Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-13
wilson covered and wind -torn decora

OF animation a. With tho first break
OF day fleets Of war ships and mer-
chant craft brought out their colors
and dressed ship with long lines Of
streamers. A group Of French cruis-
ers In their war paint, swung Mt an
chornge with score Of French de-
stroyers about them.
| Near at hand doomed the big liner
La France, used at hospital ship. but
4 about to resume her transatlantic
service. American dcstroyerA naval
yachts and small craft glided about the
harbor and further off lay great float
ing Nflotillas OF merchant ships. trans
ports. freighters, and quaint Breton
fishing craft.
unloading army supplies here and an
American transport was preparing to
take more American troops homeward.
II was O scene of stirring activity and
one which Glowed with color as by a
touch Of sunlight.
| Airplanes on Guard.
A squadron Of airplanes hovered over
the entrance to the harbor, keeping an
outlook for the approaching fleet. On
shore there was equal animation as
vast thronses of Bretons. in their pic
turesque headgear, packed the Streets
| and massed about the quays and ter
| races overlooking the harbor.. Early in
| the day French and American soldiers
| lined the streets and took assigned pos
| itions along the Cour Dajot. the hand
some promenade leading. from the COM
Wercial harbor to the city. over which
President Wilson was to pass. The
| whole cityswas a mass Of bunting. The
| entire presidential route was lined with
flags and trasparencies.
| At about 3 o'clock the French cruiser
SQUADRON, consisting of the Admiral
Aube, conde and Montcalm. with a
i lumber of destroyers, moved out Of the
harbor amid the screeehing of sirens.
10 meet the incoming feet onshore.
A special train bearing Stephen
Pichon. the French foreign minister;
George Leygues. the minister Of ma
rine and other distinguished officials,
| ohicers OF the army and navy and the
foreign committee Of the chamber Of
, deputies arrived this morning and an
other train brought American Ambas-
sador Sharp. Col. E. NJ. House, General
| Pershing. General Bliss Admiral Ben
son and other prominent Americans.
Germans Manifest Interest.
A singular feature of the welcome
to the president was the suppressed
interest Of the German prisoners at
Brest. 1t was evident that their in
terest in the visitor was as keen as
that Of the huge crowd thronging the
| town, but the authorities kept these
Germans in the background
Among those who lined the route to
the station were delegations Of patriotic
societies and other organizations. and
thousands Of people from neighboring
yici4tties aTrAyed in. Breton costumes.
The first. to greet the president, be-
sides the French ministerial represent
tatives. waS Andre Tardieu. French
hish cofamisSiehert 70 the United States,
the mayor of Breet. t.Ambassador Sharp.
ColaRAl House. General Pershing and
General Bliss.
Msysr ~ s0rsst Welcomes Wilson.
Goude. Of Brest. in greeting
President Wilson as he landed here to-
day said: Ne.&
"Mr. President: L feel the deepest
emotion in presenting to you the. well
come of the Breton population. The
SHIp DCdl HS you W POTS 10 lHC
symbol under the auspices Of which the
legions Of your pacific citizens sprang
to arms In the grand cause Of inde-
pendence. Under the same auspices
today you bring to the tormented Soil
Of Europe the comfort OF your author
lied voice in the debates which will
calm our quarrels.
Mr.. President. upon this Breton soil
our hearts are unanimous in saluting
you as the messenger Of justice and
peace. Tomorrow II will be our en-
tire nation who will acclaim you and
our whole people will thrill with en-
thusiasm over the eminent statesman
who Is the statesman of their aspira-
tions toward Justice and liberty.
This old Breton city has the honor
of first salutinR you. In order to per-
petuate this honor to our descendants
the municipal council has asked me to
present you with-an address expressing
their joy at being privileged to incline
themselves before the illustrous demo-
crat who presides over the destinies Of
the great republic OF the United
Departs For Paris.
President Wilson left Brest for
Paris at O'Clock this afternoon.
The president delivered 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.
Last Hours on Ship.
[By Wireless to the Associated Press
On Board the steamship George
Washington. Dec. 17.-In the ANAL con-
ference aboard ship today. the president
made clear his position on vital aues-
tions in order that his ideas should be
well defined before the meetings with
the entente premiers.
A remarkable farewell demonstration
for the president was held aboard ship
last evening At the conclusion of
showing Of motion. pictures a chorus of
biuejac.,ets sritsffsd the the main salon and
sang God Be With You Till We Meet
Again" ".
4 The president apparently was deeply
affected, as the sailors sang the verses
Of the song, their melodious voices ring
ing thru the ship. Az the solemn notes
Of the famous old hymn were conclud-
ed the orchestra struck 1ups'Auld Lang
syne." in which all the ships company
joined.