Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-26
WILSON WITH ARMY
OVER CHRISTMAS;
TROOPS DELIGHTED
Doughboys Welcome President
From Every Vantage Point;
Populace Joins in Acclaim.
REVIEWS u. S. SOLDIERS

I hatlrnDnt, rance, lPet. sp--t ftSi-
dent Wilson received most cordial
welcome Yesterday from the people
of Chaumont. a town which has been
closely associated with the history OF
the American Expeditionary Forces IN
France and is now the headquarters ot
the commander IN chicf. 10 Is the town
from which Amcrica's part IN finishing
tho war was directed
The Presidential train. which left
Pans at midnight. Tuesday, drew INTO
the Chaumont station at @ O'Clock yes
terdav morning General Pershing, Cen
eral Nirbcl. the French officer command
ing the zone: Nj Fossien, project Of the
department of the Narne. and NJ Levy
Alphandrry. Navor of Chaumont, were
on the platform to receive the President
and Mrs Wilson. who. after respond
ing to the cordial greetings, passed
through a salon hung with rcd tapes
tries and flags To the courtyard, where
= company OF the IO0th French Infantry
and q company ot the 102d imcncan
Infantry wcre drawn up TO render hon
or
STATION pRtPIp wrTH lL.Gs.
The exterior 81 the station and the
courtyard had hccn decorated for the
occasion BY American soldiers with
the FI7,nch and American colors. After
passing the guard of honor IN review.
the President took ms place in motor
car and the party proceeded 10 the
Hotel dc Vile Dense crowds msSScd
behind the lines Of guards IN khaki
The streets were brilliantly decorated
and hung with banners bearing inscrip-
tlons OF welcome
As the party passed through, the
people Of Chaumont Joined in con
tInuouS nc lamatIon of the President
al this part Of France lay under =
gray cloud and i drizzlng cold rain
tell when the Presidents train pullc |
INTO thc station But the soldiers said
that th, weather Was exceptionally
rnr as compared with the usual brand,
and every one had broad smiic beam
lRg above his nud-bespattercd Khaki
Uniform.
WISHED Dor1HBOY MFsEY CHRISTMAS.
Things we're in motion early for the
ros leW When the President raised the
curtain 81 window IN MS car the first
person hc saw was > strapplng Amen-
can doughbov on guard. Who gravclv
eamc - salute The President sInihngiy
gave HIM 4 Merry Christmas The
occupants 81 French troop tram pass
ing gave 'NIvc Wilson
As his tram moved in. the President
saw on every hand monuments of Ameri-
ca participation IN the war There
we're great piles of supplies, and Amen
can soldiers swarmed on locomotives.
hoxcarS. treetops and every point Of
advantage TO ges a glimpse Of the Presi-
dent and shout a Merry Christmas.
The folks hack home would have
called IL the drearlest Christmas Day
m history, but II was the greatest one
for these American troops, and evidently
verv happy ono for the President
lie was ready for the big day and
looking forward 10 every feature He
remarked that the rolling country with
It's wooded ndges looked not unlike
the Virgins hills where he Was accustomed
q rde snd play golf when a. home
WARN RESPONSE TO FKLNCH WELCoME.
In response 70 the address presented
~ him 81 the Hotel dc VILE, the Presl-
dent said
| feel that | have been peculiarly
honored IN the generous reception YOU
have gwen me. and II Is the more de-
hghtiul because u 30 obviously comes
from tho heart And | cannot but be-
heve that i Is an instructive response
= the feeling that Is IN my own breast
because ! think that even YOU. who
Fee contact with our soldiers, cannot
hut realize the depth and sincerity Of
feeling OF the | nited States for France
II Is an anclent friendship, but Il
has been renewed and h.s taken on a
new youth /, i frlendship which
II not only tentative, but one based
uT-pn = communion of principle
You have spoken very generously
and beautifully 81 the relations which
have sprung up between Yourselves and
our soidlers That = becausc thcv call ne
not onls - assocists thernSeives with
YOU as thc champion oi liberty hut they
cane with personal affection IN their
hearts for fhc people of France and
u mus: have been nat which YOU real
Izcd They did not come a. strangers
m their thoughts They brought with
them something that made them feel
a borne the momrni theN were az HavTe
or al Brcst 10 rance
- ! am vcr. much moved by belng
thus draVr IA, they hove been, into
Nour midsl and into Your conferences
and WISH u thant vou very warmly
Tor them ana the people of The nited
>tatcs like them. shall carry away
Nith me tho inusj delightful rcoollec-
tions and IN ny heart shall always say,
as ! nov sly Nivc Ia France,
TROOP At HUNEs REVIEWED.
Immediately after tn reception q,
the Hotel dc Ndlo President Wilson
with General Pcrshlng aud party, mo
tored = Humes where the President
reviewed q detachment 81 the first army
Of the American ENppdltionary forces
and made IN address
After the review President Wilson
end ms party went 70 Montlgnv-ie- Roi