Evening star., 1917-05-07
SPRINGFIELD AWAITS
FRENCH MISSION
Illinois Capital Decorated and
Filled With Soldiers to Greet
Joffre and Party.
ON PARADE IN ST. LOUIS

OF Springfield business houses and res
licences are lying French and Amer
ican Hags today and the city is full of
soldiers in readiness to receive Marshal
Joffre and other members of the
French mission this afternoon The
distinguished guests are expected be-
tween 3 and o'clock
After visit to Lincoln's tomb IN
Oakridge cemetery. the members OF
the mission Will be received at the
statehouse by the house and senate In
joint session.
thousands of school children this
morning were provided with small
French flags. The children will be
nassed along the route to the state
house as the French party passes
GOV Lowden and a joint house and
senate committee will welcome the
guests at the statehouse. State and
cltF officials and military escort will
meet them at the railway station.
Farewell Ovation in st. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. May THE welcome
accorded former Premier Niviani Mar
shal Joffre and other members of the
French war mission at the Coliseum
last night was outdone today when
the distinguished visitors took part in
a parade that crossed the city.
AS thousands left their homes early
in tine day to gain vantage points along
the route. many remembered that this
was the second anniversary of the
sinking of the Lusitania and regarded
ors fitting memorial to the victims of
that first great submarine offense
against the United States.
The parade was preceded by break
nf he w. nj
the Missouri Athletic Association.
where 700 prominent citizens toasted
France and the United States.
Mayor Kiel of st. Louis. who was to
have delivered a welcoming address at
the breakfast. was unable to be present
because of illness, which forced him to
leave the Coliseum last night before
the mass meeting closed. The mayor.
rade and took his place in the first
automobile with NJ Niviani and
Marshal Joffre.
The welcoming address on behalf of
the city was made by Louis p. Aloe.
president of the board of aldermen.
Mr.. Aloe referred to the French origin
of st. Louis. its French name and
emphatically proclaimed the loyalty OF
this city to the national cause.
Medals to Viviani and Joffre.
During the breakfast gold medals OF
nOnOr were presented 10 IOTHHcT IEc-
mier viviani and Marshal Joffre on be-
| half of the French Society of st. Louis.
After presentation of medals Marquis
de Chambrun spoke in English. Re-
ferring to the $50 years of friendship
between the United States and France
he said this friendship is not based on
diplomacy, not on secret understand
ings, but tand here he pointed to
French motto on the walD-it is found
ed on liberty and justice"
During the breakfast an immense
floral piece, representing the French
and American flags, was carried around
the room.
When the medals of honor were pre-
sented to NJ. Viviani and Marshal Joffre
the former premier was much affected.
After the presentation he kissed the
spokesman of the society on the
cheeks.
Two toasts were drunk in water-one
to the President of the United States
and one to the President of France.
The POSTMASTER. former Judge Selden
p. Spencer, dwelt on the French origin
of the city and said he was sure the
visitors had found the "so-called Ger
man city of st. Louis loyal to democ-
racy.
At the conclusion of the parade the
French mission were driven to their
special train. which left for Springfield.
Ill. where Marshal Joffre will place a
The official translation of the speech
of former Premier Eiviani at the Coli
scum last night, given out today. con-
tains the following about the defense
of the flag.
How often have seen our gen.
erals hand over flags to our children?
How often have we seen our children
leave for the hell of the fighting line.
their heads erect, their hearts full of a
virile joy, for they knew that they
were defending their fatherland. All
of them. they kept their eyes fixed on
the flag, on the flag which is the SYM
boil of liberty and justice.
And lust as we were able to preserve
the flag from any stain. just as our
children would rather die where they
stood than permit that sacred rag to
fall to the ground, just as we realized
that it was the soul of the fatherland
that was being carried forward in the
folds of the tri-color flag, in the same
way-because all people are one in that
it is the soul of the American faith
erland which shines radiant through
the stars of the American flag, and Mr..
Mayor was right when he said that al
ready it is bringing us the promise of
final victory. Tomorrow that flag viii
be waved on the battlefields.
Tomorrow it also will know the
glory of conflict. oh. ii was never
meant to sleep in peace in hall. to be
placed over a monument and to feel
only the gentle breath of a pacific
mind Because ii was the symbol of
free fatherIand it was meant to face
the risks of the battlefelds and TO
return in glory, so that you may keep
il in a temple high enough and sacred
enough to pay back the homage which
is due to it.
Hearty Greeting in Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY. May THE sacred
union of the United States and the
entente allies will not be dissolved
until German Imperialism has been de-
stroyed and the peace of the world
assured.
In those words NJ. Eiviani, head OF
,he French mission and former pre-
mier of France. acknowledged yester-
day the preferred pledges of undi-
yided cooperation of the middle west
in the war The mission. at the west
ern end of their trip through America,
spent a morning here filled with mari
festations of the spirit ana patriotism
.of tins section. Thousands of parsons,
waving the French tri-color and the
stars and Stripes. lined the STREETS and
crowded all available space at the re-
meeting at Convention
Hail. A Convention Hall audience was
told by NJ. Viviani that the United
states had not entered the war alone
to help Frace, but rather to uphold
rhe torch of civilization and to obtain
II ali