Evening star., 1941-02-03
WiIIkie Gets Rare
Lancaster Honor
In Manchester Tour
American Sees Bombing
Horrors of Coventry
And Birmingham
Sy the Associated Press.


MANCHESTER. England, Feb. 8.
Wendell L. Willkie received the
"Red Rose of Lancaster" today
an honor rarely conferred on
Americans.
Visiting this Lancashire indus
trial city after an inspection trip
through bombed Coventry and
Birmingham. Mr.. Willkie was met
by a cheering crowd at the town
hall, where the mayor presented
him the rose.
1t was too large to wear in his
buttonhole, so the 1910 Republican
presidential candidate carried it in
his hand during tour Of the dock
yards.
The red rose is a hand down from
the War of the Roses, in which the
red rose signif1ed the House of
Lancaster and the white rose the
House of York.
Tours Bombed Liverpool.
Before coming here Mr.. Willkie
also toured bombed areas of Liver
pool
Plans are being made for the
American visitor to see King George
VI and Queen Elizabeth and also
King Haakon, emigre ruler of Nor
way, tomorrow. In the evening he
is to dine with a British authors
delegation headed by Rebecca West.
Mr.. Willkie expressed amaZement
"to see this destruction and find the
loss of life so small in Liverpool
How did the people escape?' he
asked. Were they in shelters?"
His escort replied that most were
In communal shelters.
Welcomed by Workers.
On a tour of LiVerpOOl'S docks
Mr.. Willkie was welcomed by cheer
ing workers and followed by roaring
crowds as he walked beneath swing
ing cranes with Lord Derby. The
many ships and intense activity in
terested him.
Tell them the docks are carrying
on" the workers shouted
That's the stuff, Wendell!"
Mr.. Willkie was greeted at Liver
pool by Lord Mayor Sir Sydney Jones
the city's first third-term Mayor
Bomb Horrors Displayed.
Leaving nothing to the magma
ton. British officials showed Mr.
Willkie in grim detail yesterday the
bomb horror of Coventry and Bir-
mingham.
The tourning American was given
the first official details and damage
list made available to an unofficial
person at Birmingham.
Mr.. Willkie was greeted by enthu
siastic crowds everywhere. He told
the Lord Mayor of Coventry that
ANY totalitarian attack either in
America or Britain will fail against
the common brotherhood Of these
countries"
Looking at the Spire of Coventry
Cathedral rising out of the ruins of
the rest of that famous structure,
he sadly shook his head and de-
clared the spire stands symbolic
of the spirit here
Sacrifice Worthwhile"
Stopping to gaze up at some VIM
doWS remaining intact in bombed
homes-some of which showed tiny
American flagS-Mr. Willkie said
grimly, Your sacrifice is worth
while, because of the confidence it
gave our people in you"
Coventry presented weird sight.
The people have deserted their
wrecked homes, but their pet
animals have stayed on. At nearly
every bombed home there is a cat
patiently sitting in the ruins, forag-
ing for itself and awaiting the re-
turn of its masters.
AS Mr.. Willkie walked through
Coventrys streets, an aged woman
ran out of her ruined home waving
a soiled American flag
He visited factories now operating,
talked with many workmen, and
declared that their spirit was
superb" Despite the evidences of
damage all about, Mr.. Willkie saw
only smiles, heard no complaints.
After his tour of Birmingham,
Mr.. Willkie ended his strenuous tour
by going to the home of Lord Derby,
near Liverpool, to spend the night.