The Little River news., 1919-11-01
BELGIAN RULER SAYS THE
 TANKS WON TEE WAR
''interyenti0n of the American Army the Decisive Factor in Dctprmin-
 ing Victory Says Ruler.

Ills isN'VAt t9 ''"i iRtlNis Washington, Oct. 30-King Albert, of the Belgians, paid homage in the house of representatives toaay to the American army, which he described as the decisive factor in determining the victory. In an address to the senate a few minutes earlier he had asserted that nothing could better characterize the reign of universal democracy, than the friendship between his coun- try and the United States
 On their arrival at the capital. King Albert and his son were met by re ception committee composed of Sena, tors Lodge, Harding, Warren. Hitch cock, Swanson and Underwood, and es- corted to the senate chamber
 Senator Cummins. president pro tenn, pore, presided and introduced King Al bert, paying high tribute to the gallan- try with which Belgium had met the first shock of the war and barred the path of Germany.
 Speaker Gillette, in welcoming King Albert in the house of representatives said that. while every nation had it's hero developed by the war, there was universal agreement that the king of the Belgians. by his heroic bravery, had come out ot the war the hero of the whole world.
 The addresses of His Majesty today were the longest and most important he made in America They were in tended as messages to the entire na- tion and his sincesity in expressing the thanks of Belgium to Americans for their aid was plainly evident.
 T salute,' he said to the senate. not only the eminent men who receiy- ed me here during the day, but I salute the memory of your great predecessors who, during the 130 years, have sat in this place and given to the whole world the example of highest civic vir- tues. The welcome of the senate seals that reception so warm and so spon- taneous. 1 have received everywhere during my journey across the magnif- cent country. I am deeply moved by the expressions of sympathy that the name of Belgium evokes from this mo- ble American people.
 Nothing could better characterize the reign of universal democracy than l that friendship which unites the great republic, with it's one hundred and l ten million citizens, and the realm of which 1 am the constitutional head, with it's seven and half million inhab- itants. II there is no equality of power and riches between them, there is equality in the love of liberty and in aspiration toward social progress On both sides of the Atlantic the same ideal inspires us The exchange of ideas, the commercial relations, the visits to Belgium of eminent American citizens, of whom many sit in this as sembly, are so many means of tighten ing the bonds between the two nations. I II hope with all my heart that these relations which go back as far as memory, which have been fortified dur ing the war, as well as by the admir- able assistance which you rendered Belgium by feeding her people and by fraternity in arms, will never cease tC develop for the great good of the two peoples
 The visit to the senate of King Al bert and the Duke of Branbant lasted only half an hour, and they went i'm mediately to the house. Iu his ad dress there His Majesty said:
 T am happy to be able to bear tc this chamber, which represents the liv- ing spirit of American people, the greeting of Belgium, state created by the vote of the popular assembly ol 1880, which proclaimed the independ- ence of our province It is a pleasure to recall that many of the provisions of our constitution were taken from your fundamental law, so that at the outset of her career Belgium was in- debt to you.
 Our two peoples have fought and triumphed together. The intervention of the American army was the decisive factor in determining the victory. pay my respectful and sincere hOmag ge to the officers, the soldiers and sailors who fell for a great cause on the battle fields of Europe and in the defense of the seas