Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-26
RESIDENT WITH BOYS
 AT FRONT.
People of Historic French Town Most Cordially Welcome MT. and Mrs. Wilson.

Wilson. :.
 Chaumont. Dec 25-(Havas.) )-- President Wilson reviewed the Ameri- can troops at lanfres. southeast of Chaumont, this afternoon in accord ance with the pre-arranged program. The review took place on the Langres plateau.
 Accompanied by Mrs. Wilson. the President returned here and took a special train for the North Coast where he will embark for England
 Ghaumont, Dec. 25.--tBy The Asso- ciated Press. = President Wilson re- ceived most cordial welcome today from the people of Chaumont. a town which has been closed associated with the history of the American expedi- tionary forces in France and is now the headquarters of the commander in chief. It is the town from which Amer ica's part in finishing the war was dir ected.
 The presidential train. which left Paris at midnight, draw into the Chau- mont station at o'clock this morn ing. General Pershng, General Wir- bel, the French officer commanding the zone, M. Fossien. prefect of the department of Marne, and M Levy Alphandery, mayor of Chaumont, were on the platform to receive the presi- dent and Mrs. Wilson, who, after re- spending to the cordial greetings passed through salon, hung with red tapestries and flags, to the court yard, where company or 109th French infantry. and company of the lO2nd American infantry were drawn up to render honors.
 The exterior of the station and the l. court yard had been decorated for the occasion by American soldiers with the French and American colors After passing the guard of honor in in review, the president took his place in the motor car and the party pro- ceeded to the city hall.
 Dense crowds massed behind the lines of guards in khaki, the streets were brilliantly decorated and hung with banners bearing inscriptions of welcome.
 As the party passed through the streets the people of Chaumont join shrdl hrdlu hrdlu shrdlu cmfwyp mfw ed in continuou; accia niation. of no rr.isidcnt
 Az lhs !.art of FrnH"e lay undo: gray olt ud an6 banks of iriz2l,ng cold rlin when tra pro sid'nI'S train puile'; no the station. The troops declared he wclGh 2r excert:<1rally fine as compared win inc usual brand If weather ami .,ei': one na.i a 'arOtI smile bel".,lp .tnve his mud o 3ratter"d lalki nn;:,:nl. Thilgs were in mo-i)n !arv :or the review. When the .)r.srlrnt r;s- sd the curtain of Il Wl1ar'. in h.J car the first person he saw was strappng American doughDoy on guard, who grave)v came 10 salute. The president smiling. gave him d merry Christmas" an l mads him tn" happiest soldier in Francs. A French l troop train passing rave a Viva l Wilson"
 | As hi strain moved in the pres,- dent saw cn every hand monuments of Americas participation in the war.
 There were great piles of supplies
 everywhere and American soldiers
 swarmed on locomotives. box cars.
 tree tops and every place of advan-
 tage to get a glimpse of the president
 and shout a"Merry Christmas"
 The folks back home would have
 called it the drearest Christmas day l in history but it was the greatest cne for these American troops and
 evidently a very happy one for the
 president He was ready for the Dig
 day" and looking forward to every feature He remarked that the roll
 ing hills and wooded ridges looked
 not unlike the Virginia hills, where
 he was accustomed to fide and play
 golf when at home.
 l In response to an address presented to him at the Hotel de Villa, soon af- ter his arrival here today, President Wilson said:
 .I feel that I have been peculiaril honored in the generous reception you have given me and it is the more de i lightful because it so obviously comes from the heart. And l cannot but be- ! lieve that it is an instinctive response 1 to the feeling that is in my own breast. because think that even you, who feel l contact with our soldiers, cannot but realize the depth and sincerity of the of the feeling of the United States for France.
 Ut is an ancient friendship but 1t has been renewed and has taken on
 new youth. It is friendship which is not only tentative, but one based
 upon a 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 champion of liberty
 but they came with personal atfecs- ions in their hearts for the people of France, and it must have been thas l frontinued on paee five)