The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-12-26
TEN THOUSAND
PASSI in REVIEW
Spectacular ManeuverS in
Honor OF Presidents
Visit to Front.
AVIATORS FLY OVERHEAD
President Promises Soldiers to
Make Good Peace as They
Had Made a Good War.
(By Henry G.. Wales0

(By Henry G.. Wales.)
General Headquarters OF tho
American EXpeditionary Forces
Chaumont. Dec. 25.-U. N. Side
layed,)--A memorable Christmas
passed into history today when Pres
ident Wilson. after reviewing 10000
American veterans, delivered an ad-
dress saying that the men might be
assured that q good peace" will be
made.
Wilson luck" prevailed as ia
weather. After a long period of rain
the skies cleared. and following the
arrival of the special train bearing
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson, the sun came
out.
Good weather permitted the avia
tors TO carry out their program. AS
President and Mrs. Wilson, accom-
panied by Gen. Pershing, motored
from Chaumont to Humes, where the
review was held, pilots flew low,
their machines skimming tree tops
They conveyed the presidential mo-
tor car all the way. Some of the
air tricks accomplished by the air.
men were daring in the extreme.
Doushboys.
Crowds of doughboys and French
civilians lined the roadway. cheering
and waving hats. 1t was noisy and
wholehearted greeting.
Ten thousand soldiers from half
a dozen divisions of the First Amer
ican army had been assembled at
Humes for the review.
President Wilson was introduced
to the soldiers by Gen. Pershing.
The president was greatly impressed
with the fine military bearing of the
troops and their sturdy appearance
He expressed his own pride and that
OF the United States in their victo-
rious campaigns, and promised that
he would make a good peace for
them. just as they had conducted a
good war;"
All of the allied statesmen he has
met so far are unanimous in agree
ing to his fourteen cardinal princi-
pies for a just peace.
A battery Of the 304th field artil-
lery fired salute Of twenty-one
guns as the president drew into
Humes. The presidential party
then took their places in the review
ing, stand and a long line of khaki
began TO fash past.
Eye Right, but Mules BaIk.
eyes right" was the shrill com
mand barked at the troops by an
officer, and as they passed the re-
viewing pavilion all looked at the
box in which Gen. Pershing, President
and Mrs. Wilson were sitting. Ma
chine. gun battalions followed the foot
soldiers, the guns pulled by mules
that ran true to form. When they got
right in front of the presidential box
the animals stopped dead and began
to balk.
The infuriated drivers ran to the
heads of the mules and grabbed their
brides, tugging and hauling at them.
The presence of the distinguished
visitors, including women, prevented
the drivers from talking to the mules
in the only language a mule under
stands.
Then came the tanks. the ponder
Gus monsters crawling forward
through the thick mud. The com
manding officer of the tanks wire
lessed an order. and as the land ships
plowed past the reviewing stand the
turrets whirled and the muzzles OF
the guns were dipped up ana down.
That is the way tank salutes.
Gen. Alexander, OF the Seventy
seventh division, commanded the
troops.
Presented With Statue.
President and Mrs. Wilson were
presented with the insignia of the
Seventy seventh division, gold
embroidered statue Of Liberty upon
a blue background. This is the in
sigma worn by the troops of that
division.
Then the party motored to the
Headquarters Of the Twenty-sixtlI
division at Montigny le-ltoi for
dinner, where many of the French
guests encountered good. old-tash-
ioned American pumpkin pie for the
first time. Some Of them were in
difficulty as to how to eat 1t. but they
solved the problem by scooplng OUT
the filling with spoon, leaving the
crust to its fate. , :,
Air of MERRY Widow
During the meal the headquarters
band played selections from "Ihe
Merry Widow" "The Chocolate Sol
dier' and other Austro-German hght
operas.
The officers and guests had a
merry time joking about the band
masters selections.
After the meal the president said
a hurried good bye and left the din
ing room, motoring back to Chau-
mont.