Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-11
.LOUBET SALUTED
BY RUSSIANS
Cars Squadron SaIutes French
President on His Depar-
ture for Toulon.
MUsooVITE FRIENDSHIP ASSURED
Admiral BiriIeff Decorated with the
Cross of the Legion of Honor
Brilliant Naval Pageant.

visit to the Rivera were brought to a
climax yesterday in the double naval
demonstration at Nillefranche and
Toulon. Both proved splendid spec
tacIes. The profuse decoration ut
Toulon, the fiotillas of pleasure boats
fitting about the harObr. the gayly
dressed warships lying in the road
stead. and the animation of the i'm
menSe crowds of strangers jostling one
another in the streets and along the
wharves impaired u color and pictur-
esqueness to the scene which out-vied
the situation at Villefranche.
French People Delighted.
The French people, however, de-
rived as much pleasure from the Incl
dents at Nfllefraenche as from the
meeting of NJ. Loubet and the Duke
of Genoa at TOulOn. The Russian
squadron" says lie Journal DebatS,
saluted the president on his departure
for Toulon. so that Russia will be as
sOciated as completely as could he de-
sired with the feteS on the Rivera.
Those who have spoken about the
CoolneSS of two friendly and allied
countries are now compelled to admit
that they took the desire for the real
ity. Those who contended that Rus
sia wished to manifest hostility to-
ward the Franco-Italian reapprOach-
ment now have proof to the contrary
in the fact that the Russians came to
salute the president at the very mo-
ment when the feteS at TOulOn. seal
ing this reapproachment, were about
to take place"
LOubeu Speaks His Approval.
NJ. Loubet fully appreciates the
value of the French set word ally"
in connection with the relations of
France to Russia, and be again took
an opportunity to pronounce it OH
board the Alexander II Yesterday
morning. When accepting tea from Ad-
n,iral Birileff he said: Il am very
much pleased that his majesty the
emperor has sent IL squadron to salute
the president Of the French republic.
I am very grateful for this mark OF
sympathy. and l raise my glass to the
health of their maieStieS. the emperor
and empress. and to the friendly and
allied Russian nation and to the pros
perity of the Russian army" Admiral
Birileff suitably responded. toaSting
1.-The president of the French republic.
the prosperity of La Belle France, my
second fatherland. and the glory of
the French navy and army
BiriIeT Decorated.
The ceremony of decorating Admiral
Ririleff with the Cross of the Legion
of Honor was performed in the pres
ence of the whole crew. NJ. Loubet
then embraced the admiral and eX-
pressed regret that the previously
fixed hour for his arrival at TOulon
prevented him making Il detailed in
spection of the Russian flagship. All
the officers of the flagship were pre-
Sented TO NJ. LOubet, who shook hands
with them all. The Alexander II was
the first to fire parting salute as the
st. Louis steamed out of the bay. and
the crews manned the Russian war
ships when the st. Louis passed.
shouting seven times "Vive la Repub-
liQue." or raising seven hurrahs.
TrumPets BIare.
Simultaneously the trumpetS blared
and there was A great beating of
drums. After NJ. LOubet'S departure
admiral Birileff entertained the local
officials on board the Alexander II.
The general programme at ToulOn was
carried out without hitch. The
Duke of Genoa. the Italian officers and
sailors met with Il fiattering welcome,
the French seamen fraterniZing with
the Italians on shore. Every desire
was shown on both sides to cultivate
Il mutual good feeling. Extracts from
the Italian press evincing satisfaction
over the events at TOulOn and express
ing a hope that these will result in
drawing the two countries closer to-
gether are extensively reproduced in