The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-29

France TO anything else, The Eigh-
teenth infantry entered the town
about 800. BY that time the narrow
streets were so damned with people,
II was hard for the military police
to chisei lanes through wide enough
for the column squads. "Pompiers'
or firemen from dozen nearby towns
and villages were in the escort OF
horur. They wore gay uniforms.
There were choral societies and
sporting societies all uniformed There
were high hated citizens in open
carriages There were what seemed
to be woman's aixifiaries, There were
unions of working men OF one kind
or another from the neighboring
cities Il was just such parade as
we have seen time and again on the
fourth OF July, or other notable occas-
ions, back in the. good old states II
was just such a parade. barring only
the setting
Every organization today had its
iown flag. They spiashed the streets
with gay colorinEly There were half
a dozen bands, including one big band
handsomely uniformed, which can
play American march music IT did
well with stars and Stripes Forever"
after the review
The people damned together along
the sidewalks were buhblnS with good
Shtf tlS- II WAS n great MONDAY ~
writer saw the entry Of the French
troops into Metz after lapse Of forty
eight years. the other day While
that occasion was more spectacular as
a purely military show, II had no moro
warmth of feeling among the people
than was displayed TODAY They re-
mem herel that Luxembourg has been
purely neutral state and the entry
~ American troops rneunt nothing
IN oh H.
There Is no doubt that the French
have more sense Of tho theatrical
about these things that the Americans.
anyway
our douehhoy came In with Colonel
Hunt riding In front of the column.
They had reached The edge OF he CITY
only short time before. after q long
march and they were pretty tired.
They carried their big packs ON their
hacks. They had their steel helmets
on their heads This was the only
added touch to their appearance They
have been carrying these helmets
slung 10 their packs, on their hike
Up TO today Their bayonets were not
flXed, hut they looked mighty business
Ike, and mighty good, as they swung
into the main thoroushfare, with thu
long, looping. Eround-eating stride Of
the American infantry. II II not ~
sleep as that Of the French foot sol
diers, marching behind a band hat
II il impressive II gets YOU. And
II gets the American. whit"her he is
going
The oightcenihs' band was boom
ing away on Il familiar American
march music. old Glory nuttered in
the chilly bre"ze beside tho regimental
standard as The little command
trampcd between rows of excited
people and it Was good to hear that
music and to - those eolors so far
away from home
The wives began whom General
Pershing's automobile rolled into view.
/ followed by a number OF other cars
carving staff officers, They con-
tinued until a late hour tonight.
Flowers began flying when the head
of the doughhoys column showed ur.
A Luxembourg hand struck nh
, 'Samhre ct Meuso, - great marching
song of the poilus ~~ is wonderful
piece Of music. and just cts tho noilus
But IL is bit too abbreviated for
the American leg action
The douchboy EriHned from under
their helmets at tho reception. and
hegan tax ing peek at the town II
which they had hear so much. There
were girls in every window of the
business buildings There were small
boys running their small legs off ia
keep up with the procession, Many
a word in English was shouted at thu
men
There was something vtrongl,
reminiscent OF America about thu
3 whole affair. There was somethini
homely about IT, And all this time
while Luxembourg and her 80. GOO in
Eahitants were huzzing with excite
mcnt over the entry. the rest Of Dck
mans army was still tramping tht
hard high roads beyond the city t.
Germany