The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1918-12-17
OF
TWO PRESIDENTS
POincail,e to Wilson

or President ana Mrs. wilson.
President Poincaires luncheon
was attended by 200 guests. The
presidential party arrived at 12:45,
passed through the lines of the
eleventh Alpine Chasseurs, who act
ed, as guard of honor in the court.
The President of France and Mad
ame Poincaire met their guests and
President Poincaire giving his arm
to Mrs. Wilson and President Will
son to Madame Poincaire they pro-
ceeded to the drawing room, where
the other guests were assembled.
Then, in accordance with the French
custom, M. Poincaire presented the
men and Madame Poincaire present.
ed the ladies to President and Mrs.
| Wilson.
The tables set in form of a horse
shoe, were decorated with red and
| white roses and large punches OF
Parma violets. The two presidents
were seated side by side with Mad
I ame Poincaire on Presidents Will
sons right and Mrs. Wilson on Pres
ident Poincare's left. M. Loubet, a
4 former president of France, was to
the left Of Mrs. Wilson.
On the table in front of the presi-
dent was mirror on which rested a
ship of blue and white violets with
two little American flags as the mast
| heads. The other table decorations
included two airplanes, also made OF
violets.
The guests included the presi-
dents of the Senate and Chamber
Premier Clemenceau and his minis
ters, former premier and former for
eign ministers and the marshals OF
France.
In his address to President Will
son, President Poincaire said:
'"Mr. President: Paris and
France awaited you with impatience,
| They were eager to acclaim in you
the illustrious democrat whose
words and deeds were inspired by
exalted thought, the philosopher de-
, lighting in the solution of universal
laws from particular events, the en-
inent statesman who had found a
way to express the highest political
and moral truths in the formulas
which bear the stamp of immortali-
! ty.
"They had also a passionate de-
sire to offer thanks in your person
to the great republic of which you
are chief for the invaluable assist
ance which had ben given spontane-
ously during this war, to the defend
ers of right and liberty.
"Even before America had resolv-
ed to intervene in the struggle she
had shown to the world and the or
phans of France solicitude and a
generosity of your Red Cross, the
countless gifts of your fellow-citi-
zens, the inspiring initiative Ameri-
can women, anticipated your militia
ry and naval action and showed the
world to which side your syn1pathies
inclined. And on the day when you
flung yourself into the battle with
determination your great people and
yourself prepared for united success.
Some months ago you cabled to
me that the United States would
send ever increasing forces until the
allied armies were able to submerge
the enemy under an overwhelming
flow Of new divisions and in effect
for more than year a steady
stream of youth and energy has
been pouring out upon the shores of
France.
mo soner had they landed than
your gallant battalions, fired by
their chief, General Pershing, flung
themselves into the combat with
such a manly contempt of danger,
such smiling diregard of death,
that our longer experience of this
terrible war often moved up to
counsel prudence. They brought
with them in arriving the enthusi-
asm Of crusaders leaving the Holy
Land.
1T is their right today to look
with pride upon the work accom-
plished and rest assured that they
have powerfully aided by the cour-
age and their faith.
Eager as they were to meet the
enemy they did not know when they
arrived the enormity Of his crimes.
That they might know how the Ger
ynlse..l.ae1 -. 1 laps Rss&)/
.ss