Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-05-29
CEREMONY AT ANNAPOLIS, ND
WILL ATTEND THE UNWILLING OF
ROCHAMBEAU MONU.
MENT.
OUR CHARITY IS APPRECIATED
FEELING ALLUsION MADE TO THE
DISASTER AT MARTI-
NIQUE.

Annapolis, Nd, May 23.-The initial
reception of the representatives of the
French republic who are here to par
ticirate in the ceremonies attendant
upon the unwilling of the Rochembau
monument in Washington Friday, took
place on board the French battleship
Gaulois in Annapolis Roads at o'clock
yesterday. The weather was ideal, the
sun shining brightly but not vehement
ly, While a refreshing breeze was
afted from the Chesapeake bay.
The scene in Annapolis bay was pic
turesque and inspiring. Besides the
usual contingent Of sailing vessels and
small craft dotting the bay there were
a number of formidable representatives
Of the American navy at anchor in the
ranquil waters of the Severen. These
included, besides the Dolphin, the
auxiliary cruiser Gloucester, the bat
tleship Indiana, the training ship Ches-
apeake, the monitor Terro, the practice
ship Standish, the torpedoboat Gwynn
and the submarine boat Holland.
The commissioners representing the
United States, namely, Col. Theodore
F. Bingham, superintendent of public
| grounds in Washington; Assistant Sec
rotary of State Pierce and Commander
B. r. Rodgers, reached Annapolis from
Washington on the OILS train and at
once proceeded in carriages to the
wharf, where they embarked on the
dispatch boat Dolphin.
Are Warmly Greeted.
The commissioners were accompa-
MED by the ceveral members of the
French embassy at Washington. A1
1850 the Dolphin got under way,
s:eaming slowly over the shallow chan
mel to meet the incoming Gaulois. The
Gaulois and the American escort, the
Olympia, Alabama and Kearsarge, I'M
der the command of Admiral Higgfn-
son, We're anchored off Greenberry
point light house, five miles below Ann
apolis. The Gaulois anchored just as
the Dolphin appeared on the scene flut-
tering her jack at the bow in token
thereof, at 1880 p. m. AS soon as the
commissioners touched the deck of the
Gaulois they We're effusively greeted by
Gen. Brugere, Admiral Fourier and
their staff officers. After greetings
had been exchanged the visitors We're
escorted to the cabin, which had been
tastefully decorated for the occasion
with flowers and fruits and where the
brief ceremony Of welcome and re-
Spouse at once took place.
Assistant Secretary Of State H. D.
Pierce spoke on behalf of the United
States government as follows:
General: This commission now pres
ent has been charged by President
Roosevelt to welcome you and your
colleagues to the United States in his
name, and to express his hope that you
Will Enjoy Your Stay
in our country and carry away with
you an agreeable imp1e ssion of the
United States, it's institutions and peo-
pie. On behalf of our president, bid
you welcome"
Gen. Brugere was quite as brief In
his response. He said:
Gentlemen: I thank you in the name
Of President Loubet and the French
people for the kind welcome which you
h: We accorded to US. It is a very great
pleasure to me and my colleagues to
visit you en- such an occasion of in
ternational esteem as the unwilling of
the Rochambeau monument, and I am
sure we will carry back to France the
most agreeable recollection of our stay
in your midst. Since our departure one
incident has occurred which will stir
the heart of every Frenchman in
grateful recognition of American
friendship, and this is the immediate
and munificent aid which was extend
ed to our stricken fellow countryment
on the Island Of Martinique. Gentle
men, I thank you Cor your generous
welcome"
The American commissioners spent
pleasant half-hour on the Gaulois
and then returned to the Dolphin. in
the meantime having paid informal
calls on the Olympia and Alabama.
Later in the afternoon the French CON-
missioners made a return call.