New-York tribune., 1917-07-15

brated its national fete with fervor and
quiet joy unknown in many years
The Russian revolution has made
Frenchmen realize more vividly the
meaning Of the great epoch which,
dawn.ng in America in 1776, cul-
minated in France in f7s9 in a great
revolution, whose spirit after more than
century is about to have its full
fruition in the destruction of the last
bastile OF absolutism by the forces OF
allied democracy.
Paris wept and cheered at the sight
Of the battle-torn flags brought from
the front and carried through the
streets to-day. There were 1874 Of
them, each the standard OF some regl-
ment or battalion remarkable for valor
and suffering. With each flag marched
thirty picked men from the regiment
men who had been through infernos OF
endurance and assaults, most Of them
recovered from wounds, each Of them
exceptional. among so many brave
men, for the deeds done.
The Cross Of the Legion Of Honor,
the Military Medal or the War Cross
swung from ribbons above each flag,
for they were flags from regiments
and battalions which have been dee
grated in their entirety.
Extraordinary Scenes
There were extraordinary sce..es
along every part Of the route. The
crowds cheered frantically, but tsou-
sands Of men and women, too deeply
moved TO raise their voices, gave way
to tears.
July Il is City Of Paris Day as well
as the national holiday, and funds were
collected for the city's work on behalf
of its prisoners Of war by sale in the
streets of small flags, medals and other
souvenirs. Subscribers OF fran;
received a medallion of bronzelike
metal, with the profles Of Washington
and Lafayette on one side and the in
scription. July 4, 1875. July IA, 17ss,'
on the other.
President Poincare reviewed the
troops on the Vincennes field before
they began their march. In an open
carriage, drawn by four horses, the
President passed down the line OF SOL
diers, and then watched them from the
reviewing stand as they passed. With
NJ. Poincare were Major General Perish
ing. Ambassador Sharp and other mem
bers Of the diplomatic corps. Marshal
Joffre, the presidents of both houses Of
Parliament, Premier Ribot and the
members of his Cabinet and other per-
sons distinguished in the public life OF
France. Back of the Presidents party
were hundreds of armless or legless
soldiers, who were invited in from the
crowds 70 the best places on the stand.
Soldiers of Many Nations
Parisians are accustomed to foreign
uniforms, but some OF them which they
saw to-day were puZzling. One could
can. japanese. Portuguese. Serbian,
Rumanian. French and British soldiers,
French colonials from East India and
Central Africa, Canadians, Australians,
New Zealarders British soldiers from
South Africa, Belgians, Russians and
Italians.
While the troops were filing past the
President a dozen airplanes were per-
forming evolutions above the teld, CIV
ing an exhibition of new aerial tactics
in large formations. The plan TO nave
$50 machines in the air at the same
time was not executed. because the
weather was unfavorable. with low
lying clouds and intermittent ram. IL
was regarded as unsafe 70 have so
many machines flying at low levels
without sufficient space 10 glide beyond
the crowds and buildings IN case any
of their motors stopped.
Nearly all the 5000 bayonets in line
had bouquets on them. The muzzles
Of the rifles carried miniature flags.
many OF them the Stars and Stripes.
Women and children all along the
way from the Place de la Nation. in
the populous st. Antoine quarter, TO
the Place Denfert- t-Rochereau, in the
Latin Quarter, pelted the soldiers with
flowers, alternately cheering and weep
ing, while the men shouted as the
famous military units were recognized.
Foreign Legion Leads Line
The honor of leading the line was
given TO the Foreign Legion, with
about twenty Americans in the ranks,
as we'll as Dutch. Spanish. Greek and
South American lighters. The Foreign
Legion was the first body of troops 10
which was awarded siguillettes in
colors and the military medal for five
citations for gallantry in battls-at the
Marne. Nerdun, the Somme, IN Cham
pagne and on the Aisne.
"Those are the men who did fine
work." "Well done." or similar eX-
cIamations came from the crowd as
the Foreign Legion marched past Most
OF these men and the soldiers IN the
chosen detachments from the other
CORPS in line wore the records OF their
services in the form Of war crosses.
military medals and crosses Of the
Legion Of Honor.
The flag Of the aviation group was
carried by the twenty-one-year-old cap
tain, George Guynemer, who has
brought down forty-ive German ma
chimes. He wore the War Cross with
twenty-five palms for as many cita,,
tions. The young captain was greeted
with especial outbursts of cheering
Women blew kisses and tossed flowers
70 him. The boy blushed and seemed
20 be embarrassed. looking as though
he would much prefer TO be somewhere
The side streets were as picturesque
rs those on the line Of march. CROWDS