Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-07
PERSHING'S MEN
ADDRESSED BY
FRENCH CHIEF
American Army Passes in
Review Before Military
Commanders

American Training Camp in France.
Sept. (delayed). their
British trench helmets and looking
very grim and warlike. the American
troops passed in review before Presi-
dent Poincare of the French republic
to-day. They were massed in great
solid squares and marching quickly to
spirited American music presented a
spectacle of unusual martial splendor.
President Poincare, addressing the
| troops later, said that he had wit
messed their demonstration with great
emotion and felt that events were
ever bringing the French and Ameri-
can peoples closer and closer together.
The French president, accompanied
by Paul Painleve, minister of war
and marine; General Petain, and sew
eral other French generals, was met
at the American field headquarters by
General Pershing and General Sibert.
To-day was the anniversary of the
birth of Lafayette as well as the be-
ginning of the Battle of the Marne
and President Poineare said that he
had specially selected the date to pay
his first visit to the American troops.
He inspected several American bar
racks and billeting quarters in French
villages and then left to visit some
historic spots on the Marne battle
| field.
Poincare Addresses Army
General Pershing presented Presi-
dent Poincare and the president, step
ing into the semicircle, removed his
cap as he began to speak in a clear.
farreaching voice. He spoke in French
but already a majority of the officers
of the eXpeditionary force are ac-
quainted with the language and they
followed each sentence closely.
1T makes me very happy" Presi-
dent Poincare said, ito be able to
bring to-day the congratulations of
the French republic to this very fine
army commanded by General Pershing
and which l have just seen marching
before me in such a magnificent man.
ner. 1t filled me with emotion at see
ing so many gallant officers and so
many brave soldiers, who faced the
dangers of the sea to come to the soil
of France to defend the common cause
of the allies and to consecrate their
lives, if need be. to the common cause
of liberty. AS President Wilson said
the other day. we are all fighting for
the same ends and the interests of
the free United States are at stake
everywhere. The allied armies are at
grips with the enemy. whether 1t be
in Flanders. before Verdun, or on the
IsonZo.
Common AnuIyersarfea
To-day in all of the great cities
of America is being celebrated the
anniversary of the birth of Lafayette.
To-day also l will visit the tombs OF
the heroes of the Battle of the Marne
the men fallen in that advance guard
of the armies which are now fighting
for right and civilization. Thus our
two countries are celebrating to-day
two common anniversaries, which
must draw them still more closely
together and inspire them in the
struggles in which they are engaged"
President Poincare referred briefly
to the gift of a flag from the mayor
of Philadelphia to the municipal
council of Paris and concluded his
address with the cry, Long live Pres
ident Wilson! Long live the free Unit
ed States!"
President Poincare. was warmly
applauded and then the officers gave
three cheers and a tiger. The cheer
ing was taken up by the troops in the
distance and continued while the pres
ident and his party were moving off
the reviewing field. One noncommis-
stoned officer who stood near the
; party during the speech was greeted
by some of his men when he rejoined
his command with the question.
What did he say?
81 don't know. exactly" was the
reply, but l think he said to give
EN- hell!"
| That's the stuff" yelled a number
! of privates in chorus and the word