Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-21
BLUE DEVILS PLAY HAVOC
WITH R|CHMOND's APATHY
Stage Great Demonstration in Cap
itol Square to Further Red
Cross Campaign.
GOVERNOR WELCOMES THEM
French Fighters Spend Day Arous-
ing Enthusiasm in Second Great
Drive OF Mercy in tho War.
Many Contributions Are Made,

Havoc was wrought with any possible
apathy In Richmond towards the $780,
100000 Red Cross campaign yesterday,
when los sturdy Chasseurs de Vincen-
nes. known to the Germans as Blue
Devils because hated and feared and
so known to us because loved as brave
men and compatriots," doubled
quicked around the Capitol. looking for
all the world like SO many pirates.
Around the out-stre tched-arms statue
of Patriot Hcnry-whose bronze de-
meanor still is crying Give me liberty
or give me death"-the FrF:,ch chas-
seurs swooped into the amphitheater
of 5000 people on the southern side of
the Capitol, as Byron would say like
a wolf on the fold"
With them came. In a piratical trot.
their cleaning bayonets and their
streaming smiles. They did It; the
crowd went wild. The driveway from
the eastern to the western front. cir
cling around the columns Of the south
ern side. became a maelstrom OF en-
thusiasm. In which patriotism. graft
tudc. charity, duty nnd love made car
nival for gilded hour. What the
Blue Devils" were. spoke SO loud that
the 5000 thrilled and admiring Vir-
ginians cared not what they said.
They came; the crowd knew they
were coming, and they welcomed them.
Behind them came the John Marshall
High School cadet corps. not unlike
the vaunted Virginia Military Institute
cadets. And next, under the command
OF their own Joans OF Arc, the high
school girls swept round the corner.
singing the national anthem. Then
they were all there. The Blue Devils"
amid shouts Of applause, charged upon
the steps to the Capitol The John
Marshall High School chorus. composed
of 200 dcbutantes. followed suit. while
the cadets remained In the driveway
to prevent q stampede into Ia belle
Francois.
GOVERNOR DAVIS THAMES MEN
FOR PATRIOTIC SERVICES
Then Governor Davis spoke. He was
preceded by Colonel Eugene C. Mas
sic. who made n few remarks Of well
come on the part of the "four-minute
men," and then introduced the Gov
ernor The crowd went quiet, and the
voice OF he Governor carried to all
parts OF the crowd with as forceful
and direct a welcome as even the wor-
thy French chaSseurs need ever care to
hear.
He welcomed them on the part OF tho
State Of Virginia. and in doing so he
thanked them for the patriotic SER
vice that they gave to this Common
wealth in it's struggle for liberty. He
told them thar their sires gave their
money, their time. the sacrifice of their
homes. and even their lives. to pro-
tect the infancy OF America and V:r-
ginia. The Governor then pictured in
brief the, poppy-clad hills and vall-ys
of Ia belle Francois. and said .ha: he
had seen the spiendor and the liveli-
ness that was Paris. aEd that America
ana Virginia would nov try In their
hest way to repay in part the debt
they contracted in l776, and 70 help
the French put down the arm OF the
ruthless Hun that would destroy hu-
man liberty. decency and civilization.
THE Huns call you Blue Devils"
exclaimed Governor ravis, because
YOU dressed in blue and fought SO
viciously: but we call you Blue Devils.
because we love you as compatr,ots.
You have stood by our side;
we will stand by yours. And
after the war has beer won. we shall
Continued on Fourth Page.)