The Ronan pioneer., 1917-07-20
FRENCH NAME FOR
UNCLE SANS MEN
AMERICAN SOLDIERS CALLED
"TEDDIES' BY PEOPLE
OF FRANCE.

Wonderful Reception Accorded First
Battalion of American Troops to
Reach Paris; Cheers and Flowers
for the dough Boys of the United
States of America.
When the Two Hundred and Thir-
tieth regiment of French territorials
with it's band, escorted the battalion
picked from the regiments of United
States infantry into the court of hon
or as part of the Independence day
and the corridors of the Invalides re-
sounded with the prolonged acclama-
ton Of the company of massed spec
tators that left just room enough for
the troops to form a hollow square.
Standing in the center were de-
scendants of soldiers of the American
revolution with fanions in United
States colors and the colors of ma
jor general of the United States army
"a flag of red ground with two sill
YER stars-embroidered by French
women, and American veterans who
fought with the French in the war
of 1870 with the flag of the Ameri-
can volunteers in the French foreign
legion. A few surviving inmates
from the soldiers home, erect and
soldierly in appearance in spite of
their gray hairs. stood behind as
guard of honor. Alongside was a
delegation from LIE Puy, the nearest
city to the birthplace of General La
fayette, carrying a lace adorned flag
to be presented to the American
troops.
Cheer High Officials.
The head of every spectator was
uncovered precicely at O'Clock
when the American band struck up
the Marseillaise. The simultaneous
appearance of President Poincare,
General Pershing, General Joffre,
American Ambassador Sharp and
other dignitaries at the entrance of
the building, was the signal for tre-
mendous cheering which continued
until the official party passed in re-
view.
Hats were off again and impress
sive silence prevailed when the fam
ions and flags were presented to the
American troops. General Pershing
was apparently much moved. General
NoiX, governor of the Invalides, re-
ceived the flag Of the American lega-
tion for the war museum.
The colonel commanding the
American battalion advanced and
saluted President Poincaire. The
bands began playing and the cheer
ing broke out again as President
Poincaire shook hands with the
members of the official party as the
troops began to file out of the court
of honor
Popular Demonstration.
An airplane circling a few hundred
feet overhead followed the line of
march some distance. Thousands of
French soldiers on leave from the
front were among the masses of peo-
pie along the route. Hundreds of
people left the sidewalks and rushed
forward to shake hands with the
American troops. Other hundreds
of French soldiers in trench work
uniforms, stained and dingy, joined
the marching troops on either side in
columns and continued for miles.
hoOllC VI tHclll WOlS DdHudSCS OH
their heads and others had their
arms in slings from recent wounds.
Children ran forward throwing flow
ers in front of the marching Ameri-
can troops and flowers were tossed
from the sidewalk or came fluttering
down from windows. They were
caught by the American soldiers who
stuck them in the muzzle of their
rifles Or tucked them in their belts.
The crowds removed their head cov-
erings in salute to the Stars and
Stripes as the colors passed along.
from every window women and girls
waved handkerchiefs or flags, while
every square along the route sound
ed the acclaim of the French people.
The people called out affectionately
"Sammies" and "Teddies" The
name Teddy became suddenly popu-
lar as an expression of good will, per-
haps because it is easily pronounced
by the French
Children from all the primary
schools in the quarter were given the
best places. Along part of the Aven
ue Daumesnil there were thousanus
of them calling:
'"Teddy," "Teddy,' "Teddy," and
throwing flowers. The American sol.
diers affected by all this enthusiasm,
smiled and waved their hands at the
children.