Evening star., 1918-07-15
NATION NPAYSH HONOR
TOFRANCE'SD DAY IN
FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
SaIutes, FIagfIying and Ora
tory on Bastile Day in
America.
M. DE BILLY PRINCIPAL
SPEAKER AT ELLlPSE

Nothing More Thrilling to French
men Than q. s. Action,
He Declares.
To France, her historic friend. upon
whose soil more than a million Ameri-
cans now are fighting for the COM
mon cause of world liberty, the United
States yesterday paid tribute. Bas-
tile day, the French national holiday.
was celebrated as widely in this coun-
try as was our own Independence day
commemorated in France.
BY order of President Wilson the
French tri-color few beside the Stars
and Stripes on every government
building. including the White House.
and celebrations were held in most
cities and towns throughout the coun-
try.
The American Navy observed Bastile
day as 1t does Independence day. IN
cluding salutes at noon by the. ships.
all of them dressed with flags.
French Soldiers Are Guests.
IN a number OF cities, members OF
the famous French Alpine chasseurS
and other French soldiers were honor
guests at public mass meetings. Four
minute men OF the committee on pub
lie information read to the millions
they addressed a message to the peol
pie of France which was sent to
Paris through Ambassador Jusserand.
The Presidents message to the French
nation also was read at community
celebrations.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor. sent
a message to the people of France
supplementing that sent to the
French laboring men.
Americas organized workers.
said the message, ARE proud to greet
the people Of France in spirit of
brotherhood and fraternity on this
anniversary of Frances historic blow
for freedom. As we signalize this
day in common we fight this day for
larged ideals of those who gave sig
nif1cance SO long ago to July IA as
they did to July f."
Exercises on Ellipse.
washington's celebration took place
on the Ellipse, under the auspices OF
the War Camp Community Service
anu the National Committee OF "a
ton Lewis of Illinois spoke on be-
half of America. and M. Edouard de
Billy, deputy French high commits
sioner to the United States, replied.
Resolutions were adopted and trans
.Marseillaise" and ''The Star Spangled
Banner
,Privates Of the Marine Corps pre-
scented simultaneously the Gags of
under the direction of Peter Dykena.
and was accompanied by the Marine
Band. The Marine Band also played
q trench song and the overture from
"Robespierre." Rev. DR.. Earle Will
dey presided.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow read
the telegram of President Wilson to
President Poincare. W. c. Nicholson
read poem, The Sacrament" Will
son Mather Lewis read the resolutions
presented all over the country by the
four-minute men. Rev. J. Forrest
Prettyman, chaplain of the Senate,
pronounced the Invocation.
THE fall of the Bastile symbolized
not only the downfall of autocracy IN
France, but also the ultimate end of
Lewis. The old Bastile represented
the things we now are fighting
against. 1t was the stronghold of au-
tocracy. injustice and oppression. and
pray God that the things 1t repre-
scented shall die and be buried in an
eternal grave"
II. de Billy said in part:
M. de Billy's Speech.
when Gen. Lafayette, after the
Bastile day, had the keys of that old
fortress sent over to Gen. Washing
ton (those keys which you can see at
Mount Vernon) he knew that in no
place in the world could the signff-
canoe Of the capture of the Bastile be
States. He also felt very deeply on
what solid foundations was establish
ed the friendship between France and
the United States, cemented by the
blood of those men who had come
from France to fight with your fore
fathers for the independence of the
United States.
What a Joy it would have sbeen to
Lafayette If, in a vision or q dream,
It had been possible for him to see
United States grown to be such an
Immense and powerful nation. France
transformed into a,republic, these two
great countries fighting hand in hand
for the defense Of the most sacred
principles and united by suoh mu-
tual friendship and respect that each
of them wants to celebrate the fete
day of the other; that France has
been honorfng the Fourth OF July.
anniversary Of the Declaration Of In
dependence of 177s, and that today,
in most of the cities Of the United
States, meetings like this one are be-
ing held in commemoration Of the
capture Of the Bastile on the 18th of
July. 1889.
Tor us Frenchmen nothing could
be more thrilling than the celebra-
don of this day in the United States.
United in the celebration of our
two great days, our countriess are
now united in the greatest struggle
which has ever been fought in the
history Of humanity. If we have felt
the need of joining in this double
commemoration is 1t not because we
feel most strongly united in the pur-
poses of this great war;
The United States as well as France
10 fighting for its Independence and
for Its rights"
TO GUARD COAL NEEDS
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