Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-16
BLUEDEvnSPAY'
TRIBUTE TO BELL.
French Fighters Sing "Mar.
seillaise'' at Independ.
ence Hall
VISIT LEAGUE ISLAND

| Gathered around the Liberty Bell and
singing the "Marseillaise." the famous
| French Blue Devils" cemented the tie
OF brotherhood which has existed be-
| tween their country and America since
the days of tho Revolution.
II was a ftting conclusion to an i'm
pressive ceremony held at Independence
Hall at 1880 today.
The Blue Devils" arrived at noon
from League Island and were ushered
into Independence Hall amid the strains
of The Redemption Of fAlsace-Lorrainc,"
| played by the Police Band.
| As the machines drew up at Inde-
pendence Square several pretty French
| girls climbed aboard and imprinted
kisses on the battle-scarred faces Of
| two heroes whose many medals and
ornaments bore testimony to the valorous
| deeds they had performed in defense OF
their country.
On behalf Of Mayor Smith. Director
of Supplies Joseph s. Mclaughlin well
coined the French fighters to Philadel-
phia. America can never forget the
debt she owes to France" he said, for
what you did for us when we were
struggling for independence. France not
only gave us OF the flower of her man
hood but many thousands of dollars. II
there were no other motive, this is suf-
fcient to cause Americas entrance into
the war"
DR.. Ernest la Place. translated Di-
rector McLaughlin's speech which was
! vigorously applauded by the Frenchmen.
Lieutenant lie Moal who Is In COM
mand of the Blue Devils" thanked the
people of Philadelphia for their hos
ptality.
! we can readily observe the trc-
mendous difference between America,
our ally. tlnd Germany, our enemy" he
said. Germany is a country which has
| entered the war for selfish gain.
America has entered because II is IA
country of the highest ideals"
The Blue Devils" came to present
arms while the band played the Mar
seilaise," and remained at the same
position when the strains of the Star
Spangled Banner" followed.
visit Navy Yard
The ceremony at Independence Hall
was preceded by II tour OF League
Island and Il visit to the store at Tenth
| and Market streets. where the War
| Chest has an official war exhibit.
| The Blue Devils" with guns at pre-
sent arms. marched through the door of
| the store to the strains OF the Mar
scillaise" played by the Police Band
| on Market street and In the store were
greeted by the music of their national
! anthem rendered by the Great Lakes
Naval station Band. The French bugle
| corps blew a salute to their colors and
| after viewing the exhibit. the men re-
entered the motorcars which proceeded
| to Independence Hall.
Tremendous applause announced the
arrival of the Blue Devils" at Broad
Street Station this morning Several
hundred people were gathered at the
gates when the special arrived and by
the time the fighters had finished break
fast, there were almost a thousand per-
sons in and around the station who had
come to get "a glimpse of the hundred
wounded and decorated French soldiers
! Breakfast was served by the Canteen
Club of the American Red Cross. and
at Q o'clock the Blue Devils" marched
through the crowded station to Marke.
street to be conveyed In automobiles to
the League Island Navy Yard. The
autos were driven by the Emergency Aid
motor service of young women.
In order to keep the engagement at
the store. the trip to League Island was
a hurried one. The cars stopped long
enough to allow Rear Admiral Tappan,
commandant Of the yard, to be intro
duced to Lieutenants lie Moal, Levie,
| Canal and Cluzeau. and then the men
were taken around the yard to view the
ships, buildings and equipment
At IL o'clock they returned to the
| exhibit and Inspected the war relics,
From there they went to Independence
Hall
They were the guests of Mrs. Cor
nelius Stevenson at luncheon at the
Acorn Club and from there went to an
afternoon and evening fete for the
benefit of the Womans Overseas Hos
pitaI on the estate Of Mrs. Charles A.
Mum. at Radnor.
The spirit Of the fete is largely
French. in recognition Of the fact that
the women's hospitals for which the
fete is being given were first accepted
by the French Government.
"A French play, lie Pere Ses Raj
sons" presented by Henri de, Lurtol
Jean Sarment and Mile, Jane Lory. will
be given tonight indoors On the lawn
Agnes de Selding. OF New York. will
give three patriotic dances in costume
''The Spirit Of Belgium" The Spirit Of
England" and Wake Up, America T.
Mildred Faas will sing "The Marseil-
laise" and Belgian moving pictures will
be given In the open air.
The Richards collection of French
war posters, which were gathered in
Paris by a daughter OF Mrs. Lucy Rich
ards of the United States Department
of Labor. will be exhibited.
While in Philadelphia the BLUE
Devils" are In charge of the Pennsylva-
mia womens Suffrage Association. Mrs.
George A. Dunning IL chairman of that
organization. and Mrs. Francis Girls
com has charge Of transportation.