get a sight
of the president.
1t was a gathering principally Of
the plain people; the others were in
the country for the holiday. 1t was
"a diverse and picturesque throng
such Jas few capitals can muster.
with a large element of soldiers,
among whom the colonials and
Americans seemed conspicuous and
popular. a detachment of wounded
from the hospitals, attended by
nurses. getting a large share of the
cheers.
The popularity of the king and
queen was again attested by the ova-
ton given them while on their drive
to the station TO meet the president
Everyone agreed that London has
never known another such demon
stration. except on great national
days. when the British people have
celebrated the inaugural of a new
reign or a milestone in the old.
100000 Crowd Streets.
tt is estimated that ? 100000 peo-
pie crowded the two miles of streets
through which the state procession
passed. These were canopied with
flags and bunting. and amid the
fthudding of the salUting cannon th'
president of the United States re
ceived q popular welcome almos
unprecedented in history.
London was not satisfied with th'
tumultuous greeting accorded dur
ing the ceremonial drive to Bucking
ham palace, where the president anC
Mrs. Wilson are staying as the guests
Of the king and queen. Some 200,
600 people, completely filling tn
i huge semi circular assembling plao
facing the palace cheered inces
sanity until half an hour after tn
presidents arrival when he appear
: ed on the balcony beside the king
! They were followed by the queen
] who waved a small American flag
4 Mrs Wilson, who carried a UniOl
Jack: Princess Mary and the Du6
: OF Connaught. So prolonged and in
4 tense was the cheering that tn
I president showing great emotion
4 thanked. in a few words. the Cit
& zens of London for their great vel
4 come.