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Show ITALY HONORS . AMERICA 10 WASHINGTON War Commissions Make a Pilgrimage Down Potomac to Mount Vernon on the Yacht Mayflower. PRINCE UDINE AND M. MARCONI SPEAK Great Bronze Wreath Is Placed Upon Tornb of the First President by the Cousin of Italy's King. WASHINGTON", May 27. Italy paid honor to America and her first president presi-dent today through tho Italian war commissioners, who made a pilgrimage down the Potomac to Mount Vernon and laid ou the tomb of George Washington Wash-ington the bronze wreath which biuce the days of ancient Borne has been bestowed on famous heroes. In the preseuce of a distinguished party of American officials, grouped about the entrance to the tomb, tho Prince of Udine, as head of the mis sioa, expressed in solemn words the belief that the spirit of Washington will guido all the allies in the present war for freedom and democracy. He renewed the pledge of Italy to fight until "our liberty and the liberties of, the peoples who are suffering with us shall be rendered safe against all surprises sur-prises and all violence." M. Marconi, member of the mission, declared the fellowship of America in the war was "dear and welcome to all the allies, but particularly to Italy." Spoke in English. Both made their addresses in English, Eng-lish, and were applauded enthusiastically. enthusias-tically. Secretary Daniels, as host to the party, on the trip down the river on the presidential yacht Mayflower, introduced the speakers. j It was the first time any member of the Italian royal house had ever vis- j ited Mount Vernon and, indeed, the first time for many years that a European Euro-pean prince had entered the tomb of Washington. As the yacht approached the landing land-ing at Mount Vernon a bugler sounded "taps" and all members of the party stood respectfully along the rail, the prince and other military or naval officers of-ficers saluting. The great bronze wreath which had been made in Italy especially for the occasion and was brought here by the mission, was carried into the tomb by four Italian, bluejackets. Address of Prince. The prince then addressed the assembled as-sembled party, including members of the diplomatic corps and cabinet officers of-ficers and their wives. "We cannot avoid a feeling of sadness," sad-ness," he said, "when we behold, all around us, the most civilized nations on earth, dragged by powerful oligarchies oligar-chies into this colossal war, than which there ha? never been a greater or one more abounding in sorrow. "So great a war and such deep sorrows sor-rows should not be without beneficial bene-ficial results to humanity. We feel that, to establish a fuller human life, a nobler union of mankind, we should let ourselves be ruled, as regards all the nations and even as regards our enemies, by that sense of justice which inspired your hero. "And today, at the tomb of George Washington, "while we reaffirm our promise never to hesitate in war and to offer to our just cause our fortunes and our persons, we affirm solemnly that we look upon war as the necessary neces-sary via dolorosa which leads to universal uni-versal justice and peace. Will Fight to the End. "In the name of my aupust cousin, tlie king qf Italy, and in the name of all the people of Italv, I wish solemnly to declare, in this place sacred to the American nation, that we shall never lay down our arms until our liberty, and the liberties of the peoples who are suffering with us, shall be rendered safe against all surprises aud all violence, vio-lence, and, at the same time I affirm once more that our victory must be that of progress and of justice. "May the spirit of George Washington Washing-ton watch over us and light us upoa our way." |