The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-05
ALLPARIS MARKS
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Parade of American Soldiers
Acclaimed in the Place
de la ConcOrde.
RRITAIN JOINS IN TRIBUTE
Lord Derby Thanks America
.for the Best Licking
We Ever Got"

-.,. az almost never before in it's history
;, celebrate the Fourth OF July. The
french capital not only extended a royal
vs,o<me to the Americans here. but
nadia a thorough holiday Of the day on
IFS own account.
Fn,husiasm reached n climax early In
,,e day when several thousand Ameri-
oan and French soldiers marched through
,be newly dedicated Avenue du President
wilson and on down through famous
streets to the Strassburg monument In
,hs Place de Ia Concorde.
crowds that jammed every available
,,ch O. space and every window In the
buildings along the line of march. on
roofs and even in trees. cheered them
selves hoarse as company after company
NJ olive drab clad Americans swung past
=, the stirring tunes played by a double
hand The enthusiasm became uncon-
,rollable when the regiments swung into
view, for the exploits Of the Americans
/, their recent offensive on the Marine
'front.' have endeared them to the French.
Government Omces Decorated.
All Government offices. banks. the
Bourse and thousands of business build
iocs and private houses In every quarter
we're decorated with the American colors.
The newspapers are filled with articles
and pictures explaining the meaning of
The Fourth of July and expressing the
admiration and gratitude of France to
America Many of the greatest writer's
Of France have written special articles
on America and the anniversary. Among
them are Maurice Barres. NJ. Painleve.
formerly Premier: Gabriel Hanotaux. ".
Brleux and Edmond Rostand, who con-
tributes a poem entitled Hello"
The procession of troops. which
marched between lines of cheering
throngs, reached the Place de la Con-
corde at II o'clock. Meanwhile air
pianes overhead performed feats to the
delight of the spectators.
feature of the ceremony at the
Strassburg statue to-day in honor of
Alsace-Lorraine was the action of an
American private soldier who suddenly
left the ranks and as he walked toward
:he statue shouted in a ringing voice:
I'VE will fight until right has been
restored Alsace-Lorraine, according to
its desire, will become French again!"
As part OF to-day's celebration a
delegation of the War of 1870 placed
a wreath on the statue Of George WASH
ingtor
A wreath OF roses was placed upon
tire tomb of Lafayette in the Picpus
cemetery by r.. Cleveland Coke. a dele
gate OF the Sons of the American Revo-
luton. Empire state Society. Mr.. Coke
placed similar wreati>s upon the statue
OF Lafayette in the grounds OF the
Louvre and upon Washington's monu-
ment In the Place d'1ena.
Letter From Gen. Petain.
Gen. Petain, defender OF Verdun. wrote
10 James Fl. Perkins, American Red
Cross Commissioner OF Europe, express
iny his sentiments on the occasion of
American Independence Day. He wrote:
CONFORMING to the decision OF the
authorities of the American Red Cross
YOU have devoted the sum of 100000
francs TO the relief of the needy fami-
lies Of French soldiers. You are about
10 begin the distribution of this fund,
and desire to express my very warm
gratitude to the American Red Cross
And tell you how much its generous in
tervention will favorably influence the
moral situation OF families in this coun-
try and of the troops under my COM
mand.
by coming to the aid OF those our
brave soldiers left behind four years
ago you are banishing many cares which
I have often noticed. All the French
Generals have expressed to me the graf
itlde of their men and have asked me
10 transmit to you their warm thanks.
American assistance daily manifests
Itself as more powerful and more varied.
It brings to us the certainty of final
success.
All Grateful IN Rcd CPOaa.
The American Red Cross. represent
ing today more than 25.000.000 citizens
o. the United States. has understood
ON to play the great role which has
been entrusted to it by our allied ma
TONS. ! have read with interest ac-
counts OF its activities in France. In
the interior. as well as with the army,
II has not been Indifferent to needs.
orphans. tuberculosis patients. refugees,
repltrates. sick, wounded and crippled
have all received-its aid.
"All are grateful and have learned.
thanks to the Red Cross. to love tie
American people. whose bounty is with
out limit, Thousands of SOC ers whose
aged parents, numerous children and
sick or homeless wives you have helped
know, too. that alongside tie glorious
American fighters there stands a great
people always seeking to Gn,eliorate the
mis:ortunes Of its friends.
on this Fourth of July. 1918, when
We all unite to celebrate the national
FESTIVAL Of the United States, I feel my
self called upon to convey to you the ex-
preston of profound gratitude of the
French armies, l ask you to please
transmit to the auth critics and all MEM
b"rs Of the American Red Cross my per-
tonal thanks and those of the armies Of
France"
Marshal JOfre's Message.
Marshal JOffre. In Il special message
written for the Echo de Paris on the
occasion of the Fourth OF July, says in
part,
TIE entry OF America into the war
Drought the Allies moral strength OF the
"erpeSt meaning. but the great sister
republic did not want to content herself
WIN sentimental manifestations. With
all her material power che has ranged
'-rS"It beside us.
Thanks to American assistance we
s"aII surmount all the perils of the hour
'nd come out gloriously from the trials
Of so long a war"
british Amba ssa dor Joins.
mere was an historic scene at the
luncheon Of the American Cham er OF
commerce to-day. when the Earl OF
,eiby the British Ambassador, and
William q. Sharp. the American Am
usssador, clasped hands In celebration
OF Americas Independence Day. II
was the first time since the United
states became a nation that the Brit
lSn Ambassador had attended a COM
memoration Of the event,
Even II we had not been Allies"
raid Lord Derby I'm commenting on his
appearance at the function, II should