The sun., 1918-12-14
GREETING IS UNIQUE
IN FRENCH HISTORY
President Is Welcomed by
Vast CroUd at Brest.


BREsr, Dec. 13.-President Wilson
landed in France at 1924 o'clock this
afternoon amid a demonstration Of
popular entt usiasm and national SYM
patty such as rarely, IL ever, has
been accorded the head of a foreign
Government visiting France. The
President left Brest at o'clock this
afternoon for Paris, where the heart
Of France will acclaim him tomorrow
~ the nations guest.
The landing of the President was
not only a remarkable spectacle with
a notable naval pageant for its back
ground, but it also marked the first
entry Of an American President into
personal contact with Europe and Its
affairs.
Although the Presidential fleet ar
rived at Brest shortly after noon It
was not until after 3 o'clock that Pres
ident and Mrs. Wilson debarked on
harbor boat and set foot on the soil
Of France. Mrs. Wilson carried ar
American flag and a bouquet when
she came ashore. Vast crowds watched
the trip ashore, and the fleets Of war
ships roared a salute as the last stage
Of the journey was accomplished.
eliminates Naval Spectacle.
On the harbor boat going ashore
the President was seen standing on
/, the upper deck with Jules ]. Jusse-
rand, French Ambassador to the
I1ited States. who pointed out the
III u
sncient city.
The arrival was the elimination of
an Imposing naval spectacle which be-
gan as the Presidential fleet rounded
the outer capes, then passed the en-
trance forts and moved majestically
into the harbor. where the George
Washington anchored at the head of
a long double column OF American
dreadnoughts and destroyers and the
units of a French cruiser squadron.
The Presidential feet was first
sighted at 1880 O'Clock this morning
fifteen miles Off shore. The sea was
calm and the stately fleet moved land
ward under skies which were steadily
Frightening after a dark and gloomy
morning. It was more than an hour
later that the feet was signalled at
the entrance Of the harbor. and a great
cheer arose from the waiting crowd as
the cloud OF black smoke showed that
the Presidential party was near.
Single Destroyer Leads.
Ahead came a single destroyer,
showing the way to the fleet. and close
behind doomed the huge bulk of the
haftIaGbinu Dann 10
ming, flying respectively the flags of
Admiral Mayo. commander OF the At
1antic feet, and Vice-Admiral Sims,
commander OF the American naval
forces In European waters. Just back
OF them moved the George Washing
ton. bearing the President. fianked on
either side by the battleships Arkan-
Bas, Florida, Utah. Nevada, Oklahoma,
New York, Texas and Arizona, by
French cruisers and by a great fio-
tilla OF American and French torpedo
boat destroyers.
The entrance to the harbor is a
narrow strait mile wide, with forts
browning the towering cliffs on each
side. Through this avenue the inn
posing pageant moved, each OF the ten
forts contributing its cannonade and
the ten American battleships answer
Ing gun for gun.
AS the fleet neared the inner harbor
the land batteries and the assembled
war craft took up tho thunderous sa-
lutte, while the quays, the hills and
the terraces OF the old Breton city
rang with cheers from the enthusi-
astic multitude. At the same time all
the war craft, merchantmen and
transports dressed ship and manned
tho yards, while the strains of the
American anthem fioated over the
water. mingllng with the roar of the
guns and the shouts of the vast
crowds.
French DIsnitaries Arrive.
The George Washington came to
anchor a mile of shore while the bat
tleships ranged themselves in double
column on either side.
President Wilson witnessed the spec
tacle from the deck OF his steamship,
waving greetings and acknowledge
ments as the cheering throng ashore
Wed with the artillery In the Old
Worlds first direct tribute to the
American President.
AS INC podl touCHeu tne pier the
French and American guards OF honor
presented arms and the strains OF 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" mingled with
the cheers OF the great multitude.
Mrs. Wilson came up the gang
plank with Gen. pcrshlng. She car
rled large boquct and as she passed
the American army nurses they handed
her an American flag, which she bore
proudly.
Tho President was the Last TO come