The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-12-14
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President Wilson Lands 0ltil
Good Will Of French
Freely Given.
DIFFICULTIES TO FACE
Politicians Would s'Q6par'
Him-People Look to HIM
to Bring Peace.

tLondon Times.Phil. Ledger Cop. q4tteD
Brest, France. Dec. 1ft4ay
afternoon for the first ltfmS TX (s-
tory, a president Of the Unite es
landed on European soil. lN&f0 "a
a GUEST more welcome tlsfn-3 T. ~
son was In France. It would be easy
to expatiate at length on the differ
ent reasons which assure him a
whole hearted greeting from every
section of French opinion, but there
is one cause of cordiality common to
all classes. 1t is gratitude for the
achievements of America in the war
and the hopes France derives from
Mr.. Wilson's activities for the future
Of peace.
There are people in this country
who seem to imagine he brings In
his pocket some sort Of cure. some
Kind of patent medicine, which will
rid the world forever from it's old
malady of war. They are not many
but the whole country has derived
benefit already from the loftiness
of Mr.. Wilson's thought and wishes
him well in his efforts with the
statesmen, and the allies will tran
slate, for the common good, the ideal
of peace into lasting practice. Presi-
dent Wilson lands with the complete
good will Of all the French people,
freely given him. They don't look to
him as an arbiter. but as one who,
having been glorious by association
with the allies in the war has the
right TO cooperate with them In
peace. There are, nevertheless, GER
tain difficulties and currents in his
course down the river of peace.
Desire ill-Concealed.
One of them Is the immnence of
the French general elections and an
ILL., concealed desire OF certain politi-
cal sections to collar" the president
and turn his presence to a party ad-
vantage. This Is small undercur-
rent. Today the unanimity of France
was well shown by manifestations Of
welcome issued by the conservative
Liguedes patriots, radical socialist
party, also the presence on the land
ing stage of socialists such as Long
quet, Roftins and Dugons, and syn
dicalists such as Jouhaux.
The fine seaport of Brest is an
admirable stage for such an historic
landing. Its hills and ramparts give
fine view and the crowded docks
wide roadstead. Long before noon
the people gathered at commanding
points, gazing seaward, each trying
to catch out of the lifting mist, the
first sight of President Wilson's ves-
sci and Its escorts of American bat
tleships. In the forenoon the French
warships. Montcalm, Admiral and
Aubo, and half dozen destroyers
left the port for the roadstead where
they lined up in readiness to salute
with twenty one guns and the regp-
lation sevenfold cheer. of. French
naval courtesy.
s Under Gray Breton Sky. I.
It was under gray Breton sky,
but without Breton rain, that the
crowds assembled on the shore from
the roadportin the railway station.
Color, which the sulky sun refused
to give, was provided by the masses
Of peasant folks in gay country cos
tunes, marvellous embroideries upon
blue and red silk dresses. and amaz-
ing lace caps covering coiffures which
hairdressers are unable even to imi-
tate. Throughout the day peasants
were flocking to the town from the
whole department OF Finistere.
President Wilson left the George
Washington at Friday afternoon
aboard the packet Pas de Calais.
Long before the packet reached the
landing stage, crowds massed on the
ramparts. which formed magnifi-
cent natural grandstand, burst into
cheers. The land batteries roared
a reply to the warships, salute. the
French marine band played the Star
Spahgled Banner" as the packet in
its war paint, was warped into the
inner dock. The crowds on the war
ships had given ringing applause as
the racket passed through the lane
1of warships. Wilson landed at 3:15.
The scene was rendered visible to
the waiting thousands by the sudden
lifting Of the mist which showed the
George Washington as 1t came to its
moorings at about Z o'clock. Slowly
out of the haze the great battleships
moved to their stations, followed by