Evening star., 1914-12-09
RETURN OF HERR|CK
|SS|GNAL FOR BOOM


of the American Clearing House So
ciety, which has been organized in
Paris with view to minimizing the
waste of charity.
The American people have shown
their hearts and sympathy for the op-
pressed in this conflaEration. There
has been spontaneous response to the
calls of suffering humanity, but as in
the San Francisco and other great dis
asters the help has not been organized
ana much charity has gone to waste
Meets the Need in Paris.
The need for a clearing house be-
came apparent to US in Paris. That re-
suited in the organization of the Amer
lean Clearing House Society, which
will centralize the aid being given by
this country, and is already saving 20
per cent of the charity.
The Count Girard de Ganny has
given his house which l occupied and
bassador White, and this is being used
as the society headquarters. At the
New York end Dock Commissioner
Smith and Whitney Warren are TAX
ing care of the society's interests.
The organization does not seek to
raise money. All that is asked is
that people who want to give things
keep this clearing house informed.
There has been much dissatisfaction
caused by people not being able to find
out what became of what they gave.
issued by this society telling the story
of the charity work in this war;
Mr.. Herrick declined to say when he
thought the war would be over.
Mrs. Herrick said that she did not be-
lleve that any of the stories concerning
alleged German atrocities were true.
'J do not know of one care where
suffie=@sst or convincing proof has been
offered concerning these t.h.,s so-ealled
and excitement is over l am sure that
all such stories will be found ground
less
Grand Cross on Its Way.
The grand cross of the Legion of
Honor is on it's way across the sea
from the President of France to Mr..
Herrick, in recognition of Mr.. Herrick's
services to the French people while
American ambassador to France. Mr..
Herrick was decorated yesterday with
a red ribbon. emblematic of the cross.
by the captain of the steamship Ro-
chambeau, acting on wireless orders
from the French ambassador at Wash
iEGton, who said he was acting under
instructions of President Poincare.
The decoration was pinned upon Mr.
Herricke coat as soon as the steamer
reached the three-mile sea limit of
American sovereignty. Announcement
of the bestowal of the honor was made
today when the Rochambeau docked.
honor is the highest honor which the
French government can bestow. There
are, including Mr.. Herrick, only forty
five living persons throughout the
Il tod
Mr.. Herrick is the only living Ameri-
can to wear the grand cross of the
Legion of Honor. So far as is known
no other American was ever thus dec
Grated in the 112 years that have
passed since the order was created by
Napoleon Bonaparte in 1902. Bonaparte
was then first consul and he created
the order to replace old orders of
the time of the French revolution.
Honorary Degrees Conferred.
Since that time the various degrees
of the order have been conferred in
consideration of civil and military
achievements, particularly the latter.
The honor was conferred upon many
British subjects who distinguished
themselves in the Russian war of
1886 and in the Paris exhibitions.
Many Americans have been Gre
ated officers and chevaliers of the
legion-of lower rank than the grand
cross-in recognition of their literary
work, their works to France or at the
various Paris expositions. The holders
of the grand cross are almost ex-
clusively French ambassadors. gener-
ais of the French army and vice ad-
mirals of the French navy.
A spectacular welcome was given the
retiring ambassador and his wife when
the vessel docked. The passengers,
nearly all natives of France, lined the
rail and cheered as Mr.. and Mrs. Her.
rick walked down the gangplank, and
the cheering was taken up by hundreds
of persons who had gone to the pier
to greet him on behalf of the city, state,
nation and the state of Ohio.
Mr.. Herrick declined to talk for pub
lication upon his experiences in France.