The Washington herald., 1918-12-13
WILSON LANDS
today; BREST
WoRSHIpS HIM
Flower Arches Woven by
Children Blossom Over
Guns Of Hero Escort.
EVERY PETAL MESSAGE
Escorted Into Port by
Mighty Warships Of
Land of Lafayette.

Brest, France. Dec. 12-The great
est war fleet assembled in a French
port since the war began will form
an avenue OF steel down which Presi-
lent Wilson and his party, on the
q. S. S. George Washington, will pass
tomorrow Afternoon
But imposing and spectacular as
will be this ufassing OF embattled steel.
il will not weigh in the balance of
Brest's honors, against the work from
children's hands. Today, hundreds of
school kids" are roaming the sur
rounding hills gathering laurel and
holly, which women are weaving Into
q triumphAl arch to be set up at the
landing where President Wilson will
tomorrow set foot on Frances soil
To Land Under Crowns.
After the thunder of the greyhounds'
guns will have died away, and after
the formaIities of admirals' calls and
visits OF dignitaries. and the piping
saiutes from the French and Ameri-
can fiagships will be over. the first
American President to visit a foreign
land while in Office will pass under
a bower. every leaf OF which will be
a message Of affection from the chill
dren OF France.
This human touch will be charac-
teristic of the kind of reception await
ing the President in Paris.
From Portland England today
sailed Admiral Sims feet of nine su-
Perdreadnoughts to meet the U. S. S.
George Washington and act as her
escort on the last lap OF the journey
to Brest.
In the harbor Of Brest. twelve war
craft are preparing to carry the tri-
color seawards and join the escorting
feet
Honor Arch Growing.
But the rosy Breton youngsters are
doing the real work Of preparation
for the Presidents reception. Leather
tacketed doUghboy chauffeurs are seen
plotting clumsy camions into town
stacked high with brilliant greens.
Shouting youngsters are riding atop
the green mountains. Meanwhile the
irch grows hourly TO mammoth pro-
The 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 invited to inspect the needlework,
fine as a splderweb. She declared il
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-
element as at present. Brest con-
siders that it has merited the honor
Of being the first French city to wei
come the President. because for more
han a year now the town has will
lngly encouraged a remarkable spirit.
due to the swarming thousands, from
America filing through this gate to
the battle front.
Fete Starts Mt Noon.
From many conversations with
The people of Brest the correspond
ent deduces that they feel no little
pride over the fact that America n
'-zipzim'' has Weakened the old
town, and President Wilson'S COM
ing is considered but a natural con-
sequence of Brest's efforts to as
sumo Yankee ways.
Unless the weather delays the
schedule, the celebration will begin
around noon tomorrow, when word
that the feet has been sighted will
be flashed TO the town.
Twenty-eight American and four
French destroyers, still camoufiaged
from their recent submarine hunt
ing expeditions. will lead the way.
they will be followed by the French
,ruisers. Admiral Aube and Mont
aim, six light cruisers. and the
American battleships Florida. Utah,
wyoming, Arkansas. New York. Texas,
Nevada. Oklahoma, Arizona-Ad-
miraI Sims fiagship-apd Pennsyl-
yania, with Admiral Mayo.
Guarded by French.
Outside the breakwater all the war
sSrips will drop anchor, forming a
Iouble line The George Washington
will advance. while each warship fires
a salute OF twenty-one shots. The
Wilson ship Is due TO drop anchor at
O'Clock in the afternoon. The French
and American admirals will then make
their formal calls on the George
Washington. whereupon the Wilson
party will board a naval tug that will
carry them to the port due commerce.
There the French foreign minister
will welcome the party on behalf OF
President PoinCare There will be a
delegation of senators and deputies,
and Mayor Goude. the Socialist
Boss Of Brest, will make an ad-
dress OF welcome on behalf of the
municipal council A big delegation
of Paris Socialists will be there, and,
II they get a chance. they, too, will
make speeches.
From the moment President Wilson
steps ashore, the French military viii
have charge OF his safety. After the
ceremonies on the pier. the Wilson
party will enter carriages and, head
ed by detachments of infantry and
French sailors, will ride in a triumph
al progress through the town to the