Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-15
THE BAST|LE DAY
WAS CELEBRATED
AS OUR VERY OWN
Hundreds Of American Cities Join
in Marking Natal Day OF Lib
erty For France.
ENTHUSIASM EVERYWHERE

sung and played the length and breadth
of America. by its civilians, by its soldiers
in camps and cantonments and by sailors
Mt sea. for America was joining France
in celebrating her greatest national
holiday, Bastile Day. as less than fort
night ago France joined America in celc-
brating the Fourth of July. More than
100 cities had ohservsnces yesterday.
Perhaps President Wilson in his mess
age to President Poincare of the French
Republic, more than any one else. ex-
pressed the feeling of the country, when
he said: "Thc sea seems very narrow
today, France is so close a ncighbor to
our hearts.
GREAT CELEBRATION N NEW YORK.
In New York, where the greatest
celebrations were held, the city was gay
with the tricolor of France. churches were
filed to listen TO sermons having France
as their theme. and halls were packed by
those ANXIOUS 20 honor the valiant French
The day here began with morning SER
vices in the churches. where sermons
drawn from French valor were preached
and where, in some instances, special
exercises were held
In the afternoon came the impressive
ohscrvanccs at the statue OF Joan of Arc
on Riverside Drive In the evening,
among many of the events. there was
monster mass meeting at Madison Square
Garden, where Charles T. Hughes who
came especially from the .alrcrait in
vcstigation in Milwaukee, presided N
this event Ambassador Jusserand of
France, Count dc Ccllcre, Ambassador
from italy, Secretary of the Navy Dan
icls the Earl of Reading British am
basSador: Ignacc Padcrcwski and Samuel
GOmperS were speakers
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES
Lieu; lucicn Muratorc, tenor who
cancelled hls sailing to sing The Mar
seillalsc aroused the great audience 10 q
high pitch. hut enthusiasm reached It's
zenith when Ambassador JuSscrand read
cable message from Cen. Foch. commander
IN chief of the allied armies. IN which he
gave high praise to American arms and
said that after four wears Of struggle the
plans Of the enemy for dominion are
stopped II was then that the great
shrong arose. waved American and
French flags and cheered until 1t was
hoarse
BY order Of the government at Wash
ington every ship in the navy no matter
how small, CARVED herself IN gala dress, and
over every Federal building the length
and breadth of the land the tricolor blend
ed with our own national emblem.
In speaking before wildly enthusl-
astic audience of IS, 900 persons at Madi-
son Square Garden, last evening. former
Chief Justice Charles f. Hughes said,
In part:
WE ARE MAKING HISTORY.
The Fourth OF July. said the speaker.
will ever be united IN the record OF
liberty's triumphs: but today We are not
recounting history. we are making history,
We have not met here to dwell upon an
event, significant as 1t was, but we are
here, as | have said, TO express q tribute.
We wish 10 voice 3 tribute 10 the military
genius of France that has saved civiliza-
tIon
France almost alone bore that terrific
onslaught in those first anxious days
and In all that We shall have 10 say later
We must not forget that brilliant in the
arts of peace France Is an adept IN the
arts of war. and saved liberty and olivia
ton by giving the great forces Of democ-
cracy breathing spell, and won he day
III advance, IN the victory OF the Marne
But military genius Is sln vain I'M
less the people represented by that genius
are willing To do and 10 suffer.
We pay tonight our tribute 10 France
because France of al has borne the most
and has sacrificed the most IN freedoms
cause. Her devas tated soil is soaked with |
inc blood Of her sons.
TRIBUTE TO FoRTITUDE
We pay tribute tonight to the forti- |
tude with which France has maintained !
herself through these long years of con |
tinual and increasing sacrifice. But there |
l. something better than fortitude; there |
Is something better than the mere ca /
pacity 10 endure and to suffer, remarkable /
as that capacity is. We pay tribute to- /
night to the unquenchable ardor .of /!
France, the spirit N France. rising /
triumphant IN the midst of difficulties. /
undaunted amid the most terrible perils. /
threatened al its very heart but never /
discouraged, with an invincible strength /
ot character and purpose that no enemy /
should ever reach-a people uncon- /
qucrable fIt sons Of liberty 10 win her /
cause
We now, the heirs Of all the ages.
and IN the foremost files Of time. find II our /
great privilege and honor 10 carry for s
ward that banner, and to place it secure.
not as the banner Of this country or Of that +
country, but a. the banner OF humanity. +
with peace and liberty to all
FRANCE SHALL BE RESTORED i
We are doing more tonight than paw
ing tribute. We are here TO make our
pledge. We make our pledge TO the peo-
pie OF France We make our pledge and I
It is the pledge OF people able To redeem I
1t. We make our pledge that France shall
be restored, her beautiful territory re-
garnished, that once more she shall DC
renewed In all her strength We make
our pledge that Alsace-Lorraine shall be
Il reread the historic words of our
President IN his address with respect
TO the aims of our people in this struggle.
He said All French territory should be
free, and the invaded portions restored
and the wrong done to France by Prussia
In 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorrainc, !
which has unsettled the peace Of the
world for fifty years, shall be righted. in
order that peace may once more be made
secure in the interests of all
in that admirable statement the
President voiced the sentiment Of hb-
erty loving America, the sentiment Of the
ancient friends Of France, tie sentiment
that IN the hour of triumph the nation
which has borne the most shall receive