The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-09-19
French Tots Give
Flowers to Yanks
B. MISS IRENE MCINTYRE

odiVdtiOn Afmy fJOueuEiri IN FRANCE
twritten For The United PreSs)
| With the American Boys at the
Front. July 81. (By Mail)-we had
new kind of July Fourth this year.
out here on the front in Lorraine. 1t
was almost al safe, and surely as sane.
as any we have ever had, yet well not
forget it, I'll tell what happened.
we looked forward to almost moth
ing for the Fourth, for we were to
move to our new quarters the day fol-
lowing. Consequently our primary
concern was getting the supplies
ready that we needed in fixing up the
hut. That took all morning. and the
Fourth was much the same as any
ether, except for the French flags
that were everywhere with the Stars
and Stripes. The natives everywhere
put up every flag they could lay hands
on
AT noon we were told to be ready
in an hour TO go out and see the new
quarters. We were rushed toward
the front. behind camouflaged roads
in fast military automobile. and as
we turned into the town where we
were TO stay. we bumped square into
Fourth OF July celebration. We stop
ped to join in.
AMERICAN GENERAL THERE.
On one side OF road through the
center OF our town. the boys had built
small bandstand. II was draped ia
flags. very prettily arranged. Here
were assembled an American general.
several French officers, and some
more American Officers of high rank.
Opposite them were assembled as
many doughboys and French troops
rs could be spared from the lines.
They were massed. and We're listening
to the band play French and Ameri-
can patriotic songs. The boys feemed
to enjoy II, for they were smiling and
xeeping time to the music.
Then our general got up TO speak.
We thought 1t very appropriate when
he began his speech in French. tho
be was not very fluent with IL, He did
his best. and assured the Frenchmen
we had come to help them for the
very same reason that we revered
our independence Day. They were
pleased that be should attemp, to
speak In French.
SPEAKS TO AMERICANS.
Then the general spoke In English
to the Americans present and recalled
our motives in the war. our fight for
Liberty as he called II. The Ameri-
cans were much impressed. Then
the band played more patriotic pieces
and everybody thought the program
was over. even the General
But. he. like the rest OF Us WAS
wrong. AS soon as the band finished.
string of tiny French tots. little
girls. all dressed in their Sunday best.
came up on the platform. laden down
with flowers. The first little girl pre-
sented her bouquet TO the General
who lifted her gently up and kissed
her on the cheek.
Then the next tot presented her
flowers to another officer. who did
likewise. All the babes presented
their flowers, and went down the
steps as pleased as could be. The
Americans were delighted with the un-
expected turn to the program.
The townspeople had decided to
show their appreciation to the Amcri
cans In some way. and chose this ap
propriate plan The scene was made
doubly charming by the booming of
the guns not in the distance. but com
parafively close to the scene where
the exercises took place.
The fireworks were the real thinr
where we celebrated this year. and
they meant more than noise or lights
1t was q, memorable Fourth for us.
and one we will not forget