Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-16
All France Celebrates
with Tears and Cheers
Joyous Festival of Bastile Day This Year Bril-
liant and Touching Event - American Troops
Assist-Foreign Legion in Paris Military Van

celebrated its national fete with fervor
and quiet Joy unknown in many years.
Paris wept and cheered at the sight Of
battle-torn flags brought from the front
and carried through the streets. There
were 1874 Of them. each the standard Of
some regiment or battalion remarkable
for valor and suffering.
With each nag marched 80 men pick
ed from the regiment. There were ex-
traordinary scenes along every part Of
the route. The crowds cheered fran
tically. but thousands of men and wom-
en-. too deeply moved to raise their
voices. gave way to tears.
President Poincare reviewed the
troops on the Vincennes field before they
began their march. With him were
Gen. Pershing, Ambassador Sharp and
other members of the diplomatic corps;
Marshal Joffre, the presidents Of both
houses of Parliament, Premier Ribot
and the members Of his cabinet and
other persons distinguished in the pub
lie life of France. Back of the Presi-
dents party were hundreds Of armless
or legless soldiers who were invited in
from the crowds to the best places on
the stand.
Numbers Of Uniforms
Parisians are accustomed to foreign
uniforms, but some of those they saw
today were puzzling. One could see
from the reviewing stand American,
Japanese, Portuguese, Serbian, Ruman-
ian, French and British soldiers French
colonials from East India and Central
Africa, Canadians, Australians. New
zealanders, British soldiers from South
Africa. Belgians. Russians and Italians.
While the troops were filing past the
President dozen airplanes were per-
forming evolutions above the field, CIV
ing an exhibition of new aerial tactics
in large formations. The plan to have
$50 machines in the air at the same
time was not executed, because the
weather was unfavorable, with LOVELY
ing clouds and intermittent rain.
Nearly all the 5000 bayonets in line
had bouquets on them. The muzzles
on 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 Place
Denfert- Rochereau, in the Latin quar-
ter, pelted the soldiers with flowers,
alternatively cheering and weeping,
while the men shouted as the famous
military units were recognized
Foreign Legion at Head
Honor of leading the line was given
to the Foreign Legion, with about 20
Americans in the ranks. The Foreign
Legion was the first body of troops
to which We're awarded aiguilIettes in
colors and the military medal for five
citations for gallantry in battles Of the
Marine, Verdnn. the Somme. Cham
pagne and the Aisne.
"Those are the men who did fine
work! Well done. and similar eXcla-
nations came from the crowd as the
foreign legion marched past. Most of
these men and tho soldiers on the chos-
en- attachments from the other corps in
line wore the records of their services
in the form of war crosses. military
medals and crosses of tho legion of
honor.
The flag Of the aviation groups was
carried by the 21-year-od captain,
George Guynemar. who has brought
down as German machines. He wore
the war cross with % palms for as many
citations. The young captain was greet
ed with especial outbursts of cheering.
Women blew kisses and tossed flowers
to him. The boy blushed and seemed
to be embarrassed by the attention he
attracted.
The side streets We're as picturesque
as those on the line of march. Crowds
were banked up from the cutters to the
house tops, standing on ladders, clus-
tered in trees. thronging balconies,
porches and roofs, and hanging to the
slightest object that gave a footing to
vantage points.
Magnificent Gathering"
After the review President Poincare
addressed letter to War Minister
Painleve, congratulating him on the
fine showing made by the troops sent
to represent the army which formed "a
magnificent synthesis of all military
virtues and patriotic forces"
After saying that the enthusiastic ac-
carnations of the people of Paris show
ed that they, like the soldiers. under
stood the necessity of pursuing to defin-
lite victory the sublime effort which had
caused them for three years to be re-
garded with respectful admiration by
the entire world, NJ. Poincare added:
Others can only bow with deep emo
ton before this people. this army. which
forms one being. one heart, one soul
France. France radiant and immortal"
NJ. Painleve granted half pint of
wine to all the men who took part in
the review.