The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-22
President Taft. Makes
Plea for international
Peace.
DELIVERS SPEECH
TO OLD SOLDIERS
Feature of Manassas Celebration
\and Ju b il e e-Distinguished
Party Has Thrilling Trip
From Washington to Vir-
ginia Town-Introduced
by Mann.

Manassas. Va. July 2l-aIud be-
npattered after strenuous trip from
Washington by automobile. President
TAFT to-day faced an audience made
UP In part of veterans who wore the
Blue and the Graz. within a few miles
OF the scene OF the FIRST great con-
hiet Of the Civil War. and was APP
plauded and chcered when he made q
plea for international peace.
The President declared that gem
eral arbitration treaty. both with
Great Britain aid with France. prob
ably would be signed within the next
ten days. He added that he hoped
within the next few days TO announce
that three other great powers would
enter into similar agreements with the
United states. Mr.. Taft did not go so
far as to indicate the nations that he
had In mind. but II was generally be-
lieved that he referred TO Germany
italy and the Netherlands Japan ulti-
mately may come into the great peace
pact. but the negotiations with that
empire as yet are said to be merely
tentative.
President Taft reached Manassas late
this evening. after ternpestuous trip
from Washington b$ automobile He
laughingly iikened his troubles in get
ting 10 Bull Run. to those that some
folks who were there nifty years ago
had in getting away
Thrilling Trip.
The Presidents trip from Washing
ton TO Manassas would have thrilled
tho heart Of NOMENCLATURE man.
He left trail OF stranded automo-
b'ies In his wake, made perilous voy-
ages across swollen streams. stopped
on his way 10 rescue n party of ma
rooned Senators-demandin votes for
reciprocity as rcwnrd-plowed his
way through transforms and mud. and
finally wheeZed into this historic lit
Tie village at shutdown.
The car containing the secret service
men. which started bravely beside the
President a he left the White House,
gamely held to the race until within
few miles OF the battlefield. and
then gave a despairlng gasp and stop
ped In the middle OF what once upon
time was peaceful brook but
which had become to-day muddy
torrent, This stream had daunted the
courage OF the Presidents chauffeur
VINO up to this time had successfully
navigated three other fords. SO the
secret service car was sent TO test the
depth, and died in the attempt to
make the crossing.
BY a detour the President manage
10 negotiate the stream at more
SHALLOW point.
Several of the rescued Senator'S
slowed away with the secret service
men after their shipwreck at an earlier
ford were this time left stranded with
the declaration by the President that
they were a lot OF standpattcrs. One
OF the White House stenographers who
followed the Presidcn, from coast to
coast and from Puget Sound to the
Gulf of Mexico. likewise was aban-
g,, a
spoke without any official record be-
ing made OF his utterances for the
first the since he became the Chief
Magistrate Of the nation
Runs Into Trouble
When .,the presidential party started
from Washington TO attend the cul-
minatinE exercises Of the Manassas
semi-centennial reunion and love
fcnst of the men who opposed each
other In the war Between and States
the sun was shining brightly Before
the deluge camo he had time to stop
ut Fairfax Courthouse, take look at
George Washington's last Will and
testament and get q bit OF luncheon.
1t was not q big storm that hit Fair
fax Courthouse. but when the Presi-
dont's automobile left there for the
battlefeld II ran into trouble.
Five miles out OF that village the car
mounted a hill. dipped down into a
valley. and there. before the Presi-
dents eyes, was a big touring car. a
oerelict in the middle Of a stream that
An an ordinary hay is two feet wide,
but to-day had stretched into a hun
dred feet of yellow swirling water.
Seated in 1t, calmly waiting their fate.
were three United States Senators
Nelson, OF Minnesota; Bacon. OF
Georgia, and Overman. of North Caro-
lima. Senator Brandegee. of Connec
ticut, the cars owner. had abandoned
mis- friends in midstream and had gone
ahead TO secure the services of horse
or two to pull them out.
Major A. w. Butt, the Presidents
personal aide, took one look at the
stream, one look at the President, and
one look at his shining yellow boots.
in minute the boots were off. and the
major was In the torrent up to his
waist. He waded across and back
again.
1--WE can get across" said he as ne
oar. bedrasgled but happy
THANK you, major" the President
maid. Get In and We Will try it,
The chauffeur slid the gears, the ma
chine leaped forward. and a minute
later 1t was up TO the hub in the yell
low mud.
As he passed. Senator Brandegee's
machine, the President sravely saluted.
How 90 you do Senator's" said he
The two machines that had started
from WASHINGTON with the President
made the ford in short order. On the
further bank they stopped Passing
carriages were called into service and
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