The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-17


Pershing In the Pres
ence of a Distinguished
Gathering
London, Oct 17-Upon the simply
inscribed slab in Westminster Abbey
which marks the tomb of the I'M
known warrior of Great Britain, to-
day was laid the highest honor within
the gift of the American people 1t
was the medal of honor, voted by the
congress of the United States in re-
affirmation of the comradeship which
united the United States and Great
Britain in the world war.
! The official presentation was made
by George Harvey. American ambas-
SadOr to the court of st. James, who
delivered a brief address as the rep
reSentative of the American govern
ment and of President Harding The
act OF hestowal was performed by
] General Pershing, commander of the
/ American armies in France, during
! the great struggle. Simplicity marked
/ the presentation and bestowal of the
/ medal, there being only a brief Choir
al service preceding these cere-
monies, which were witnessed by a
distinguished assembly. Included in
( the group in the nave of the historic
abbey were the Duke of Connaught,
representing King George; members
: of the British cabinet, heads of gov
ernmental departments and attaches
OF the American embassy, whose
! presence testified to the significance
of the event
/ The transepts and the choir of the
ancient ediice were filled, their being
+ 1900 visitors admitted to witness the
t scene
General Pershing, accompanied by
! Major Oscar N Solbert. military at
tache; Vice Admiral Albert P. Nib
lack and Rear Admiral Nathan c.
/ Twining, left the American embassy
and entered royal carriage which,
with an escort of mounted police,
drove through Belgrave square. past
st. James Park and proceeded by
/ way of Birdcage Walk to the pre-
I cincts of the Abbey There it met a
part OF the American composite bat
TALON. which arrived yesterday from
! CoblenZ. With the Americans were
! drawn up officers and men from the
! Royal navy. contingents of the Royal
/ Air Force, the Grenadier, Coldstream,
Scots and Welsh guards and detach-
ments of territorials.
/ The guard brigade band had
marched with the American soldiers
/ from the Duke of York's school,
where they were quartered, to posi-
tions outside the Abbey.
I Gen. Pershing's arrival had been
| preceded by a few minutes by that of
the Duke of Connaught who was ac-
corded the royal salute and the Brit
! ish national anthem.
| Gen. Pershing was received with
the generals salute. the bands play
! ing the Star Spangled Banner"
4 Gen. Pershing and the duke walked
between formations of the troops to
| the north transept door of the Abb
hey, where they We're met by the
/ dean and the canons and choir of
! Westminster and were escorted In
side
After a prayer by the dean the pro-
cession moved to the grave of the
unknown soldier" the whole way be-
ing thanked by Americans and Brit
| ish soldiers and sailors. After the
medal had been bestowed, the dean,
! in brief address, accepted it, and
/ the singing of the Battle Hymn of
the Republic" and the American and
| British anthems concluded the serv-
ice.
Leaving the Abbey. the Duke and
General Pershing were given the
Royal Salute and the massed bands
played the American and British an
| themS The Duke walked down in
front of the lines of American troops,
while Gen. Pershing walked in front
of British soldiers, drawn up before
the doors of the abbey. The American
naval contingent. which took part in
the ceremony. was from the cruiser
Olympia which is lying at Plymouth.
Seated in the nave of the abbey
were Field Marshals Haig, French.
Allenby, Robertson and Wilson, rep
resentatives of the Indian army:
Lord Cavan. who commanded British
forces on the Italian front during war,
and many other British chieftains.
There were also present army officers
who have been chosen to act as Brit
ish military representatives at the
conference on limitation of arma-
ments at Washington; allied military
naval and air force attaches; high
commissioners and agents-general for
the dominions, and representatives of
the British legion. the pilgrims. the
British empire service league and
other organizations.
"One cannot enter here and not
feel over-powering emotion in recall
ing the important events in the HIS
tory of Great Britain that have
shaped the progress Of nations" said
Gen. Pershing in bestowing the med
al Distinguished men and women
are here enshrined who through CEN
turtles have unselfishly given their
services and their lives to make that
record glorious. AS they pass In