The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-20
KING GEORGE GIVES
CREDIT TO FLEET
British Navy Kept Path Clear
for American Soldiers and
Food, He Says.
UPsETS ROYALPRECEDENT
Goes to Parliament to Accept
Loyalty Address Following
Close Of War.

LONDON, Nov. 19.-Another precedent
went the way of other presidents to-day
when King George, accompanied by
queen Mary and the Prince of Wales.
went TO the palace at Westminster TO
receive and reply to the loyalty address
passed by the houses of Parliament
yesterday. Heretofore IL had been the
custom Of the Parliament to go to the
King on such an occasion. The royal
party drove to the palace at Westmin-
ster without escort and was loudly
cheered along the route.
Arriving at Westminster the King.
the Queen and the Prince OF Wales went
Immediately to the gallery OF the House
OF Lords, where the Commoners and the
Lords, the latter with the officials OF the
houses in their robes OF office, awaited
them. The King was in morning dress.
The Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of
the House of Commons presented the
addresses.
King George, after expressing his
thanks, in a speech alluded to the part
played by the whole empire in the long
and terrible struggle now being brought
to a close"
In his speech the King said:
After struggle longer and far more
terrible than any one could have fore
told, the soil OF Great Britain remains
invlolate. Our navy has everywhere
held the seas and wherever the enemy
could be brought to battle Il has re-
newed the glories OF Drake and Nelson.
The incessant work II has accomplished
in overcoming the hidden menace OF the
enemy's submarines and in guarding the
ships that have brought food and NUM-
tons TO our shores has been less con-
splcuons but equally essential to Sue
cess
Without that work Britain might
have starved and those valiant soldiers
OF America who have so much con-
triouted to our victory could not have
round their way hither The fleet has
enabled us to win the war. In fact,
without the feet, the struggle could not
have been maintained, for upon the COM
mand OF the sea the very existence and
maintenance OF our land forces have
from the first depended
That we should have to wage this
war on land had scarcely entered pur
thoughts until the storm actually broke
upon US. But Belgium and France were
suddenly invaded. and the nation arose
to the emergency. Within a year an
army OF more than ten times the
strength OF that which was ready for
action in August, 1914, was raised by
voluntary enlistment. largely owing to
the organizing genius ana personal In
fiuence OF Lord Kitchener, and the
number of that army was afterward
far more than doubled.
These new soldiers. drawn from the
civil population, have displayed valor
equal to that OF their ancestors. Short
as was their training, they have imi-
tated and rivalled the prowess OF
the small but ever famous force which
in the early weeks of the war from
Mons to the Marine fought Its magnifl-
cent retreat against vastly superior num-
bers.
Not less prompt was the response
and not less admirable the devotion TO
the common cause OF those splendid
troops which eagerly fastened to us
from the domnions overseas-men who
showed themselves more than ever TO
be bone OF our bone, inheriting all
the courage and tenacity that have
made Britain great l shall ever re-
member how the Princes of India rail-
lied TO the cause. and with what ardor
the soldiers sustained in many theatres
of the war. and under conditions most
diverting and exacting. the martial ira
ditions Of the race"