The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-13
Landed on French Soil at 3:22
O'Clock This Afternoon.
His Ship Reached the Harbor
of Brest at Noon.
DROPPED ANCHOR At ONCE
Great Welcome to Wilson ny
People of Brest.
For First Time United states
President Is in France.

Brest. Dec. 13.-President Wilson
left Brest for Paris at O'Clock TINS
afternoon. His progress from the pier
to his train was amidst a Voclterous
welcome from the throng.
The president delivered a brief ad-
dress after landing at Brest, thanking
Mayor Goude for the Breton welcome
given him. He then drove thru the
cheering crowds, the frantic ovation
continuing until he reached the rail-
way station.
Ashore at 3:22.
Brest. Dec 13.-President Wilson
stepped ashore on French soil at 81
O'Clock this afternoon. Mrs. Wilson
preceded the president, carrying
small flag.
President Wilson reached the har-
bor of Brest on board the steamer
George Washington at l O'Clock TINS
afternoon and within an hour stepped
on shore, the first time an American
president had trod European soil
There was a laundering cannonade
as the presidents launch left the
George Washington and landed at fler
Nc 5 1t was escorted to the tribune
amid cheers and the notes of the star
Spangled Banner.
In 1larDOr at Noon.
Erest France, Dec. 13.-The George
Washington, with President wilson n
and his official party aboard, arrived
off Erest shortly after noon today.
The convoy of American warships
WIS entering the harbor as this was
cabied
The George Washington was sighted
at 1880 o'clock; was passing Point 81
Matthew. fifteen mile outside the
harbor-
The battleship squadron escortln9
the George Washington entered the
hafbor at noon with the president
ship far back in the haze.
The steamer George washington
With President Wilson on board en-
tered the harbor of Brest shortly aftel
noon today.
A single destroyer showed the way
to the fleet and close behind loomet
the huge bulk of the battleships Penn
sylvania and Wyoming flying respect
ively the flags of Admiral Mayo, com
mander of the Atlantic fleet, and VIC
Admiral Sims. commander OF TN
American naval forces in Europea1
waters. Just back of them moved TN
George Washington, bearing the presl
dent, flanked on either side by tn
battleships Arkansas. Florida. Utah
Nevada. Oklahoma, New York, IeXa
and Arizona, by French cruisers an
by a great flotilla of American an
The entrance to the harbor is
narrow strait mile wide, Tort
crowning the towering cliffs on eac
side Thru this avenue the lmposln
pageant moved, each of the ten fort
contributing it's cannonade and tn
ten American battleships answerln
gun for gun.
Batteries in Salute.
AS the fleet neared the inner harbo
the land batteries and the assemble
war craft took up the thunderou
salute, while the hills, quays and tn
terraces of the old Breton city ran
with cheers from the enthusiast
multitude. At the same time all tn
war craft merchantmen and trans
ports dressed ships and manned tn
Yards and the strains of the America
anthem floated over the water, mine
ling with the roar of the guns and tn
shouts of the vast crowds.
The George Washington came !
anchor a mile off shore while tn
battleships ranged themselves
double column on either side. Pres
dent Wilson witnessed the spectac
from the deck of his steamer. wavin
greetings and acknowledgements as TT
cheering throng ashore We'd with tf