The sun., 1918-11-18
PARIS CELEBRATES
RECLAMATION DAY
POincare Says Liberation Of
Alsace- Lorraine Is Justice
Awakened.
CITY HAS GREAT PARADE
100000 Civilians. March in
Symbolism of Gratitude
to Troops.

PARIS, Nov. 17.-President Poincare
speaking at to-day's celebration over the
return to France Of Alsace and I,or-
raine. said those provinces had been
awaiting in. silence the awakening OF
sleeping Justice.
Germany by her declaration OF war,
he said, had liberated the French from
the coercion TO which they were con-
strained to suhmit through their love OF
peace and horror OF bloodshed. The
country and the army had passed
through four years Of alternate hope
and detection. The nation has seen
death pluck tire flower OF its youth, but
nothing had broken It's will to van1uish.
Perseverance and energy. said the Presi-
dent, had finally been rewarded and
Alssce and Lorraine had again become
French
n. Poincate praised the sagacity and
energy OF Premier Georges Clemeneeau.
who had worked for the liberation OF the
captive provinces.
Sacrifice by Strangers.
The greatest number OF the heroes who
had fallen In the fight, he said. had not
known Aisace- Lorraine the people
there were not their neishbors But
they had kept their eyes on the In
effaceable vision of Alsace-Lorraine' s
blue mountains and wide plains and had
sacrificed themselves to return them 10
France.
President Poincare styled the pro-
posal for plebiscite to determine the
disposition OF the provinces as naught
but a snare and an attempt at a con-
troversion Of justice. What had come
was restitution, pure and simple, and
that was what the universal conscience
demanded.
The President declared that the forces
Of the Allies had won equal glory on
common ideal He ended with an ex-
preston OF reverence for those who
had died.
Civilians Only in Parade.
.Alsace-Lorraine day was celebrated
here not by victorious troops marching
through the city but by countless pro-
cessions OF civilians on parade before
10000 troops scattered along the route
from the Arc de Triomphe TO the Place
de la ConcOrde and then past the mon
uments of Joan OF Arc. Gambetta and
Lafayette.
II Is estimated that 100000 menu
bers OF societies OF every social kind
marched in the professions, and II
seemed as II the remainder Of Paris.
taking advantage OF the clear, cold
weather. lined the route.
1t was the first official grand manifes-
tation since the armistice was signed
Ind was intended TO symbolic the graft
tude OF the civilians TO the victorious
troops. Spruce branches brought by Amer
lean automobiles direct from AsRee DECO
rated the stand from which President
Poincnte spoke. The stand faced the
Rue de Strasbourg. the Rue Lille and
the Place dc la Concorde.
Americans Are Acclaimed.
A detachment of American soldiers
and American Red Cross women workers
received n warm welcome from the
crowd. A group Of ATTY Mayors and a
hundred and fifty veterans from Alsace-
Lorraine, surrounded by girls dressed In
the national costume OF Alsace-Lorraine,
evoked the greatest enthusiasm.
The evacuation OF France by the Ger
mans now completed. President POM
care and Premier Clemenceau will par
ticipate in the official entrance Of Al
SAGE Lorraine. Gen. Mangin has been
mentioned as Governor OF Metz.
BASEL, Nov. 17.-French troops en-
tered on Saturday Colmar and Null
hansen, two of Germany's great for
tresses in Alsace, according TO a des-
patch received here. There was no
trouble in either place.