Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-09
fAPSKS and BRITISH RUSH TO Halt RIOTS
Pershing at Metz
AS French Chiefs
Are Given Welcome

Metz. Sunday, Dec. S.-After CIV
ing hearty greetings to the French
troops three weeks ago. Metz today
received President Poincare anil
representative of every branch OF
the French government. The en-
thusiasm shown was more than
significant
In the first surprise at again
finding themselves French. the
people Of Lorraine were unable to
express their emotion They now
have become familiar with French
uniforms and French martial music
has been heard every day since the
first entrance of General Mangin' 5
army They have become accCs-
toned TO French occupation. which,
true to the military spirit for
which they are famous. they thor
oughly enjoy.
The visit Of President POinCare
and representa- tives of me French
government meant more than mill
tary, occupation The people Of
Metz looked upon it as a sort Cf
official entry into possession of the
city. They approved OF it by the
presence of a vast thrOng that con
lindaIy cheered President POin-
care Premier CIemenceau. Mar
shals Joffre. Foch and Petain. and
Field Marshal Haig. and Genera,
PeTshing, who were included in the
official party that assembled here
today.
All the bunting in Metz was fly
ing when the presidential train
pulled into the station a little after
9 o'clock The streets were as
crowded as it was possible to al
low in view Of the space required
for the passage Of the official
party.
The girls of. Metz. wearing their
national costume. were banked on
both sides of the street from the
station TO the Esplanadc Behind
them were packed men and women
carrying the French flag and wear
ing artificial tri-Color bouquets III
default Of real flowers.
Shouts acclalming the president,
the premier and the general offic-
ers could be heard from the Es-
planade long before their carriages
appeared in sight All around the
square of the Esplanade were great
gTandstands, while crowds covered
the hOusetOps and filled the win
dows, giving the visitors a hearty
welcome. MaTshals JOhre, Foca
and Petain and Generals Pershfng.
FayOlle and GirOud received the
warmest greetings when they were
recognized by the throng
A notable feature was the pre-
sentation Of the baton of a mar
shal of France to General Petain.
The crowd gave a tremendous
cheer when the president handed
the baton 10 the marshal, and aHo-
ther when premier Clemenceau ad-
yanced TO give the noted soldier
the accolade. But the enthusiasm
which seemed then to have reach
ed its limit, took a mother upward
bound when president POincaire
embraced premier Clemenceau
The ceremony took place on the
Espianade in front of the statue
Marshal Ney. The 131st regiment
of the 33rd division of the Amer
lean army was drawn up on one
side and the famous French Ma
rines in front. Other French
troops formed the other sides of
the rectangular space.
The American troops had the
honor Of leading the line during
the review and the Star Spangled
banner was wildly cheered as the
regiment marched by the columns
Of eight in faultless style. The
Marines of Dixmude, which famous
had reached Metz even during hos
tilities, brought fresh outbursts of
cheering. as did the passage OF VAR
ious sections of the troops in re-
view.
The societies of Lorraine, bands
of men and women. young and old,
filed the streets, singing the Mar
seilles. thus adding to the general
enthusiasm.