Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-01
FRENCH MISSION
TO TOUR AMERICA
Viviani, Joffre, Chocheprat
and de Chambrun in Party;
to Start Today.
ROUTE TO BE TAKEN SECRET
Special Precautions Taken for
Safety of Visitors; Kansas
City on Route.

w A S II G TON, April 80. -
Frances war mission Will leave
Washington on Tuesday on a tour Of
eastern and middle western states to
give its members an opportunity to
see as much of the country as pos.
sible within a limited time The
distinguished FTenchmen will go di-
rectly to Chicago from Washington
and later Will visit Kansas City, St
Louis, SpringfieU, H.; Philadelphia,
New York and Boston. Members of
the mission. including Rene Niviani,
Its head: Marshal Joffre, hero of the
Marne; Admiral Chocheprat, one of
the foremost officers in the French
navy. and the Marquis de Chambrun.
descendant of General Lafayette, will
travel on special train as the guests
OF the United States government. The
party VIII include among others the
members OF Marshal Joffre's staff
headed by col. Jean Fabry, the Blue
Devil of France" who says he is half
American because he has an Ameri
can wooden leg replacing "A limb shot
away in action.
Hundreds of Invitations Declined.
The itinerary was determined upon
after hundreds of invitations had
all sections of the United States.
Some came from cities on the Pacific
coast and they. as well as many
others had to be declined because
the early presence in France of the
leading members is imperative and
only a short time can be spared.
During the tour conferences be-
tween representatives of the United
States and members of the mission
will be temporarily suspended the
work to be resumed when the mis-
sion returns to the capital from Bos-
ton.
The departure of the mission from
Washington marks the end of its stay
as guests of the government I'm the
capitol When the members return
they will have the status of high
commissioners of France, here for
formal negotiations.
Safety In Travel Guarded.
Extraordinary precautions to insure
the safety of the party while travelling
have been taken.
Because of the responsibility that
will he attached to the government in
caring for the persons of the mem
bers of the commission" the state de-
partment announcement says, 'it is
expected that the time of their arriv-
al and departure at different places
and the routes by which they are to
travel between known points be not
now published.
The press and citizens Of the va
rious cities which are to be visited are
requested to refrain from indulglng
in speculation on these matters. The
people officially responsible for their
entertainment in the various cities to
be visited are officially notified so that
their arrangements can be made, but
the information will not be for publ
cation. The routes of their progress
thru the streets of the various cities
and the program Of their entertain
ment can be made public"
Look Forward to Tour.
Members of the French mission
from the time of their departure from
France have looked forward almost
as much to their forthcoming tour as
to their visit to the nations capitol
Several of the military members had
hoped to visit Valley Forge, the scene
of the writer's encampment of the
revolutionary army. but for various
reasons the tour will not include that
historic place.
To Honor Lincoln.
The trip to Springfield, Ill., will be
for the especial purpose of visiting
the tomb of Abraham Lincoln. ad-
mired and revered by every member
of the mission. Some simple ceremony
of homage and tribute very likely will
be arranged.
Elaborate plans for the entertain
ment of the mission are being made
in each of the cities they are to visit
"a OhIIGuTCp OC TUE COnc,