Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-11

That this thought although possible
remote of achievement was in the mind
Of the gallant French soldier was evil
denced by the tears glistening IN his
eyes.
Here, II ever in the nations great
busting metropolis, silence was more
truly expressive than words. Here also
was q tribute of one Of the worlds
greatest hero to the memory Of an
other who was unmistakibly sincere.
Thousands who had paused in their
daily duties to honor the victor of the
Marine and his colleagues, apparently
realized the significance of the moment.
Joffre. the soldier, Viviani. the states
man. Chochrepratt. the admiral, De
Chamberun, the nobleman descendant of
Lafayette, all were visibly affected.
Passing into the dim-lighted rotunda of
the tomb. Marshal Joffre DOTTED his cap
and advanced silently towards the stair
way leading to the sarcophagus. With
one hand resting on the huge coffin of
Gen. Grant, he placed there the ever
green wreath with the tri-color entwin-
ing it,
Demonstrations Along Route
Then followed a review of the Seventh
Regiment, New York National Guard, in
front of the tomb, after which the visit.
ors were taken through Riverside Drive
to the Joan of Arc statue, where a brief
stop was made. All along the route ex-
tending several miles were great throngs
Of men, women and children cheering tn 3
citys guests.
Representative business men greeted
the French war commission with wild en-,
thusiasm at the luncheon of the Mer-
chants Association.
Two thousand Of the leading men in tho
industrial life of the metropolis. unde-
monstrative in everyday routine OF com
Joined in frequent outbursts of cheering
for the hero of the Marine and the head
Of the war mission.
ut is not enough that the French
flag shall float from the decoration Of
your Streets" nj. Viviani said. ut is
not enough that the American flag
shall float in Paris. 1t is necessary
that the American f1ag shall be car
ried to the firing line; shall float where
German shells are falling, there in the
trenches where French and English
soldiers are now fighting together,
shoulder tc shoulder to the extreme
limit of human endurance.
And when your flag flies there, it
will not be like the flag you now see
around YOU that hangs spotless in reg
ular folds. but I warn you that along
side of the stars it will have holes.
and among Its red stripes the white
will be stained with the blood Of your
children.
Despite this picture of war, the mer-
chants cheered until a wave from the
speakers hand stilled the tumult.
We will not make peace; we will
never make peace until we have had
given back to US that which is ours
Alsace and Lorraine-was another
sentence, NJ viviani delivered with
chara cteristic conviction.
Ovation for Joffre
4 thunderous ovation sreeted Marshal
Joffre when he got up TO speak few
simple words.
You know / am not accustomed to
speaking in public he said sDwly. his
fists doubled and raised to his chest, and
you will understand the emotion with
which my heart is filled. l want to say
to you, thanks thanks for France
While the uproar was going on NJ. Wv
iani stepped over to the hero of the
Marine. embraced him and kissed him on
both cheeks. The salutation was the sig
nal for further cheering.
After the luncheon the party returned
to the Frick residence. Crowds again lin
ed the streets and cheered.
What was perhaps the greatest ovation
of the day was that accorded Marshal
Joffre and M. Viviani, Lord Cunliffe, gov
ernor Of the Bank Of England, and the
British consul general. Charles Give Bal
ley, representative of Arthur James Bal
four. British foreign secretary and the
head of the British high commission now
in this country, when honorary degrees
were conferred upon them at Columbia
University.
Passing through f1ag-bedecked thorough
fares the distinguished visitors were driv-
en- to the massive library of the uniyersi-
ty. There they beheld a great throng
which literally covered the great cement
stairs.
DR.. Butler in an address declared that
since in 1861. when Columbia received
Abraham Lincoln with its highest honors,
lit had known no such day as this
AS each in his turn rose to receive the
degree conferred upon him, the crowd
applauded.
Leaving Columbia. the party went
direct to Grants tomb.
At the Joan Of Arc statue a dele
cation from the Daughters Of the
American Revolution presented Mar
shall Joffre with a check for $4,000
francs to be used at his discretion for
charitable purposes.
A wreath Of white laurel was hand
ed Marshal Joffre and he placed it rev.
erently at the base of the statue while
the crowd stood silent.
Lafayette Statue
France, through Marshal Joffre. hero
of the Marine. unveiled statue of an
earlier hero Of her national life, Laf-
ayette. at Prospect park in Brooklyn
today. Earlier. the marshal had been
presented with miniature of the Stat
ue of Liberty in Central park. After
loosipg the tri-color and the American
flag which concealed the Lafayette
stone, the marshal and his compatriots
were the luncheon guests of the Mer-
chants Association.