Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-16
WILSON ACCLAIMED
BY TWO MILLION
THRONG AT PARIS
Welcome to American Surpasse S
Those Extended to Kings Of Eng
land and Belgium.
NIGHT OF GREAT GAYETY

q
er night in Paris than "Armistice Night
The city was ablaze with illuminations
the boulevards were filled with crowds
dancing and singing and throwing confetti
The Place de la Concorde had been turned
into great dancing pavilion, where
American soldiers are favorte partners
'America" was the predomlnatlng WORD
here.
President and Mrs. Wilson made their
entry into Paris at 10.l5 in the morning
greeted bv well-nigh half the population
not only OF the city. but of the surround
ing districts. They were attended by
President Poincare, Premier Clemenceau
and others among the most eminent
figures of France. Flowers were dropped
around them. Airplanes winged overhead
guns sounded. But observers were impress
ed with something more than the magni-
tllde and beauty of the reception, with
some quality Of warmth that made il
different from the visits TO Paris recently
made by the sovereigns of the Allied
nations.
ALL CLASSES HONOR WILSON.
The imagination iand interest OF
France has been stirred by the President
of the United States as by no other leader
beyond her own borders. All classes and
parties in this country have united to pay
honor to the United States through its
President. They greet him as the repre-
sentative OF ideals now dawnIng upon
Europe. I'm the eyes of the immense
crowds welcoming him" says the semi
official Temps, President Wilson repre-
sents two invincihle forces-the material
force which permitted the war 10 be won,
and also the force which will sanctify
peace.
Thirty-six thousand soldiers, the flower
of the French Army, lined the avenues
from the Dauphine Gate to the Murat
Mansion. which, during their stay In
Paris, will be the home of the President
and his wife Alpine Chasseurs and Zoua-
YES, fresh from the battlefieldS of Cham
pagne, and Colonial troops, from whose
uniforms the mud OF the Somme had only u
few DAYS ago been removed, occupied the
post of honor. They gently but firmly
kept order among the enormous crowds,
which ever pressed forward in eagerness
10 have a closer look at the guests Of
France.
OFFICIAL GREETING AT THE STATION.
President Poincare, Premier Clemen-
oeau and other French officials met the
Presidential party at the railway station,
together with French and American mill
tary officers and prominent civilians,
while the Republican Guard band, called
out in his honor, greeted hlm with the
strains of The Star-Spangled Banner
After the presentations and other for
nlalities of welcome had been concluded,
the President with Mrs Wilson and the
other members of the party, entered open
carriages of state and drove under over
east skies along the appointed route, es-
corted by the mounted Republican Guard
between solid ranks of French troops.
The route WAS lined for miles with
captured guns and other battle trophies,
and every available space was crowded
by vast throngs waving and shouting their
welcome-such crowds as have rarely
been seen IN Paris.
CONSTANT OVATION.
President Wilson was constantly bar
ing his head and smiling upon the thronrs
in acknowledging his welcome. while Mrs.
Wilson carriage was heaped with flowers
that were thrown into il along the route
to the mansion of Prince Murat, which
was reached about hali-hour after the
American Executives arrival In the
French capital.
An Official luncheon gwen by President
and Nine. Polncare al the Elysee Palace
II honor OF PRESIDENT ana MIS-. W ilSon
ended the official program OF the day At
the luncheon President PoIncare delivered
an address of welcome to President Viii
son. and the American Executive In reply
made the first notable utterance of hls
European visit.
HUGE CROWDS GEE TEE ARRIVAL.
Huge crowds were massed around the
Bols de BOulogne station awaiting the
Presidents coming. AS he alighted from
his train, a roar of welcome went up that
left no doubt Of the cordlality of the wei
come gwen by Paris TO its latest guest
President Wilson was greeted by Presi-
dent and Mime. Poincare, Premier Glenn
epceau, Andre Tardieu, French High
Commissioner TO the United States, and
other high officials.
The French President greeted President
Wilson with hearty handsbake as the
latter stepped from the train William
Martin, who is attached 20 the Foreign
Office as introducer of Ambassadors. pre-
sented Premier CIemenceau, who well
coined President Wilson In English, saving
be Was extremely glad 10 meet him
NJ Martin then introduced the other
members of the French Cabinet A girl IN
Alsatian costume stepped forward curt
sled and gave Mrs. Wilson great BOUQUET
Of orchids After all the members Of the