Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-25
GENERAL JOFFRE
AND PARTY GIVEN
A ROYAL WELCOME
Great Crowd Greets May
flower Bearing French
Commissioners
.TRI-COL0R FLIES WITH
OUR STARS AND STRIPES
Route From Deck Blooms
With Flags Of Three
Great Nations
By Robert j. Bender

kUnlted tresS St2II colFcspoHucHt1
( Washington, April %. - The final
step which brought representatives of
the worlds greatest demoeracies in
personal contact for discussion of plans
for successful waging of the world war
against autocracy, came today with the
arrival of the French commission in
Washington.
As Former Premier Viviani and Mar
shal Joffre, the idol of France S army
were still gliding down the Potomac
on the yacht Mayflower, arrangements
were all but closed for extending to
England the first loan of this govern
Iment-two hundred million dollars.
At the same time, British Foreign
Secretary Arthur j. Balfour was an
nouneing that England and France dc
not seek to inveigle the United States
Into an entangling alliance with Euro
pean forces, but that their commits
sions have come here to help thl'
country.
He expressed confidence in Americas
determination to see the fight through
to the finish.
Few. more impressive scenes hav
< fbeen witnessed in Washington ina
< that enacted at the navy yard vine
X the Mayflower arrived with the Frenc
representatives at 1890 this Afternoon
K Several thousand men, women and chi
X dren lined the half mile lane from tn
< navy yard gates to the pier where tn
< Yacht docked with the distinguishe
< visitors
K Played Marseillaise
x Mounted troopers came to attenuo
X from their positions as guard of homo
X near the pier. Scores of naval and mil
X tarv officials were waiting to greet tn
X French commissioners. After the Ma,
X flower was warped into her pier, tt
\ marine band, on the lawn of the nav
\ ward, struck up the Marsaillaise.
\ On the Mayflower s deck, standin
X out in sharp contrast among his civl
J. liam companions, was Marshal Joffre
y red cap and pale blue army cloak.
X Immediately the gangplank was u
Secretary Lansing mounted 1t and
y he stepped on deck bugles sounded. "A
y soldiers and sailors came to attentio
=. as did the victor of the Marne, WIN
= the secretary of state fastened folwa
:. between the lines of the crew a.
= greeted Viviani, Joffre and oth
y members of the party
=, A great cheer went up and the part
= led by Viviani and Lansing, then d
Z, scended the gangplank. They went II
= mediatelv to the residence held in rea
r. mess for the French commlsslone
= AS they left the pier, the marine bal
r continued playing the French nation
:, air. Crowds lining the street cheer
Z, the commissioners as they were WINS
e ed away in limouslnes.
An Historical Scene
4 The Mayflowcr with her distlnguls
ed burden, steamed slowly up the }
tomac from Hampton Roads throu
the forenoon, conveyed by destroy
Beach combers and fishermen tt
inc in the murky mists shrouding
. river. stared wonderingly as the 7
[ craft passed with great trail
T black smoke dwindling off with
- FLYING cloud scug.
Passing Alexandria just below wa
ington, the party was greeted W
Escheeching whistles and tolls from
eS hell of the ancient church attended
George Washington.
At Washington the party was i
by Secretary Lansing, Counsellor Po
assistant Secretary Phillip and Colo
Harte, President Wilson s perso
nj. aide. who boarded the yacht to extt
NV America official welcome.
ces Pathetically cheering among
ch group Of Freshmen stood Colonel
TO. brey, Joffre IS chief Of staff, hobbi
on the wooden leg he has worn 81
the the German repulse at the gates
ged Paris.
ble Accompanying the party up the ri
10. had been the officials who had
the them at Hampton Roads, including
't,a sistant Secretary OF the Navy Rot
A. veIt. General Scott, chief Of staff,
ion Admiral Huse.
It Was an ovation
the Among the French commission
mil was one unheralded before-Emlie
velaque, head Of the high school
ons TEN. -
dis The French embassy in toto, hea
an by Ambassador Jusserand greeted T
the compatriots. The reception tend'
ned the commissioners amounted to an
Of Ition. Thousands lined the streets I
al the navy yard to the French quar-
rike in Sixteenth street. IT was over
was miles of cheering people and honi
automobile horns.
Now and then out Of the crow
at great banner would greet the eye. r
q naOa kpua