Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-03
King OF Belgians
Is Popular Hero

paper reporter who ever became a
monarch, Is "A years old and is one of
the most picturesque figures of the
Great War,
The King took a postgraduate
codrse in newspaper" training In
1905 when, somewhat like Peter the
Great, he visited the shipyards of
France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany
n Scandinavia, to learn everyin
possible regarding ocean carriers with
the expectation at some future time
of putting Belgium in the class or
maritime powers Several years pre-
vously, 1t is said, when merely the
son of the Count of Flanders, a nep-
hew of Kin Leopold. he came to the
United States and worked as a report
er on one or two newspapers in the
Northwest.
Succeeding to the crown on Dec
ember %, 1909, Albert 1. endeared
himself to h 100000 people of his
little kingdom. The abuses of the
Congo, which had brought upon the
head of his aged uncle Leopold the
condemnationMof the civilized world,
were abolished and the King and his
beautiful consort faced the prospect
of a long n happy reign in a country
where "tramps, idlers and soup houses
are ~unkonwn."
Then came the war. The King OF
the Belgians might have yielded and
escaped much of the hardship and
Suffering that was the lot of himself
and his people for more than four
years. Heediag not the specious
promises of the Germans to pay Bel
Efum huge sums for the privilege Of
crossing her soil to attack France, the
gallant King rallied his army of $780,
600 men and placed himself at their
head to fight the invader When the
49, - XiEA h.
n~uetrality of the little nation they
were pledged to protect, they met with
she most stubborn resistance from the
valiant but numerically inferior Bel
eians at the forts of Liege and Ma
muir.
During the great conflict King AL
CERT spared himself none of the rigors
of the soldier. Often he exposed him
self to shell fire and aviators' bombs
burst about him. Once a German shell
tore off the wheel of the automobile
in which he vas riding. At another
time O. chauffeur who had been prom
Used $500, 900 to deliver the King to
the enemy was shot dead as he en-
deavored to drive the royal a into
the German lines. Hardly a day pass
ed that he was not in jeopardy of his
life n futile efforts were made by
his Ministers to induce him not to
expose himself.
MY SKIN IS OF no more value tloh
yours" he told his heartsick soldiers
On their retreat from Antwerp. my
place Is on the firing Incl"
Although bis mother was a Hohen-
Eollern and his wife a Bavarian prin.
cess and although in his youth he a
been educated in Germany, he main
famed an independence of character
that irritated the former Emperor of
Germany. The latter, among other
honors before the war, conferred upon
Albert I. h title of honorary colonel
Of the Mecklenburg regiment, an act
which the Belgian press construed as
an effort of. the German ruler TO gan
an Influence over the young King.
An Indication of Albert's spirit
came when Belgium was invaded.
IN taking command of his troops ON
August 6, 1914, he said. IA neighbor,
naughty IN Its strength, without the
Slightest provocatieRs has torn UP a
ss1a4@tvszsa6Fipg It's signature and has
Violated he~ Arrttory of our fathe-.
Because we refuses 20 Iorfeit our
honor. 1t a attacked US. Seeing
Its Independence threatened, the ma
tton trembled and its children sprang
~ the frontier, valiant soldiers In q
Sacred cause. / have confidence In
Your tenacious courage. 1 greet you
III the name of Belgium, a fellow cit
hen who is proud of you'll
Z One year after ssBelgium's heroic
Resistance to the German flood. the
beople Of Paris, in gratitude to and
him a gift sword of Sainte- Etienne
steel, the design of which was
Wrought by the sculptor, Fetu. Upon
the blade, o~rnamented with panoplies
bf steel upon gold, was a tribute writ
Ten by Jean Richepin.
mo thoroughfare." Is the inscrip-
Zion upon the guard at the foot of
The hilt in the form of a ~statuette, in
massive gold, representing a young
athlete upon the defensive, brandish-
ing a club.
On Friday, November IS, 1918. at
Ger years of bitter privattons, King
Albert returned with his victorious
troops to his devastated but beloved
capital amid the lou acclaim of the
people.
The King and Queen are enthusiast
Vic about aviation and both have
taken a number of flights, two OF
ra4ich included trips across the Eng
fish channel from Paris to London.
On March IS, 1917, Albert made a
long reconnaissance In a biplane over
the User from undsr a heavy anti
aircraft fire by the Germans. At
other times. the daring Wis
tied" Ostend. Bruges. Dunkirk and
other Belgian cities, in machines that
carried him high above the guns.
Grateful for the aid which the
United States and the Allies bestowed
upon Belgium in her hours of trial,
the Kings visit is said to be partly
to express this appreciation on behalf
Of his country to the American peo-
pie.
One of the gifts which Albert 1 and
Elizabeth are bringing to this
try is a complete table set of Brussels
porcelain. for President and Mrs.
Wilson, whose guests they will be at
tha White House for q mart of their
stay. Upon leaving the United States
THE royal couple are to visit King AL
fonso and Queen Victoria of Spain,
for both of whom they have a warm
attachment.