Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-04-27
Distinguished Party on Way to
Washington.
GIN BOARD THE MAYFL0WER
Commission includes Gen. Joffre and
Former Premier ViViani-No u
Boats Sighted on the Way
oVer-Ship Guarded by
War Vessels.

united states.
The commission Will arrive in Wash
angton today on board the presidential
yacht Mayfiower from Hampton
Roads.
This official statement was made by
the government:
'The 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 win reach
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 Vignal, and the
French naval attache, Commander de
Blanpre.
French CoIors Unfurled
AS the ship bearing the French COM
mission came into port American war
ships broke out French colOrs from
their Inastheads and American bands
played the French national anthem. No
salutes were fired.
The special train bearing the mis-
sion slipped out OF Paris n the early
morning observed only by few secret
service agents and railroad men. The
American flag was flying here and
there along the route, not In recogni-
ton 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
without event, as was the voyage
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 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.
1t was % 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.
~ look forward with extraordinary
interest to the experiences l am like
ly to have in America" said Marshal
.Joffre to a correspondent who accom-
panied the French mission. First of
ell shall meet your president, whom
We have learned TO look upon In Eu-
rope as one of the greatest statesmen
of our time, great in his gifts CT lead
ership, in his practical everyday wis
dom and in his vision of what the flu
ture ought to and may be.
II want to meet the counselors
whom the president has called about
him; your military men, now my COM
rades in arms, and to renew my ac-
quaintance with American people. The
impressions of the month | was in
America are still fresh, but 1 want to
add to them, compare what l saw then
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 and
in France have never allowed me to
take 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 its head is Rene Viviani,
! minister Nof justice and vice president
of the council of Minister'S who en-
bodies the highest type of French de-
mocracy. He is progressive in every
sense, belonging TO the Independent
socialist party. which includes such
men as Painleve. BRAND and AIillerand.
AS minister of labor In the Clemen-
anorr eahinnt he nnccnA Tho ,,.n,.lr orc,