The sun., 1919-06-20
MILD WELCOME
FOR PRESIDENT
FROM BELGIANS
Greeting Lacks the Enthu-
siasm Displayed in Other
Countries.
VIEWS HAVOC OF WAR
Inspects Trenches With King
Albert and Visits Many
Ruined Towns.
VIEWS HAVOC OF WAR
ny LAURENCE HILLS.
Special Cable Despafch to The Sur.

Special Cable Despatch to The Sur.
Copyright. 1919: all rights reserved.
BRussELs, June 19.-Following a
hundred mile tour over the Flanders
battle fields and the Belgian sea coast
President Wilson and his party
reached Brussels last evening to re-
ceive a warm welcome from the city
which was 50 long under the German
heel. 1t was not, however, the en-
thusiastic greeting Of London or the
ecstatic performance of Paris and
Rome when the President first came
to Europe.
The crowd was not swept of Its
feet and 1t was difficult to escape
the impression that the greeting given
to the President indicated that he is
no longer the, popular figure he was
when he first reached Europe. Six
months in Europe apparently have
worn OFF the gloss. All along the
route the President did not evoke the
same emotions, now that the treaty
Is made, as when he brought here mis-
fourteen points and was hailed as the
worlds deliverer.
In many places the crowds were
small and merely curious, and al
though he arrived in Brussels on a
beautiful evening there was no such
outpouring for city Of its size as
he had elsewhere. Belgium is not
entirely satisfied with what she re-
ceived at the peace table.
Inspects Ruin of War.
One had the opinion that a different
feeling exists here and elseu here IN
Tan ope toward the American Presl-
dent than before mis- professions were
put 10 the test in Paris. THIS seemed
to b. rather borne out by TIC rip
through Belgium. King Albert and
his Queen had staged a very different
Gny for the President than he has
been accustomed to having.
Indeed King Albert took the Presi-
dent nearer to the war than he has
been at any time. Mile after mile
over shot torn roads amid whirllng
clouds Of dust the President and King
travelled in an open automobile. The
Queen and Mrs. Wilson came right
behind In a closed car.
Several times King Albert had the
President alight and walk to the
trenches. 1t was a hard day for the
President, but he seemed to enjoy It,
even though It was most Informal.
He seemed to take particular delight
in the luncheon in a forest whose
shell torn trees did not afford much
shelter from the sun.
Among the wreckase of Ypres.
Ypres was one of the most inter
esting Of the places visited, the parry
halting In front of the ruins of the
famous town hail. The British at
taches explained the battle fields. II
was the first view the President had
had Of the awful destruction the war
had wrought. Not a tree was alive.
Beyond Ypres, In a country long
occupied by the Germans, the coun-
try had a more prosperous appear
ance. Here crowds of school children
waving bright flags turned out and
the burgomasters of the various towns
made little speeches Of welcome. But
the cheers seemed to be few.
The procession sped along the
waterfront TO Zeebrugge, giving the
President delightful taste OF the
North Sea ozona and a chance to OBJ
serve the wonderful coast fOrtlfica-
lions the Germans had erected.
The most interesting moment of the
trip came when the party was met
by a group Of British naval officers,
who walked out with him along the
Mole to the scene of one OF the most
famous naval actions Of the war
Here the President saw the battered
hulk of the old Vindlctlve protrudlng
from the mud, with Capt. Carpenter,
who commanded that vessel when she
was driven into the muzzles of the
German guns, to explain all the de-
tails of that famous action.