The Washington herald., 1918-09-22

It's a dull week that does not bring
at least one mission to Washington
and this has NOT been dull week
The mission was rather late in ar
Tiving. but when 1t came It was
headed by H. r. H Axel. Prince of
Denmark-and they don't all have
royal highnesses at the head OF them.
This one had been threatening for
some time. But inssmuch as ar
rivals from overseas are somewhat
uncertain. plans are always rather
in allegiance until distinguished ar
rivals have actually arrived. This
particular mission is naval, and ITS
members are primarily guests OF the
Navy Department and Secretary
Daniels That is why il was he,
rather than the Secretary Of State.
who first entertained them The
night Of their arrival-last Thursday
they were his guests at a distinctly
naval dinner, given in their honor
at his Wyoming avenue residence.
Prince Axel and three OF his suite.
the Danish Minister, eight rear ad-
miraIs-chiefs Of all the- department
bureaus-Mat. Gen. Barnett COM
mandant OF the Marine Corps, Com
manders Adolphus Andrews and P.
W. Foote, Capt. W. v. Pratt, and
Representative Lemuel Padgett, head
Of the Naval Affairs Committee Of
the House Of Representatives. made
Up the list Of guests OF that highly
official dinner
Admiral Benson. chief OF opera
tions. and Franklin Roosevelt, as
sistant secretary of the navy. were
about the only ones who might have
been there and weren't admiral
Benson was out OF town. winding up
the first vacation he had in years,
and Franklin Roosevelt had only
that day landed after an absence OF
n couple Of months. overseas on an
important mission. He had been ex-
pected for at least a week, and when
IL was learned that he had reached
an Atlantic port on the same day
as the Danish Naval Mission. there
were those who opined that he had
probably waited to come over on the
same ship with the distinguished
guests OF his department.
Admiral Benson arrived In Wash
ington the next day and did his
whole duty by the visitors last night
when he entertained at dinner in
their honor. Franklin Roosevelt, on
the other hand did not come on to
Washington. Indeed he may not come
for some time. For Washington re-
Eretted TO learn that he and two
others of his party were ill when
they landed-with quite the latest
thing in ailments-the Spanish infiu-
cnza.
E
Prince AxeI and his suite are occu-
Pging the Wichfeld residence on
Nassachusetts avenue - the really
arinCely home which the late Clar-
eace Moore had Just about completed
When he lost his life on the Titanic.
Ars- Clarence Moore subsequently
married Mr. Aksel Chr. P. WichfeId,
a-Dane. resident in America. He was
still more subsequently made an at
tsChc OF the Danish legation here.
The Wlchfelds are still at Swiftmoore
their summer home at Pride's Cross
ing. but they placed their home here
at the disposal of the Danish Naval
Mission. which is installed there fol
the period Of its visit to Washington
On Friday they lunched at tbs
White House with the President and
Ms. Wilson, and in the evening were
the honor guests at dinner OF Secre-
tary and Mrs. Lansing. Yesterday the
Danish Minister. Mr.. Constantin
Brun. gave a luncheon in their honor;
the Secretary OF the Navy takes them
down to Mount Vernon in the May.
flower today to lay the customary
wreath on Washington's tomb, and
~ already noted Admiral Benson 1:
entertaining for them this evening
Annapolis and Fort Myer are Of course
part Of their program. and quite pos,
sbly some sort OF a party at the
Pan American.
Then there has been a good dea'
oF entertaining for Maj. Gen. Janin
OF France, who was in Washington
f0r q few davs en- route from Paris