Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-05
By Associated Press


the 230th regiment of French terri
torials, with it's band escorted the
battalion picked from the regiments
of United States infantry into the
court of honor as a part of the In
dependence Day celebration, the
court, the arcades and the corridors
of the lnvalides resounded with the
prolonged acclamation of the COM
pany of massed spectators that left
just room enough for the troops to
form hollow square.
Standing in the center were de-
scendants of soldiers of the Ameri-
can Revolution with fanions in
United States colors and the colors
of major general of the United
States army-a flag of red ground
with two silver stars-embroidered
by French women; and American
veterans who fought with the French
in the war of 1870, with the flag of
the American volunteers in the
French. foreign legion = A few STR
Niving inmates from the soldiers
home, erect and soldierly in appear
ance in spite of their gray hairs,
stood behind as d guard of honor.
Alongside was a delegation from
Lepuy, the nearest city to the birth
place of General Lafayette, carrying
a lace adorned flag, to be presented
to the American troops.
Heads Uncovered
The head of every spectator was
uncovered precisely at 8 o'clock when
the American band struck up the
Marseillaise. The simultaneous ap-
pearance of President Poincaire,
General Pershing, General Joffre,
American Ambassador Sharp and
other dignitaries at the entrance of
the building was the signal for tre-
mendous cheering which continued
until the official party passed the
troops in review. Hats were off again
and an impressive silence prevailed
when the fanions and flags were pre-
sented to- the American troops Gen
eral Pershing was grave and appar-
entity moved. General Noix, COVER
nor of the Invalides, received the
flag of the American foreign legion
Tor the war museum. The colonel
commanding the American battalion
advanced and saluted President
Poincare. The bands began playing
and the cheering broke out again as
President Poincare shook hands with
the members of the official party as
court of honor.
Fall in Line
An airplane circling few hundred
feet overhead followed the line of
march some distance. Thousands of
French soldiers on leave from the
front were among the masses of peo-
pie along the route. Hundreds of
people left the sidewalks and rushed
forward to shake hands with the
American troops. Other hundreds of
French soldiers in trench work uni
forms. stained and dingy. joined the
marching troops on either side in COL
umns and continued for miles. Some
OF them wore bandages on their
heads and others had their arms in
slings from recent wounds.
Children ran forward throwing
flowers in front of the marching
American troops and flowers were
tossed from the sidewalks or came
fiuttering down from windows. They
were caught by the American SOL
diers who stuck them in the muzzles
of their rifles or tucked them in their
belts.
The crowds removed their head
coverings in salute to the Stars and
Stripes as the colors passed along.
From every window girls waved
handkerchiefs or flags while every
where along the route sounded the
acclaims of the French people. The
people called out affectionately:
Sammies and Teddies
"Sammies" and "Teddies." The
name Teddy became suddenly popu-
lar as an expression of good will, per-
haps because 1t Is easily pronounced
by the French. Children from all
the primary schools in the quarter
were given the best places Along
part of the Avenue Daumesnil there
were thousands of them calling:
Teddy" Teddy" Teddy" and
throwing flowers.
All France celebrated the Fourth
OF July. Paris turned out crowd
that no American city ever surpassed
for size, enthusiasm and profusion of
Stars and Stripes. A battalion of the
first American expeditionary force
about to leave for training behind
the battlefront had its first official re-
View in France and was the center
of the celebration.
Everywhere the American flag was
flying from public buildings, hotels
and residences. and automobiles. cabs
and carts, horses brides and the la :
pels of pedestrians carried them. The
crowds began early to gather at van
tage points, Rue de Varenne was
choked long before 8 o'clock in the
morning, when the Republican
Guards band executed field reveille
under General Pershing's windows,
and all routes toward the Invalides
were thronged even before PERISH
tng's men turned out.