Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-10
TREMENDOUS WELCOME
CONTINUED from Page One)

bilt, Thomas W. Lamont, Dudley Field
Malone collector Of the port. and other
city officials, together with officers of the
army and navy.
They were escorted from the Battery to
the City hall by squadron of cavalry
and two troops of mounted police. through
the canyon of Broadway, which was
choked with wildly cheering multitudes.
At the City hall they were formally well
coined to New York by Mayor John Pur-
roy Mitchell and Mr.. Choate.
Viviani's Longest Speech
Mr.. Viviani responded with the longest
speech he has made since his arrival in
America.
America, said M. Viviani. waited a long
time before deciding to enter the world
war, because she wanted to be certain to
enter on the right side France fought for
liberty, consenting to pour forth her
blood and to make the terrible sacrifice
to win liberty for the world. he explain
ed. and that was why America finally
stepped in. France was glad, he said, to
have her moral and material support. al
though she had never doubted that 1t
would come.
The greatest lesson of the war, NJ. WV
iani said, was CONSUMPTION, because as
long as there was a warlike Germany de-
mocracies would be in danger with the
duty being to remain armed
On the way from the City hall to the
Prick home where they will be entertain
ed the three days they remain in the city.
do hat no
welcome to New York was the most Won
derful they had received in America.
Marshal Joffre was the first to ahght
from the special train in Jersey City.
The party walked through cheer
ing lane of spectators on the way TO
the police boat Patrol. which was to
take them to the Battery.
Harbor craft shrieked a welcome as
the Patrol, painted war gray, with one
Founders mounted fore and aft and with
two machine guns on her upper DECK
poked her nose out of the slip.
The distinguished Frenchmen made
their way to the forward deck ana
there caught their first glimpse OF the
skyline of New York.
Marshal Joffre seemed entranced as
he gazed at the mountains of steel ana
masonry which rose before him.
At the Battery pier Joseph II. Choate'
chairman Of the reception committee,
was the first to shake the hands OF M.
viviani and Marshal Joffre. but they
could not hear each others greetings
in the din of whistles and the cheers
OF the 10000 persons who packed the
park.
NJ. viviani DOTTED his hat to the plaud-
It's Of the crowd. Marshal Joffre, grave
his hand in salute and kept it there
most of the time.
broadway from Bowling Green to
City hall was packed with soma mass
of humanity as the automobiles bear
ing the party got underway. Every
building seemed alive with cheering
spectators. The roar of applause rose
and fell as the noted Frenchmen ap-
preached and rode past under an al
most continuous canopy OF hags-the
Stars and Stripes. the Tri Color ana
the Union Jack. Joffre sat with ms
right hand in salute and his face ahsnt
with his now famous smile.
When the mission reached city Han
Park and rode across the plaza a pand
broke into the strains or the Mar
laise. which was taken up by 1900 school
girls SO seated and dressed as to form
a living American flag. The guests
were escorted at once to the aldermanic
chamber and there they were formally
welcomed to the city by Mayor Mitchell.
When NJ. viviani and his colleagues
emerged from the building to contln-
ue their triumphal progress up town.
thew looked out upon acres Of masseo
humanity. The police estimated there
we're $50 900 persons in City Hall park.
the streets which surrounded 1t ana
gazing out windows of nearby ouild'
ings.
Girls employed in shops and facto-
r1es leaned far out on window sills to
throw kisses to the French mission.
Joffre responded with a military sa-
lutte while NJ. viviani doffed his hat
As the Frenchmen turned into Union
square, national guardsmen. regulars
and sailors tried to stand at attention
but they forgot discipline and burst
into a deep-throated cheer as they
caught a glimpse Of Joffre's red cap
A little distance from Lafayefts
statue, the members Of the French
mission left their cars and marched
cIow1v uncoyeed to the foot OF the