Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-12-17
PRESIDENT WILSON
WELCOMED WITH
A ROAR OF GUNS
Greatest Ovation to Amy Person in the
History OF France-Many Thous-
ands Line the Routes

President and Mrs. Wilson and their
party have arrived in France and
were accorded greeting never ex.
celled in similar event in the his
tory of the world. As it was, the first
president of America, while in Office,
who had visited the shores of the
world. And it was the first President
while in office. who had visited the
shores of the old world, it made the
occasion all the more extraordinary.
The presidential fleet was first sight
ed at l1:30 a. M, fifteen miles out.
The sea was calm and the stately feet
moved landward under skies which
were steadily frightening after dark
and gloomy morning 1t was more
than an hour later the ships were sig
nalized at the harbor entrance and a
great cheer arose from the waiting
crowd as the cloud of black smoke
showed that the presidential fleet was
near.
Ahead a single destroyer showed
the way. Close behind loomed the
huge bulk of the Pennsylvania and
Wyoming, flying respectively the flags
of Admiral Mayo, commander of the
Atlantic fleet, and Vice Admiral Sims,
commander of the American naval
forces in European waters. Just be-
hind came the Washington, bearing
the president, fianked By the Arkan-
sas, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Oklaho-
ma, New York, Texas and Arizona,
by French cruisers and by a great
fotilla of American and French de-
stroyers.
AS the fleet neared the inner har-
Dor land batteries and assembled war
craft took up the thunderous salute,
while Quays, hills and terraces of the
old Breton city rang with cheers. At
the same time all the war craft, mer-
chantmen and transports dressed
ship and manned the yards and the
strains of the American anthem float
ed over the water, mingling with roar
of guns and shouts of vast crowds.
President Wilson witnessed the
spectacle from the deck of his steam
er, waiving greetings and acknowledge
mentS as the cheering throug ashore
We'd with artillery in the old worlds first
tribute TO an American president.
Soon after the arrival, S. Picon, foreign
minister, and Georges Leygues, minister
of marine, boarded the Washington to
extend greeting. American officials also
went on board to make arrangements for
the president.
The days first ray of sunlight fell
across the George Washington as she an
chored, while the huge reproduction of
the Statue of Liberty on shore was bril-
liantly illuminated as the sun broke
through.
French ministers and American Off
cials boarded the George Washington at
l:30, accompanied by Miss Margaret Will
son. Then preparations began for the
presidents landing. About fifty Ameri-
cans and French warships were in the
roadstead,
The president and party arrived at
Brest at 1 O'Clock p. m. and at 3:24
stepped on shore with Mrs. Wilson,
the latter carrying an American flag
and a boquet. They were escorted
to the tribune amid cheers and salvos
and the notes of "The Star Spangled
Banner" He was welcomed by Maj
or Goude of Brest, to which the presi-
dent replied.
From Brest the presidential party,
which had been largely augmented
by leading men of France, and Col.
e. M. House, Gen. Pershing, Gen.
Bliss, Admiral Benson and other
Americans, started for Paris, which
city was reached on Saturday, where
another ovation was had and where
Poincare and Premier Clemenceau,
greeted the nations guests.
The president will attend the peace
conference, make trips out from Paris
and visit England before returning to
America.