New-York tribune., 1918-12-26
Victory Won by Free Men
and 1t Must Be Peoples
Peace Says President
Homefolk Proud of
You, He Declares
Reviews Forces at Humes.
Then Departs for Chan.
mel on Way to Britain

CHAOMONT, Dec. 25 (By The Asso-
clated Press).-President Wilson w,s
cordially welcomed to-day by the n.e.
pie of Chaumont, a town closely asso-
Grated with the history of the Amer
lean expeditionary forces in Franz.
and now the headquarters of the com
hander IN chief. 1t is the town FROM
which Americas part in fnisb;no ~.
war was directed.
The exterior of the station and ~.
courtyard had been decorated for +hs
occasion by American soldiers with ~.
French and American color.
After passing the guard of honor IN
review the President took his plsca ~
motor car and the party proceeded
10 the City Hall. Dense crowds messed
oehlnd the lines of guards in kb.k;
The streets were brilliantly decora+.s
and hung with banners bearing in
scrlptlons of welcome. AS the nartv
passed through the people of Chaumont
joined in continuous acclama.ion ~
the President
Immediately after the recent;or =.
the Hotel de Vile President Wilson
with General Pershing and party mo-
'ored to Humes, where the President
reviewed detachment of the E;rst
Army of the American exnedit;on.,v
f0rces. Addressing the troops, Cen
eral Pershing said:
Mr.. President and fellow SOL
dlers: We are gathered here 10.
DAY to do honor to the commander
of our armies and navies. For the
hrse time an American President
VIII review an American army on
forelgn soil-the soil of sister re-
publlc-beside whose gallant troops
we have fought to restore peace To
the world.
speaking for you and your com
rades, l am proud to declare to the
President that no army has ever
more loyalty or more effectively
served its country and none has ever
fought in nobler cause.
Presents Victorious ARMY
You, MIR. President, by your con-
hdence and by your support. have
made the success of our army. and
to you rs our commander in chief
may | now present the nations vic.
torious army"
In his reply President Wilson said
that he did not find in the hearts of the
great leaders with whom he was CO
operating any difference of principls
or of fundamental purpose.
United States Chart Accented
All nations had accepted America.
chart for peace, Mr.. Wilson said, and
On that the nations stood ready to
make good the establishment of peace
on a permanent foundation of right
and justice. The coming peace, he
SAID, must be peoples peace.
The President assured the troops OF
the welcome which awaited their re
turn to the United States, stating that
the American people were proud Of the
ever forward facing positions which
their armies had held on the battle
field.
America Feels for France
In response to an address presented
to him at the Hotel de Vile soon after
his arrival, President Wilson said:
Il feel that I have been particularly
IGNORED in the generous reception YOU
have given me, and it is the more de-
ightful because it so obviously comes
nom the heart. And | cannot but be-
ileye that 1t is an instructive response
to the feeling that is in my own breast,
because l think that even you, who feel
contact with our soldiers, cannot but
realize the depth and sincerity of the
feeling Of the United States for France.
ut is an ancient friendship, but it
has been renewed and has taken on a
new youth. 1t is a friendship which
Is not only tenacious, but one based
upon communion of principle
'You have spoken very generously
and beautifully of the relations which
have sprung up between yourselves and
our soldiers. That is because they
came not only to associate themselves
with you as the champions of liberty.
but they came with personal affections
in their hearts for the people of France,
and it must have been that which you
realized They did not come as
strangers in their thoughts They
brought with them something that
made them feel at home the moment
they were at Havre or at Brest, in
France
80 am very much moved by being
thus drawn, as they have been. into
your midst and into your conferences,
and wish TO thank you very warmly for