The Washington times., 1919-10-31
ALBERT AND
CONSORT SET
SAIL TODAY
FOR BELGIUM

Their majesties, the King and
Queen of Belgium, with Prince Leo
pold, heir apparant, terminate today
what will live in history to be a his
toric visit to the United States. This
afternoon the royal party will en-
bark at Newport News, sailing direct
to Ostend.
Washington bid farewell to the
royal visitors last night after hnal
day of entertainment which reached
its climax in a visit to the SICK room
Of President Wilson.
Officials Bid Godspeed.
Members of the. Cabinet and repre-
.sentatiyes OF the allied embassies as
sembled at Union Station at midnight.
There was little ceremony, no speech
making. A few warm handclasps and
the royal visitors were bid good luck
and godspeed on their journey home.
Accompanying their majesties and
the members of the party were the
Secretary of state and Mrs. Lansing,
Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. DAN
iels. Baron de Cartier, Belgian am
bassador TO the United States. and
Breckenridge Long, Third Assistant
Secretary of State Following the
sailing of the vessel from Newport
News this afternoon, the Cabinet
members and Baron de Cartier will
return Immediately to the Capital.
The train left Union Station last
night a little after midnight The
King and Queen stood outside Of the
car for awhile, bidding good-by to
to the terminal. The King told them
before he left how he wished again
to express his appreciation of the
hospitality which had been extended
throughout his entire visit in this
country, and touched on the friend
ship between the United States and
Belgium. which, he said, had become
even more close.
Dinner In Final Event.
The nnal event of their maJesties'
visit to Washington came at a dinner
and reception TO members of the
Diplomatic Corps, held last night at
the Belgium embassy, and at which
the King and Queen were hosts.
Immediately following the reception
the royal party made ready for the
trip back to Belgium, leaving the
home of Third Assistant Secretary of
State Long on Sixteenth street about
IL 80 o'clock last night.
The visit of the King. Queen, and
Prince Leopold to the President yes
terday afternoon was typical of the
freedom and informality which has
teen an outstanding feature of their
ma1esties' tour OF the United States,
and 1t came as fitting climax to the
visit of democratic king to demo-
cratic country.
With fhA no1sapt ns e.. ASx~,~.,
Grayson. the Presidents physician, ar
rangements were made yesterday for
the visit to the sick room, and with
the announcement of the visit, the
usual crowd of anxious ones to catch
glimpse of the royal party assem-
bled at the west gates OF the White
House. But arrangements for the visit
were unnecessary. .
There was no program, nothing of
formaiity to mark the first visit of
a reigning monarch of Europe to the
President of the United States in his
home.
King Albert went alone to the
Presidents room, operating the elec-
trio elevator himself. He stepped
into the sick room and walked over
to where the President, with an old
gray sweater wrapped about his
shoulders, lay propped up on the pill
lows. They exchanged greetings and
shook hands. Then Albert King Of
the Belgians. drew up a chair, and
proceeded to "just talk"
Friendly Conversation.
The exchange of words between
Albert, King of the Belgians, and
Woodrow Wilson. President of the
United States, will not be written in
the pages of history which tell OF the
visit of his majesty to this country.
Their conversation was the kind
which marks the reunion of two
friends. Mr.. Wilson expressed his
qualification at being able to see King
hbert and showed much interest In
MS majesty's short narrative con-
cerntng his trans-contfnental trip.
The King spoke of the wonderful
development he had noticed in the
United States since his visit here
twenty years ago, and when the
Presidents physician, Admiral Gray
son, held up q warning hand and said
the visit must terminate, President
Wilson asked to see Queen Elizabeth
and Prince Leopold,
Queen Elizabeth and her son were
shown into the sick room and spoke
for few minutes with President
Wilson.
Your father is every inch a man,
and L hope you will follow in his
Footsteps" President Wilson told the
prince as he shook hands with him.
ana as King Albert left the room, he
told the President: 81 hope your
ideals will be carried out, and I be-
lieye they will"
Annapolis Cheers King.
The President told both their majes-