New-York tribune., 1901-09-18
DEVERY TO THE PAR.
LOUBET AT DUNKIRK.
FRENCH PRESIDENT TRAVELS TO
GREET THE CZAR-RAIN THREATENS
THE PROTECTED FESTIVITIES

Dunkirk, France Sept. 11.-President Loubet
accompanied by NJ. Wadeck- Rousseau the Pre-
mier and NJ Decasse. the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, arrived this afternoon in Dunkrk. on
his way to receive Emperor Nicholas He was
welcomed by large crowds. and cordially
cheered. Speaking in the new town hail. which
he formally opened. NJ. Loubet said
I am happy to come here to welcome the faith
ful ally of France. We are unanimous in
ing in closer rapprochement of the
two countries a guarantee of safety and great
ness.
The preliminary festivities in connection with
the Cars visit have passed off without any
untoward incident. Every item in the pro-
granlme has been carried through with perfect
success. The weather however, has been afro
cious. From the time NJ. Loubet left Paris un-
til he reached Dunkirk the rain fell pitilessly.
Fortunately the downpour ceased shortly after
his arrival here. and the rest of the evening
was fine, although the wind and the cloudy
sky promise unpropitious weather for the prin-
cipal fete tomorrow. In fact. the weather. II
it continues to-day, will completely mar the
brilliancy of the festivities organized in Dun
kirk, Compiegne and Rheims.
The most striking feature Of to-day's journey
consisted of full dress rehearsai of the mill
tary precautions a portion of the railroad
which Emperor Nicholas will traverse to-mor-
row afternoon between Douai and Dunkirk The
track was guarded on each side by soldiers sta
toned with fixed bayonets at intervals OF 250
yards in sparsely populated districts. Every
station was garrisoned with troops. Every level
crossing. in the open country.
doned by the military.
1t an object lesson for those who question
the discipline of the French army TO witness to-
days spectacle from the Presidential train In
| the midst of fields. sometimes without solitary
ha bitatiOn N sight here
soldier in full equipment. drenched to the
! skin, closely watching the approaches to the
| track until the train whizzed by. when, ma
| chinelike, he brought his rifle to salute"
| Mounted gendarmes also requistioned. and
with drawn sabres they. too. saluted.
These measures were quite unnecessary to-
| day, everywhere along the line. wherever
| spectators gathered, waving hats and handl<er-
| chiefs and hearty cheers testified TO the popu-
| larity of President Loubet among the working
| classes.
portance which the French Government at
/ taches to American opinion at the present time,
that of the two foreigners among the journalists
permitted to accompany the President and Car
one is an American
NJ Loubet only stopped at Arras, where 81
reception was organized by the local authori-
| ties Dunkirk made an exceptional effort in
| the way of decoration. The whole route trav-
| ersed by President Loubet profusely hung
with French and Russian flags. Triumphal
| arches erected and myriads of Chinese
| lanterns were festooned across the streets. The
| rain played havoc with the decorations and
| thousands of lanterns demolished. Never
| theless the display tonight was pretty. All
| the public buildings and many private houses
| illuminated with electric lamps
After opening the town hall NJ. LOubet made
| a tour of the docks, where he was greeted with
| the greatest enthusiasm. A banquet and the
| prefecture ball in the town hall concluded the
| fetes of the day.
| Thousands of spectators proceeded during the
| evening to Malo-les- Bains to witness the illu-
| mination of the fleet from the promenade.
| The French warShips, anchored in two lines.
| brilliantly lighted with electricity and
| some twenty powerful searchlights played over
| the sands and docks.