The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-13
FRANCE DOES
HERSELF PROUD
FOR ETATS UN|S
Greatest Ovation Ever
Extended Anyone
Awaits President.
IQDET0NC ABE RTICV
BRETONS ARE BUSY
Warships of Allied Ma.
ton Form Great Body
Guard Of Steel-Due
at Brest at 3 P. M.

I Brest, France, Dec. lathe great
T est war fleet ever. assent led in a
! French port since the war began will
form an avenue of steel down which
President Wilson and his party on
the S. s. George Washington will pass
tomorrow.
But great as this array of steel. it
will not weigh in the balance with
Brest's honors against the work from
childrens hands
! The children are roaming the hills
gathering laurel and holly which wo-
, men are weaving into a triumphal
arch to be set up at the landing where
President Wilson will tomorrow set
foot on French soil.
After the thunder OF the grey
hounds guns will have died away.
and after the formalities OF admirals
/ calls and visits of dignitaries. and the
piping saintes from the French and
American fiagships will be over the
first American president TO visit a
foreign land while i'll Office will pass
under a bower. every leaf of which
will be message Of the children of
France. This humane touch will be
characteristic Of the kind OF reception
awaiting the president in Paris.
From Portland England, today
sailed Admiral Sims fleet of nine
superdreadnaushts 10 meet the
L. s. s. George Washington and act as
her escort on the last lap of The jour
ney to Brest.f
In the harbor OF Brest twelve war
craft are preparing to carry the tri-
color Stewards and join the eseorting
fleet,
But the Breton youngsters are do
ing the real work of preparation for
the presidents reception. Leather
jacketed doughboy chauffeurs are
seen plotting clumsy camions into
town. stacked high with brilliant
greens. shouting youngsters are
riding ATOP the green mountains
Meanwhile the arch grows hourly to
mammoth proportions
Women OF Brest are putting the
finishing touches to magnificent
piece of Breton lace which will be
presented to Mrs. Wilson when she
lands,
Miss Margaret Wilson, the presi-
dents daughter. ARRIVING here today.
was. islxssefi IL ifsspetsi the needieworks
fife as u spider weo. = She ~SecsAfeGs II
To be beautiful beyond duplication in
America.
Not since the young men OF Brest
marched TO the war in 1914 has this
ancient port been stirred TO such ex-
citement as at present.
f3FGSt CoHSiueIS tGdl At HAS ultfiIca
the honor of being the first French
city TO welcome the president. be-
cause for more than a year now the
town has willingly encouraged re-
markable spirit due TO the swarming
thousands from America fling
through this gate to the battlefront.
From many conversations Of the
citizens of Brest the correspondent
deduces that they feel no little pride
nI tfr.2tS tu1
has awakened the old town. and
President Wilson's coming is con-
sidered but natural consequences OF
Erest's efforts to assume Yankee ways.
Unless sthe weather delays the
schedule the celebration will begin
around noon when word that the feet
has been sighted will be flashed to
and four French destroyerE still
camouhaged from their recent sub
marine hunting expeditions will lead
the way.
They will be followed by the
French cruisers Admiral Aube ad
Montcalm. six light cruisers and the
American battleships Florida, Utah,
wyoming. Arkansas. New York.
admiral sims f,agship) ana Penn
sYlvAnia. with Admiral Mayo.
Impressive Sight
Outside the breAkwAter all the war
ships will drop anchor. forming \
double line. The George Washington
will advance while each warship fires
salute of twcnty-doe gsasas. The
Wilson ship IL due to drop anchor at
II o'clock In the afternoon. The
French and American admirAls will
then make their formal calls on tho
George Washington, whereupon the
Wilson party viii board naval tug
that will carry them to the Port 'du
Com merce. There the French foreign
Continued on Page Five.l