Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-13
Brcst,. December IL

Il III
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Brest, December I3.
President Wilson arrived in the harbor
of Brest Mt one o'clock this afternoon on
board the steamer George Washington
amid deafening salvos Of artillery ahoat
and on shore. The arrival was the culmi-
nation of an imposing naval spectacle
which began ~ the Presidential feet
rounded the outer capes, then passed the
entrance forts and moved majestically
into the harbor where the George WASH
ington anehored at the head Of a long
double column of American dreadnoughts
aud destroycrs and the Units of French
cruiser squadron.
FLEET REACHES HARBoR.
The Presidential feet was first sighted
at l1.3o o'clock this morning, fifteen
miles off shore. The sea was calm, and
the stately fleet moved landward under
skies which were steadily Frightening
after a dark and gloomy morning. 1t
was more than an hour later that the fleet
was signallcd at the entrance of the harbor,
and great cheer arose from the waiting
crowd as the cloud of black smoke showed
that the Presidential party was near.
MISS WILSON JOINS FATHER.
The French ministers and American
officials boarded the George Washington
at I.30. They were accompanied by
Miss Margaret Wilson. As soon as they
had gone aboard the George Washington,
preparations began for the Presidents
landing. about fifty American and French
warships were IN the roadstcad
GREET NAVAL rLorILLA.
Anead came a single destroyer, showing
the way To the feet. and close behind
loomei the battleships PENNSYLVANIA
and Wyoming, flying respectively the
flags Of Admiral Mayo, commander
the Atlantic fleet and Vice Adm iral Sims
commander Of the American naval forces
in European waters Then came the
George Washingt ON, bearing the President
fanked on either side by the battleships
Arkansas. Florida, Utah, Nevada, Okla
homa, New York. Texas and Arizona,
by french cruisers and by a great flotilla
OF American and French 10rpedoooat
destroyeTs.
sALUTEs FROM FRENCH FORTS.
The entrance TO the haroor is narrow
strait mile wide, with forts crowning
the towering cliffs on each side. Through
this avenue the imposing pageant noyc!
each of the len forts contributing its
cannonadc and the ten American battle
ships answering gun for gun
As the fleet neared the inner harnor the
land batteries and the assembled war
craft took up inc thunderous salute, whic
the quaYs tne hills aud inc terraces q the
old Breton citN rang Win cneers from the
enthusiastic multitude ~ the same time
all the war craft. lnercn9ntmen aud trans
ports dressed snip and manned the yards,
while the strains of the American Anthem
fioated over the water, mngling with the
roar of the guns and the shouts Of the
vast crowds.
CROWD ASHORE CHEER WILSON.
The George Washington came to an
chor off shore while the battleSnlps ranged
themselves in double column on either side
President Wilson witnessed the spec
tacle from the deck OF ms steamer, waving
greetings ana Acknowledgements As the
cheering thrnngs ashore Wed with the
artilleryln III the old worlds first tribute 10
the American President
FRANCE WELCOMES PRESIDENT.
Soon after the arrival of the Presi-
Dental feet, Stephon piehon, the French
Foreign Minister and Georges Leygues,
the Minister Of Marine who were at
Brest to meet the President on be- alf
OF the French government, boarded the
George Washington, to extend their
first greeting American officials also
went on board to make the arrange
ments for the landing Of the President.
CROWDS CHEER As nH LANDS
The President with Mrs. Wilson,
landed Al | o'clock Ills progress from
the pier 10 his TRAIN was amidst a Yo-
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