Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-26
FRENCH MOBILES
VISIT PRESIDENT
tContinued From First Page.1

! by all observers to be the most en-
/ thusiastic and loudest ever heard
there. The corridors of the building
fairly rang with hurrahs for France.
| The visitors took motor cars for
| the short ride from the State De-
/ partment to the White House. Hun
| dreds of automobiles decorated with
! the French tricolor sounded their
I sirens and people lining the streets
added to the cheering. At the main
entrance of the executive mansion a
large party of the Presidents army
and nav aids in full dress uniforms
met the Frenchmen. Salutes were
exchanged and the distinguished
| guests were ushered into the blue
room where President Wilson was
waiting to receive them.
White House Reception
The White House reception for the
members of the French commission
! differed from that accorded Foreign
Minister Balfour and his British as
/ sociates in that it included all the
members of the French mission.
Minister Niviani, Marshal Joffre,
Admiral Chocheprat and Inspector
General of Public instructions Hove
/ laque entered first and were followed
by others. Since neither Minister vi
! Viani nor Marshal Joffre speak Eng
/ lish NJ. Hoyelaque acted as interpre-
ter. The President shook hands
warmly with Marshal Joffre and the
other members of the mission and
they chatted for about ten minutes.
Then the other members of the COM
mission were taken in and introduce
ed to the President.
Marshal Joffre Walks
Immediately after seeing the Presi-
dent, NJ. Viviani went to the Capt.
tol, accompanied by Assistant Secre-
tary Phillips.
Leaving his automobile standing
in front of the White House, Mar
shall Joffre accompanied by Colonel
Spencer Cosby, of the army, and
Lieutenant Commander Robert l..
Berry, of the navy, walked from the
executive mansion to the State, War
and Navy Buildings.
The marshal was dressed in the
full uniform of his rank with red
trousers. red cap, leather boots and
several orders glistening on his
breast.
Walking through the White House
grounds the marshal asked many
; questions about the history of the
Mansion and was deeply interested in
the answers by Colonel Cosby. form
er military attache at Paris and
former military aid to the President
Every employe in the executive
offices rushed out to see the marshal
He smiled and saluted as they broke
into applause.
Joffrc Is Agile
When the American officers start
ed to mount the long stairs to the en-
trance of the War, State and Navy
Building, Marshal Joffre, despite his
age and weight. ran up lightly, and
left his companions trailing after
him.
Marshal Joffre and Admiral Cho-
cheprat returned to the building to
pay calls on the Secretary of War
; and the Secretary of the Navy. The
temperance of the marshal was
marked by q reception no less Vo-
ciferous than the one a few min
utes before. For the victor of the
Marne was reserved a shout each
time he came in sight, The high
! voices of the women clerks always
led the cheering.
All the general officers on duty in
Washington, including Major Gen
eral Scott, chief of staff, Major Gen
eral Bliss. his assistant, BrigadieI
General Kuhn, president of the Wal
College and the chiefs of the depart,
mental bureaus were present.
President Wilson was deeply i'm.
pressed by the members of the
French commission particularly with
NJ. NiViani and Marshal Joffre. In the
brief exchange of greetings the
, President told them how deeply the
American people appreciated the ac'
T tion of the French republic in send
: ing the commission to the United
States and Minister Viviani replied
! , saying that the French people fell
/ very deeply the bond of friendship
Z between the two nations cementeC
1 by the entrance of the United States
into the war.
! While Marshal Joffre and his aid:
! were calling on Secretary Baker anC
} the American army officers, Admira
: Chocheprat and his aids were call
ing on Secretary Daniels In the
meantime M. Viviani had been at tht
Capitol and visited Vice-Presiden
Marshall The former premier wal
invited to address the Senate at some
later time, and it was said 1t Nigh
be arranged. A similar arrange
f, ment is beiHg considered for British
Foreign Minister Balfour.
After Marshal Joffre had finished
! his visit to Secretary Baker he re-
turned to Secretary Lansing's Office
where he was presented to many
> other officials of the State Depart
4 ment and then left the building tC
: return to his headquarters. Admira
: Chocheprat departed at the same
thine. No further functions were
: on the program for the day.