New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-12
New York's Most Brill.
liant Gathering Ac-
claims Guests
Crowds Turn Out
To Greet English
Reception at City Hall;
Joffre Goes to West
Point
By F.F. VAN DE WATER. JR.

BY r. r. VAN DE WATER. JR
Until last'night the Grand Ball Room
Of the Waldorf Astoria was known as
the chamber wherein the citizens OF
New York once gathered to do honor to
Prussian royalty. Since 1902 the great
hall has been pointed out as the place
where the people of the city made well
come. with fete and rejoicing, Prince
Henry Of Hohenzollern, brother Of the
, Kaiser
To-day the memory OF that time
when New York took one Of the over.
lords of Prussia to its bosom has dis
appeared. His name has vanished.
blotted out BY the titles OF those who
gathered there last night, the greatest
assemblage Of the upholders OF democ-
racy that the nation has ever beheld-
Marshal Joffre, NJ. Rene Viyiani. Arthur
James Balfour. Rear Admiral de Chair,
Vice-Admirsl Chocheprat. Lieutenant
General Bridges, Marquis de Chsmbrun,
Lord Cunliffe, Colonel Roosevelt, Will
lam Howard Taft, Charles =. Hughes,
Governor Whitman, Mayor Mitchell
and the glamour Of the royal presence
that has clung TO the chamber for hf-
teen years also has disappeared,
blasted out of existence by the cheers
of fifteen hundred persons, thrilled
with the desire to welcome their allies
in war, frantic WI cagerness TO Join
in that conflict waa steel, lead and man
| power.
Last night marked the meeting Of
the two Missions sent hither by our
two great allies. Il was also the time
when those whose names stand for
what is best in the greatest city Of the
west broke bread with the men who
have upheld the ideals Of democracy
) for nearly three bitter years.
They Can Cheer, Too
One last bit of information was added
to the store which the weary French
commissioners have been collecting
during the eventful three days they
| have passed in the city. They learned
last night that citizens Of New York,
( in broadcoth and finc linen. in gay
silks and with bere arms and shoulders,
can yell quite as loudly, and long and
: enthusiastically, as their brethren who
/ have lined the curbs since Thursday TO
/ eao ha vioitorc raea
The emissaries Of our two great
Allies dned last night on simple Amer
! ican fare-the sort Of meal that might
I have been set before guests in any
home in the United States. Ard the
jubilation which sputtered and fumed
and at intervals throughout the even
ing, exploded violently, was as wholly
American and substantial.
/ Warm Welcome to English
This was the climax Of day which
saw the advent of the British Com
mission, and its ride through streets
as filled with the roar of welcome as
they had been on Thursday when the
French arrived New York in the
warmth of her newly discovered heart,
took the Englishmen to her bosom with
all of the heartiness that she had be.
slowed on Joffre and his colleagues.
So mighty was the greeting that she
gave to the Britons, that when, at the
conclusion Of the reception in City
Hall, Mr.. Balfour arose to speak, his
long, humorous face was working with
( emotion, and he only maintained his
British reserve by cutting short his
address when his voice began 70 break
The day which ended with last nights
demonstration also saw the strong.
simple Marshal OF France trudging
down the long, perfect line Of the
cadets at West Point, and heard hin,
eAclaim as he surveyed the sralwart
ranks of the nations young fighting
men:
Bully
This is the sole word OF English
that the man wine stopped them at the
Marne' has spoken in public during
his stay here. 1t was an oration in
itself.
While Joffre was IN ais element with
the gray-coated ranks az West Point,
Rene Viyiani, Frances Minister Of JUS
tice, was lunching with the lawyers Of
New York and listening to an address
by Charles +. Hughes, filled with the
fire OF patriotism and the call 10 duty
which every American faces.
Growing Event of Visit
And then, last night came the crown,
ing event OF the French commissions
sojourn here. In the fag-draped,
laurel-wreathed grand ballroom they
heard the leading men OF New York
City tell them artieulately what the
wordless below OF millions has been
sounding in their ears for the last three
days.
Facing the great electric display of
the flags of the three allies, that hung
from the Fifth Avenue side Of the
hotel, thousands Of persons packed the
sidewalks waiting for the members OF
the two commissions TO arrive. The