The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-12-26

| Chaumont, Dec. 26.-President
| Wilson received a most cordial wei
| come yesterday fro mthe people OF
Chaumont, a town which has been
come yesterday from the people OF
the American Expeditionary forces
in France and is now the headquar-
tiers of the commander-in chief. II
is the town from which Americas
part in finishing the war was direct
| ed.
The presidential train, which left
Paris at midnight, drew into the
Chaumont station at o'clock yes
terday morning. General Pershing,
| General Wirbel, the French officer
commanding the zone, NJ. Fossien
| project of the department OF Marine
and M. Levy-Alphandery mayor OF
Chaumont, were on the platform to
receive the President and Mrs. Will
son. who. after responding to the
cordial greetings, passed through a
salon hung with red tapestries and
| flags to the courtyard. where a COM
pany of the 109th French infantry
and company of the 102nd Amer
lean infantry were drawn up to rem
| der honors.
Troops were in movement early
for the review. When the President
raised the curtain of window in his
car the first person he saw was a
| strapping American doughboy on
| guard, who gravely came to salute
| The President snilingly gave him a
| Merry Christmas" and made him
| the happiest soldier I'm France. A
French troop train passing gave a
| ''Vive Wilson"
AS his train moved in, the Presi-
dent saw on every hand monuments
| Of Americas participation in the
war. There were great piles of sup
| plies everywhere and American sol
| diers swarmed on locomotives. box
cars, treetops and every point OF
vantage to get glimpse of the
President and shout a MERRY
Christmas" The folks back home
would have called it the dreariest
Christmas day in history, but it was
the greatest one for these American
troops and evidently very happy
one for the President.
Reviews Troops
Immediately after reception at
the hotel De Vile, President Wilson
with General Pershing and party
motored to Humes, where the Pres
ident reviewed detachment OF the
First army OF the American Expe-
dictionary forces. Addressing the
troops, General Pershing said:
MI. 1TGSlQGIlL ana IGAlOW SOIu1BTSs
We are gathered here today to do
honor to the commander of our
armies and navies. For the first
time an American president will re-
view an American army on foreign
soil-the soil of a sister republic be-
sides whose gallant troops we have
fought to restore the peace OF the
world.
Speaking for you and your COM
rades, am proud to declare to the
President that no army has ever
more Loyalty or more effectively
served its country and none has ever
fought in nobler cause.
You, Mr. President, by your con-
fidence and by your support. have
made the success of our arms, and to
you, as our COMMUNICATIVE chief may
now present the nations victorious
army"
The Presidents Reply
In replying President Wilson said:
General PeTshing and fellow conn
rades:' wish that could give to
each one of you the message that
know you are longing to receive
from those at home who love you.
cannot do that, but / can tell you how
every one has put his heart into II.
So you have done your duty, and
something more. You have done
your duty and you have done ii
with a spirit which gave 1t distinc-
ton and glory.
And now we are to hail the fruits
of everything. You conquered, when
yDu came over. what you came over
for and You have done what 1t waa