The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-06-15
PERSHlNG IN PARIS
French Capital Opens Its Arms to
American Commander.

was a continuous succession of en-
thusiastic popular demonstrations civ
en- wherever the American Command
er made an appearance. Great throngs
filled the Place de La Concorde early
in the day, hoping to catch a glimpse
OF the American. Hundreds oi
| French soldiers on leave from the
front mingled in the throngs and
| gave hearty greetings to the troop
| ers of the Second Cavalry. a larse
| American flag waved over the Gen
| erals hotel and everywhere the
| French and American colors were
| intertwined.
One of the first events on today S
| crowded program was visit this
| morning TO the Hotel Des lnyalides,
| wherein is the historic monument
| containing Napoleon's body. After
a brief ceremony at the Inyalides
General Pershing made formal
call on Ambassador Sharp and was
| then escorted with military honors
| TO the Palace of the Elysee to be
presented to President Poincare.
At 1890 o'clock the President and
Nine Poincare gave a state break
fast in honor of the American com
mander Other guests were Pre-
mier Ribot, General Painleve, Mar
shall Joffre, Minister Viyiani Am
bassador Sharp and other prominent
figures in official and civilian life.
Paris, Wednesday, June 13.-Paris
opened its arms to General Pershing
and his staff this afternoon and vel
coined them with an outburst OF spon-
taneous enthusiasm such as only
Paris is capable of. No conquering
hero returning home could hope for
or ever receive such a tremendous re-
ception as greeted the American com
mander as his automobile passed be-
fore hundreds of thousands of cheer
ing people.
Paris, and particularly the French
authorities, had planned a great re-
ception. but it is doubtful whether
even the most optimistic pictured the
almost frantic crowds that all but
blocked the progress of the automo-
biles. Men and women cheered them
selves hoarse and flung masses OF
flowers into the cars. Parisians de-
clare tildI luc OiiS cNSut III 'hSh ii'N
time that approximates the reception
in enthusiasm was that accorded to
King George of England in 1914.
When the special train reached the
station General Pershing and Field
Marshal Joffre were the first to ap-
pear. Behind them came stream OF
American officers, each with French
officer as his host The first shout
of welcome now became continuous
roar that seemed to shake the station
to its foundations. The police begun
to clear lane down which half a
dozen automobiles moved at snaifs
pace between frantic throngs
From hundreds of windows Ameri-
can flags were waved by men, women
and children. Sellers OF American
flags had improved the hour preced-
ing the arrival of the party by dis
tributing thousands of tiny Stars and
Stripes Girls with flags pinned to
their breasts and their arms filled
with flowers bought from their scan
ty savings, fairly fought for chance
to get near enough to the machines to
hurl their offerings into the laps and
on tHe SHOuluSIs Vi tue dotohiShCu
American officers.
The Americans apparently had not
imagined the heights to which Paris |
ian enthusiasm could rise. Boys,
men and girls and even some old
women struggled to jump on the run
ming board of General Pershing's car
and shake hands with him.
1t was not General Pershing alone |
who came in for unprecedented ova-
tions, but every American caught |
sight of by the people was almost
burdened with flowers. Crowds |
shouted themselves hoarse with |
cheers for America.
General Pershing was expected to |
arrive from Boulogne at 5 o'clock, but
his special train did not reach Paris |
until $50. This gave opportunity for |
thousands who work until 6 O'Clock |
to mass themselves along the route |
until the congestion became so great |
that transportation was tied up. |
General Pershing's features were not
familiar to the people, but Papa
Joffre's cap caught the eye of the
people and revealed the identity of
the soldier in khaki at his side.
At the station General Pershing was |
met by a group of French officials, IN |
Guiding Minister Viviani, Marshal Jof-
fre and Generals Foch, Painleve and
Peltier, and by group of Americans |
head by Ambassador Sharp. At one
end of the station was an improvised |
throne with red tapestries, such as is |
erected when royalty is visiting the |
city.