The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-07
PLEDGE PEACE
OF NATIONS AT
"OLD FORT II"
President Taft and British and
French Ambassadors at the
ChampIain Anniversary
Tercentenary Celebration of
Discovery of Lake Given
International Scope

BLUFF POINT. n. Y. July 6.-With
the arrival OF President Taft. Of AM
bassador Jusserand Of France. Ambas-
ssdor Bryce of Great Britain. Secretary
OF War Dickinson and Vice Admiral
Urlu OF Japan the celebration of the
three Eundredth anniversary Of the
discovery OF Lake Champlain, which
had been confined during the last two
days to the states Of New York and
Vermont, took on an International scope
and a world wide interest today.
Jusserand, Bryce and Taft committed
their respective countries TO policies of
peace. and. in the shadow OF old
fortress which had witnessed some Of
the bloodiest battles in all history,
they expressed the hope that never
again would the peace among the great
nations Of the world be interrupted by
d war.
RUNS AND RELICS SHOWN
The president and the ambassadors
and the members of their STATS were
shown through the historic ruins of
old Tt" as the natives call Fort Ticon-
deroga. which is now in course of
restoration. Some of the old cannon
were in place today and hundreds of
rusty relics were on view. Some of
these were reminders Of the days of
Indian conflicts. others were links of
history leading back TO the bloody
fights of MOntcalm, Abercrombie and
Amherst TO the famous taking of the
place by a band Of So American colo
nists under General Ethan Allen.
Below the fort on the placid waters
HaH
of modern naval vessels Of the smaller
classes, was reproduction of Cham
plains little craft. the Don de Dieu.
The president was the guest tonight
~ dinner Of Walter Witherbee on the
latter's houseboat. which is anchored
Ia the lake of this point
MESSAGES OF GOOD WILL
Tomorrow the scene Of the ceIebra-
tion shifts to PlattsbUrg. where the
president viii make brief address and
senator Root viii deliver an grafton
Ambassador Jusserand, in his speech
this afternoon. was most felicitious in
his expression of peace and good will
toward America. toward Great Britain
and toward all the world
Ambassador Bryce said:
Not until I visited the old fort Won
der DID realize how many memories
custer about its ruins But 1 can not
beautiful spot for something else than
ughting. and I trust it VIII never. see
lighting again.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT
President Taft, speaking next. also
took up the theme of peace, saying in
part:
As 1 sat here listening TO the inter
eSIng remarks Of the ami assador from
france and the ambassador from Eng
land. / could not but congra tulate tbe
United states on the implied commit
l4ent that those two countries had Maid
- Aer by sending here as the personal
representative Of their respective chief
executives men so distinguished in lit
erature- ia history. in statesma sbir,
and in diplomacy.
I think il is well for us 10 go hacl-
through the history of all nations in
order that our own heads. little
SWelled with modern progress, may be
diminished by the proper apprecfatfo
ct what was done by nations before
rs, under conditions that seemed to
unit the possibility Of human achieve
This valley. in the 900 years since it
was discovered by Champlain. has fur
Alshed almost as much OF battle
ground for the three nations and the
1nolans' VINO were on all sides, as Bel
gum IN Europe. and one does not have
10 look lar for the reason. The truth
IS that II was the only passageway. and
mere were fought the battles for 200
never
recur again. / echo and emma size
the statements Of the ambassadors. and
repeat their prayer that never again
may this great valley be given name
ln history by reason Of its being the
seat of bloody war.
President Taft late today decided to
adhere TO his original schedule and
return to Washington, reaching there
late Friday.
Celebration in Vermont
BURLINGTON, VT, July e.-For the
large French population of this citv
and other places in the state. TODAY
was the most important of the Cham
plain tercentenary celebration. Prae
uoalIy the entire program was devoted
70 observance by descendants Of the
men who fought TO retain for France
the country explored by their fllustrjoue
eountryman, Samuel de Champlain.