Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-16
PERSH|NG TAKESUP
HIS WORK IN FRANCE
After Three Days as Guest of
the Nation American General
Begins War Preparations.
VISITS LAFAYETTE'S TOMB
By the Associated Press


PARIS, June 16.-After three days as
the guest of France. in which extraor-
dinary honors were bestowed upon him.
Maj. Gen. Pershing today plunged into
the work of making preparations for
the arrival and disposition of the
American military forces which he is
to command. Early this morning he
walked from his hotel, carrying an
armful of documents to the new
Rue de Constantine. near the Hotel des
Invalides. He sat for the first time at
the plain table in the barely furnished
office and took up the great volume of
business which has been accommodating
before and since his arrival.
Cen Pershing found in his mail
numerous requests from Americans
serving in armies Of the allies to be
transferred to the American army in
France Many American civilians in
France have made application to enlist
or for commissions.
The general is guided strictly by the
War Department. decision not to request
the transfer of Americans from the for
eign legion or from the English or Cana
lean army as instructors or in other spe-
cialized capacities. Consequently most OF
the Americans now serving with other
armies will remain with them.
general headquarters and took lunch with
Gen. Petain, the French commander-in-
chief. whom he had not met before.
. Places Wreath on Lafayette Tomb.
Maj. Gen. Pershing spent his third day
in Paris making official calls, paying
visit to Marshal Joffre, with whom he had
luncheon, and visiting the senate. He
also visited the Picpus cemetery. where
he placed wreath on the tomb Of Lafay-
ette.
During his visit to the senate there
were scenes of enthusiasm similar to
those that took place in the chamber
of deputies. The senator's stood when
Gen. Pershing appeared in the diplo-
matte box accompanied by William
Graves Sharp. the American ambassa-
dor. and applauded him for several
minutes The general had to bow his
Acknowledgements repeatedly.
NJ. Ribot. the premier. alluded to the
presence of the distinguished American
soldier and called on Foreign Minister
Viviani to address the senate.
NJ. Viviani. speaking at first with
great restraint. launched with great
beauty of expression into an Grafton
in which he described the refusal of
the United States to see the ideals OF
civilization. democracy and of right in
battle with destructive forces without
taking her part, which. he declared.
was a great and noble part.
He alluded to the great figure OF
President Wilson standing behind all
tice. He also made touching references
to the late Joseph H. Choate. quoting ex-
cerpts from one of his last speeches.
The speaker was frequently inter-
rupted by applause and at the close OF
his address all the members of the
senate stood and. turning again toward
Cen Pershing. clapped their hands and
shouted 'vive les Etats Unis"
Gen. Pershing rose and bowed sew
eral times before the demonstration
subsided.
With the American commander in ad-
dition to Ambassador Sharp were Mrs.
Sharp and her sister, Miss Clough of
Elyria. Ohio; Abram I. Elkus. former
American amba ssador to Turkey, and
Mrs. Elkus and Miss Elkus. Mrs. H.
Percival Dodge Of Massachusetts,. John
H. Finley, president of the University
of the state Of New York. and the
French General Pelletier.
The senate took a recess of half an
hour so that the members might be in
troduced to Gen. Pershing. and Antonin
Dubost, president of the senate. escort
ed him through the immense lobby of
the Luxemberg palace, introducing him
to the members, Baron DEstournelles
de Constant assisting in the presenta-
tion.
Earlier in the afternoon. after his
luncheon with Marshal Joffre. Gen.
Pershing visited DIR. John II. Finley,
who was entertaining some forty pro-
fessors and literary men of France at
luncheon. Among Dr. Finley's guests
were Emile Boutroux, Alfred Croiset.
dean Of the faculty Of letters of the
Sorbonne. and Gabriel Hanotaux.
It was announced at the luncheon
that the French Academy had awarded
prize to Dr. Finley's work. THE
French in the Heart Of America" writ
ten in 1914.