The San Francisco call., 1910-08-13
CRUISER MONTCALM
WELCOMED TO PORT
Committee of Merchants Ac=
companies French Consul
Aboard Visiting Ship
Rear Admiral la CrOix de Cas-
tries Would Aid America
Like His Ancestors


The French armored cruiser Mont
calm, Captain Cheron, flagship of the
French naval division of the Pacific
ocean, arrived here yesterday flying
the flag of Rear Admiral la Croix de
Castries, one of the most distinguished
European republic. The Montcalm will
remain here for about Is days, and
except for four days next week when
the warship will be on the dry dock
at Mare island, visitors will be re-
ceived on board every afternoon.
Admiral de Castries is handsome
old gentleman of distinguished bear
ing and ready wit. and yesterday ex-
pressed his intention of having good
time in the Paris of America The
members of the local committee that
went on board to welcome the visitor
declared their readiness to give the
admiral every assistance in their pow
er, and as a starter informed him that
big touring car would be at his dis
posal during his stay in San Francisco.
Those who went out on the army
tug Slocum to welcome the admiral
were: James Rolph jr.. president of
the Merchants exchanges; William l..
pTeSlueuL Ol the Ol
commerce, and M. A. Robbins, presi-
dent of the Merchants association.
Mayor Mccarthy sent his regrets by
the reception committee with the ex-
PLANTATION that the recent injury TO
his leg made 1t impossible for him to
extend a personal greeting.
With the committee was Henri
Merou, the consul general of France,
in whose honor, when he left the ship,
LIT 0f
Admiral de Castries is a direct de-
soendant of the marquis de la Croix
de Castries. who was minister of mar
Inc of France at the time this country
was engaged in it's revolutionary war.
1t was the old marquis who organized
d French fleet to aid this country.
Another ancestor took a distinguished
part in the battle of Yorktown as
colonel of a French regiment The ad-
the United States as his famous ances-
tors were and told the committee yes
terday that he would gladly go as far
as they did if the occasion should
arise.
The Montcalm is the first first class
French warship ever in this harbor.
1t is a vessel of about 10000 tons and
was built in 1900 at Toulon. In 1902
the Montcalm conveyed President
czar. The meeting took place on the
cruisers quarterback. In commemora-
ton of that visit the czar presented
the officers of the ship with an auto
graphed picture of himself and gave
to the ship handsome silver punch
bowl, both of which still occupy places
of honor on the Montcalm.
The Montcalm carries crew of $50
officers and men, who will spend much
of their time here seeing the sights
of the city and suburbs Nearly
everybody on board has been reading
up on San Francisco.
The officers of the cruiser will at
tend a ball Sunday night at Golden
Gate hall, where they will be enter
tanned by the local French colony
Admiral de Castries accepted the invi-
tation to this affair by wireless.
The Montcalm will go to Mare island
Tuesday to be drydocked. From here
the cruiser will proceed to Salina Cruz,
to be there on President Diaz' birth
day. From there the Montcalm will
steam to Valparaiso to take part in
the Chilean centennial. The cruiser is
due back at Saigon March 1.