The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-04
|JOFFRE SPENDS
DAY IN CHICAGO
City Decorated Wit S RS
and Stripes in Homo IS 20
Marshal Of Franc os
His Part, eS
@S
ELABORATE LooME
Public Reception At RudItorium To-
night With Mayor Thomp-
con % One Of tho
SpeakerA

| limited Press Leased Wire Service.
CHICAGO, May 4.-Chicago will
| welcome the French commission to-
day. The city has planned one of the
most elaborate and patriotic recep-
tions In its history.
Three hundred thousand schoo!
children will be dismissed . quarter
of an hour before the usual time this
afternoon that they may flock to tho
downtown streets to watch Marshal
Joffre pass. Special patriotic exer.
discs will be held in all the schools
! just previous to dismissal.
The city is gaily decorated with
| the stars and stripes and the trt-color
and with the conventional red. white
and blue bunting, which serves for
both nations. The visitors are ex-
pected to arrive about noon. He will
go directly to the Chicago club for
luncheon. At 8 O'Clock they will re.
ceivs the representative Of the war
relief organizations. Dinner will be
served them at the Congress hotel.
"a public" reception admission by
ticket only-will be held for the COM
night. The speakers will include
| Marshal .Joffre, Minister Vtviani. Gov
ernor Lowden. Mayor Thompson.
Bishop FalIows and Edgar A. Ban
croft, presiding officer.
A public mass meeting will be held
in honor of the visitors at Dexter
pavilion in the stock yards tomorrow
afternoon.
Arrived at 1850 O'Clock.
CHICAGO, May 4-The French COM
mission arrived at the Grand Central
station in Chicago today at 1850
o'clock. Several thousand citizens
were on hand to welcome them, un-
officially. while Mayor Thompson and
Lieutenant Governor Ogelsby ex-
tended the formal greetings Of the
city and state.
Accompanied by city and state off,
cfals, and escorted by the First Hin
oils cavalry, the commissioners mo-
tored through the streets to the Chi
cago club, where they were to have
luncheon.
[By George Martin, United Press
Staff Correspondent
ON BOARD FRENCH COMMIS-
SION SPECIAL. May 4.-Rolling leis-
urely through rural villages linked by
seas OF tumbling green hills, the
French war commission, headed by
ex-Premier Viviani and Marshal Jof-
fre today wondered and were won
dered at by the great middle west.
Slowed snugly away in the comfort
able compartments of their luxurious
ly appointed special train, travelling
secret route, the weary war makers
today enjoyed what they called "the
first peaceful moment" since that
day two and one-half years ago when
Viviani reused the French nation to
war and Joffre lead it to a miraculous
and epoch making victory at the bat
tie of the Marne
1--WE were completely exhausted"
said M. Horelacque, French minister
of public instruction today. land no
one who has not been in Europe and
who does not know how ceaselessly
we have labored since our arrival at
Washington, can understand how pro-
foundly we appreciate this rest"
The breadth and splendor Of the
middle west today was a revelation
to Papa" Joffre and he was delighted
with the reception and treatment of
the French officials aboard the train.
1t pleased all of them that tiny tri-
colors, stars and stripes and the
British flags festooned the dining car.
Even the color scheme of the menu
bore out the triumvirate of emblems.
Statues Of Washington and La Fayette
were made of ice cream, decorated
with three flags.
The trip thus far has been without
incident. Crowds at the stations
were minus. because of the secret
route and although Joffre with his
red cap and gray field uniform: vi !
viani with his dignifled bearing. Hore- !
lacque, with his great black beard;
Fabray, the blue devil and others |
stood on the observation platform at
several points. 1t Is doubtful if the !
Of open mouthed villagers
knew who they We're. At least they |
gave no sign of knowing.
The route was through Maryland |
and Virginia with a brief stop at |
Harper's Ferry.
Geuera1 Joffre and viyiani cele |