The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-17
u. s. Will Keep Railroads Working
PERSHING PUTS
MEDAL ON TOMB
OF BRITISH HERO
s o l e mn Ceremony
Takes Place in West
minister Abbey.

munster A66ey.
London, Oct. 17.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press On the simply in
scribed slab in Westminster Abbey
which marks the tomb of Great
Britain's Unknown warrior" was
laid today the highest decoration
within the gift of the American
people. 1t was the Medal of Honor,
voted by the congress of the Unit
ed States in reaffirmation of the
cOmradeship which united the Unit
ed States and Great Britain in the
World war.
Harvey Speaks Briefly.
The official presentation was
made by George Harvey, American
ambassador to the court of st.
James, who delivered a brief ad-
dress as the representative of the
American government and of Pres
ident Harding.
The act of bestowing the medal
was performed by General John J.
Pershing, cOmmandeT-in-chi OF
the American armies in France
during the great struggle.
Simplicity marked the presenta-
tion and bestowal of the medal
there being only brief choral ser
vice preceding these ceremonies
which were witnessed by a dis
/ tinguished assemblage. 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 governmental de-
! partments and attaches of the
American embassy, whose pres
ence testified to the significance o.
the event The transepts and the
, choir of the ancient ediice were
filled, there being 1900 visitors ad
mitted to witness the scene.
DoughbOys Attend.
General PeTshing, accompanied
by Major Oscar n. SoIbert, mill
tary attache; Vice Admiral Alber
/ p. Niblack and Rear Admira
Nathan C. Twining, left the Amer
lean embassay and entered a roya
/ carriage, which, with an escort o
mounted police, drove to the pre-
cincts of the Abbey. There it me
a part of the American composite
battalion, which arrived yesterda.
from Coblenz. With the American
were drawn up officers and mel
from the Royal navy, contingent
of the Royal air force, the Cold
stream Grenadiers, Scotch an
Welch guards, and a detachmen
of territorials.
The guard brigade band ha
marched with the American sol
diers from the Duke of York
school, where they were QuartereC
ito positions outside the Abbey.
Play "Star Spangled Banner"
General Pershing was receive
with the generals salue, the band
playing the Star Spangled Ban
ner." General Pershing and tn
: Duke of Connaught walked be
tween formations of troops to tn
north transept door of the Able!
where they were met by the dea
and the canons and choir of West
minister, and were escorted inside
After prayer by the dean, th
procession moved to the grave c
unknown soldier" the whole wa
being flanked by American an
British soldiers and sailors.
After the medal had been be
slowed, the dean, in brief address
accepted it, and the singing of tn
; Battle Hymn of the1Republic" an
the American and British anthem
concluded the services.
Newspapers Appreciative.
Leaving the Abbey, the duke an
, General Pershing were given tn
| royal salute and the massed band
played the American and BIRTHS
anthems. The duke walked dow
; in front of the lines of America
troops, while General Pershin
, walked in front of British soldier
, drawn up before the doors of ii
\ Abbey.
The American naval contingeI
which took part in the 'ceremon
+ was from the cruiser Oiympi
j which is lying at Plymouth.
London newspapers printed tn
morning editorials which wei
warmly appreciative of America
tribute to Great Britain's victim
of war.
Pershing's Address.
"One cannot stand here and n
\ feel overpowering emotion in T
calling the important events in IL
\ history of Great Britain that hay
y shaped the progress of the nations
General Pershing sad in bestoS
r CONTINUED on Page Three.)