The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-26
Dolly Rcea Intresig Letter Fz9n M Hugh L9 Ky Which Rel yqye
 Ditingushed he Pz@iden

; Passing through Genoa and along the coast of the Mediterranean, we finally reached Rome at Il o'clock on the morn
 ing of tM third day.
 As We came out of the station in Rome to take an old-fashioned Victoria to the 1 Hotel Excelsior, we found the city all decorated with flags of the allied na- 1 tions and America, and the people, were giving a great demonstration to the r | King Victor Emmanuel III, in celepr9 tion of the armistice with Germany We finally reached the hotel where we rosnd a very comfortable accommodation and a good dinner awaiting us. Incidentally II mustrsay that the Hotel Excelsior is as modern and has just as many 'conven- fences and certainly is just as comforta- ble as any hotel in New York city. l The next day Rome again appeared in , all her splendor- as the people were giv- ing a reception to their General Diaz. | General Diazr is the man who finally conquered the enemy on the Piave river. ! His latest achievement netted him more
 than 100000 prisoners and some 15,000 guns with lot of booty and con- quered territory of more than 300 square
 miles having a population of at least 1 5,000,00e people, The achievement of Gen. 1 eraf DiaZ will be recorded in history as one of the greatest of the world war. l The people of Italy and especially in
 the city of Rome, are now making tre-
 mendous preparation for the reception of our President, and they will public ally acclaim him their savior. Coming 1 with him will be, King George of England. President Poincare of France and King Albert of Belgium.
 | Perhaps this meeting of the leaders ot tho nations who were associated together i in the loyal bonds of comradeship tn | achieve thc~ grea test task the world has ever known: namely, the winning of the
 war over the central empires of Europe. which will be recorded as the greatest l day in the history of Rome and believe 1 me, Rome has had some great days. l think it is both fitting and proper for me to tell you that l regard the sin cerity of the Italians in their efforts to jachieve their freedom more sacred than fthat of any other nation. They are an impressionable people filled with the all- beautiful sentiments known in the his- tory of civilization, but they are really
 a people who have an honest motive,
 and when they pledge their fidelity and friendship to you, you can absolutely re- | ly upon their honor.
 Since I arrived in Rome have visited the Vatican, and have seen the tower from which Nero witnessed the burning of Rome, in the year 37 A. D.
 1 From there we went to the Colosseum to see the ruins The Colosseum was
 built in the year so A. D., and it is re- markable to see how those walls are still standing the ravages of time. T. went through the Pincio Gardens and looked down. upon the Piazza del Popolo, and
 here again saw the dome of St. Peter and
 the tower of Nero. From here we drove to the Villa Borghese, and then returned
 to our hotel.
 | I am sending you under separate mail
 booklets as souvenirs of Rome showing
 photographs of all the important places,
 with little history of each attached,
 so that you may in your|leisure moments
 refresh your memory on the history ot
 Rome.
 I called to see ambassador, Hon.
 Thomas Nelson Page, at the American
 embassy, and he greeted me most cor.
 dially. found him in the best of health
 and in splendid spirits. His garb was
 immaculate and he presented the ap-
 pearance of the real American ambas-
 sador Yesterday he honored me by call ling on me at my hotel. I also met our consul general, the Hon. Francis B. Keene, and found him to be a verXs capable and very genial gen. tlef9an. 4 s, .-- ~ sg44 jssestAsl Eea Trusting that you will receive this letter ! as an appreciation ofiyour generous kind ! ness in publishing many kind things l about me, in-the columns of your splen- 1 did paper I remain very sincerely your
 friend. HUGH LEE KIRBY.