Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-15

this being the first time in history that
an American Army ever was received
officially in England.
A royal coach attached to q special
train took our party to London. At
Euston Station we were welcomed by
Lord Derby, secretary of state for war;
Field Marshal Sir John French, Gen.
Lord Brooke, Walter Hines Page, the
American Ambassador; Admiral William
S. Sims and many other British and
American officials.
I was received by King George at
Buckingham Palace June 9. His maj
esty was in the uniform of a field mar
shall, and he talked with me in demo-
cratic fashion for a few minutes before
the other senior members of my staff
were presented. The King expressed his
pleasure that America had come into
the war, and dwelt upon the fact that
Anglo-Saxon peoples were united at last
in common cause.
THE Anglo-SaXon race must save
civilization" he added.
King George Not Optimistic.
Certainly his majesty did not appear
optimistic over the outlook, and asked
me numerous questions about Americas
preparations for war. As to aviation, he
had heard through press dispatches the
extravagant claims of certain boastful
American manufacturers, and he asked
me whether we really expected soon to
have $4,000 airplanes in the field. 1
had to acknowledge that such reports
were extremely exaggerated, and that
we would not be sending over any planes
for some time.
The King inquired particularly re-
garding the organization of our Army
and the prospects of our bringing a
large force to France. / explained the
draft act and what thought would be
the plans of the War Department, but 1T
turned out that my views were rather
optimistic, at least as to the immediate
future. His majesty was exceedingly
well informed, interesting and earnest,
and his informality of conversation
made 1t easy to talk to him.
Leaving the palace we went to our
embassy, and during an informal ts$k
Mr.. Page remarked how happy he was
that America was at last in the war,
and added:
Now I am able to hold up my head
and look people squarely in the eye"
Admiral Sims Dissatisfied.
Throughout his service as Ambassa-
dor he was beloved and honored by the
British people, who admired his virile
personality, but many Americans did
not approve of his rather apologetic at
titude toward his own country prior to
our entry into the war in aid Of the al
lies.
had talk with Admiral Sims, who
was not In personal command of our
feet serving with the British Navy, but
remained in London with an Office at
our embassy and directed the move
ments Of our naval vessels, especially
destroyers, from there.
He was not satisfied with the support
given him from home and complained
that the Navy Department had not sent
all the destroyers asked for. He said
the department seemed to fear attacks
along our coast, and did not realize the
danger to the cause in the enormous
destruction Of merchant shipping going
on in European waters.
The admirals report Of these losses
was nothing short Of startling, but he
thought they might be checked If he
could have sufficient number Of de-
stroyerS. Without more Of this class Of
vessels Sims was not sanguine over the
prospects of protecting our transports.
However. he made it clear that every
possible effort would be made to that
end.
Tomorrow-Pershing tells of Kings
bitterness toward Kaiser; gets unprece-
denied welcome in Paris.
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