Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-05
Albert of the Belgaans
A. Lamonnier, Editor of Independence, Beige.

A. Lamonnier, Editor OF Llndepenoence' oeise'
In the course of this long and terrible war
there have stood out two figures. OF almost
legendary worth and heroic appealing KING
and queen of the Belgians Grandson OF Leo
pold l. the founder of the Belgian dynasty
King Albert has inherited from his grandfather
his calm nerves his love of work, his sagacity
and foresight. At the same time he IS charae-
teristically man of his period, l. e., simple III
living and democratic by habit.
He is the ideal of the democratic king-the
first citizen of the state, who takes his citizen
ship seriously and conscientiously All the null
tiple problems in which Belgium is concerned'
study; he has always studied them at trst hand,
preferrng to go into matters tor himself as ne
dd, for instance. in the colonial question: when
he crossed the Belgian Congo from Lake Ian
ganyika, on the east, to Bona, on the west
With such char cter and tastes King Albert
was not likely to choose for his wife a princess
of powerful and wealthy house. He married
the Princess Elizabeth in Bavaria She was the
daughter of a savant, who had made himself,
bv study and work, one of the first ocullsts
OF Europe, who put his science and skill to the
daily service Of the unfortunate. Princess Eliza
beth shared her fathers labors and had. charge
of his clinic Never was welded pair more
suited to each other.
In 1913 King Albert paid his visit to the
Der, that the kaiser spoke openly of war with
France as inevitable and not far distant. 1t was
on that occasion, too, that he tried to persuade
King Albert that his interest lay in ranking him
self alongside Germany. Never did Germany
believe that Belgium would resist
Yet on the receipt of the revolving ultimatum
addressed by Germany to Belgium on August
3, 1914, there was not an instant's. hesitation.
From Belgian king and people there came the
unanimous answer: Honor above all! Before
the chamber and senate, united in historic ses-
sion, the king declared, pale with emotion but
with firm voice: Il have faith in Our destiny;
a nation that defends itself compels respect;
such country never perishes.'
Next day he issued proclamation to the
troops: Soldiers, remember, as you face the
enemy, that you are fighting for liberty and for
your impered. .. =. :. =. am leaving bruS-
sells to put myself at your head" .
From his headquarters at Louvain the king
followed with anxious pride the heroic defense
of Liege He shrank from no risks. He went
to the advance posts and into the trenches.
AS he was of tall stature, he was likely
target for the enemy One day colonel said
to him: "Sire. if you were simple soldier,
would scold you" "Scold away" said the king
laughngly. "Sire," replied the colonel, this time
severely II do scold you," and the king obeyed
bending down into the shelter Of the trench
AT Waelhem shell burst near him; he did
not wink All eyelash.
The army fell back into Antwerp. There the
queen had been staying with her children busy
with the organization and superintendent Of
the hospitals. When the ZeppeEns sought to
bomb the palace she took away her children
and conhded them to Lord Curzon in London,
afterward returning to her post beside the king,
with whom she shared the dangers of the siege.
Then came the fall of Antwerp and the re-
treat. The enemy had crossed the Scheldt; there
was danger of the roads being cut off, but even
tually the royal couple succeeded in reaching
Ostend, and thence, still accompanying the
army, across the User.
1t was at this moment that the king issued
that manly proclamation:
SOLDIERS. in the positions where | have sta
toned you let your eyes be turned only 'front.'
ward Look upon him as traitor who utters the
word retreat"
How valiantly the Belgian army responded
to the appeal is matter of history 1t chung
with the energy of despair to the little remain
ing patch of the motherland and brought the
German march on Calais to an abrupt halt, amid
that region of marshes and clinging mud
During all this terrible period the queen re-
manned among the troops, dividing her time be-
tween the education Of her children and the
management of huge hospital.
Finally has come the resumption OF the Of
fensive with its glorious results The liberation
of Belgium is proceeding rapidly before our
eyes, King Albert and his queen have set foot
in Ostend while German shells were falling, and
amid the enthusiastic welcome of its inhabitants.
A few days hence King Albert and Queen
Elizabeth will make their entry into Brussels.
What all event it will be! 1t will be delirium
of joy it will be spectacle beyond imagination
or description. 1t will be unique celebration
that of the liberation of heroic nation!