The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-04-26
Distinguished Party on Way to
Washington.
ON BOARD THE MAYFLoWER
Commission includes Gen. Joffre and
Former Premier viViani-No u
Boats Sighted on the Way
oVer-Ship Guarded by
War Vessels.

commission has safely landed IN Tile
United States.
The commission win arrive in Wash
ington today on board the presidential
yacht Mayflower from Hampton
Roads.
This official statement was made by
the government:
sThe department of state is advised
Of the safe arrival OF the French COM
mission"
Later the state department issued
this further statement:
''The department of state is advised
that the French mission will reach
Washington today. The precise time
and place of arrival will be announced
later"
The commission, which includes
Marshal Joffre and former Premier
Viviani, arrived early in the morning
on board speedy steamship of the
French line, which was conveyed
across the Atlantic.
The vessels were met off the coast
by American torpedo-boat destroyers
and escorted TO port.
The French mission was welcomed
by the following:
For the department of state: Third
Assistant Secretary Breckenridge
Long.
For the war department: Maj. Gen.
Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff; Lieut..
Col. Spencer Cosby. Maj. Fox Conner,
Capt Philip Sheridan.
For the navy department: Assistant
Secretary Franklin d. Roosevelt and
Rear Admiral Harry Mel. p. Huse.
The mission was also met by the
French ambassador, the French mill
tary attache, Colonel yignal, and the
French naval attache, Commander de
Blanpre.
French Coiors Unfurled.
Az the ship bearing the French COM
mission came into port American war
ships broke out French colors from
their mastheads and American bands
played the French national anthem. No
salutes were fired.
The special train bearing the mis-
sion slipped out of Paris in the early
morning observed only by few secret
American flag was flying here and
there along the route, not in recOgni-
lion of the party going to America but
because every town and village In
France, both by government request
and personal sentiment, is showing
the American colOrs.
The transfer from train to ship was
across the Atlantic.
Warships passed out ahead Of the
French steamer into the danger zone,
which In this case is one of the haunt
ing places of German submarines.
Joffre's fellow members in the mis-
sion had an opportunity during the
voyage to come into intimate contact
with him.
Although social in his attitude,
Joffre is a silent man by habit. Joffre
is prepared. If President Wilson should
ask, to indicate what, in his judgment,
America might do.
JOffre has been in America before.
II was 20 years ago while on his way
home on leave from service in the
colonies. He stopped four or five days
at Chicago while proceeding from San
Francisco to New York.
II look forward with extraordinary
interest to the experiences j am like
IL to have In America" said Marshal
Joffre to a correspondent who accom-
panied the French mission. First OF
all / shall meet your president whom
IN, In -,
rope as one of the greatest statesmen
of our time, great in his gifts of lead
ership, in his practical everyday wis.
dom and in his vision OF what the fu.
ture ought to and may be.
AZ want 10 meet the counselors
whom the president has called about
him; your military men, now my com
rides In arms, and to renew my &C
qualntance with American people. The
impressions of the month l was IL
America are still fresh, but ! want t.
add TO them, compare what saw theT
with the changes that have taken place
In the long interval. / have now and
then thought of the advantage TO my
self Of another visit TO the United
States, but busy years in Africa ant
In France have never allowed me t.
tnke so long vacation. Now forum
ately for me, this official mission gives
me the opportunity"
Among the most notable figures In
France are the members of the French
mission. at fits head is Rene yiviani
minister of Justice and vice president
of the council of ministers, who EN-
bodies the highest type Of French de,
mocracy. He is a progressive In every
sense, belonging TO the independent
socialist party, which includes such
men as PaInleye, BRAND and Mlilerand
AS minister OF labor In the Clemen'
ceau cabinet he passed the workers
pension law through parliament