Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-07-15
FRENCH FETE DAY OCCASION 0F bIG
 VICTORY PARADE
American and Allied Troops March Through Thickly
 1hrOnged Streets.
(By The Associated Press.D

| bN Inc RSSOclaJeu 1FcSS.)
 Paris, July 1.-The conouerers in the great war marched today in a 1 Victory parade under the Are de 1 Triomphe, through which only vic tors may pass. Picked units and in dividual heroes represented each of the allied armies.
 Several million grateful persons, mostly French, but with many thous- ands of their allies, struggled for 1 ward along the line of march for an opportunity to wave and shout their gratitude to the men who saved them 1 from German imperialism.
 The great triumphal arch, con ceived by Napoleon to commemorate his victory at the battle of Austerlitz, took on new historic importance when the allies marched through the mas sive pile of masonry which dominates :; all Paris, and moved down the Champs Elysees, toward the Place de l La ConcOrde.
 The place of honor in the procession was not accorded to the generals and the smartly equipped troops. It was 1 given to thousand mutilated sol diers who passed under the arch and in front of the reviewing stand where stood President Poincare, moving haltingly, and out of step, as best i they could.
 A thousand wounded soldiers with crutches or in wheel chairs and clad, for the most part, in civilian clothes, led the parade, being preceded by a drum corps. Guns began firing at minute intercals as President Poin- care placed wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph at the Are d'Triomphe this morning. This empty casket, placed there in memory of the allied dead, was also decorated by other wreaths, these being placed by Pre- mier Clemanceau, a French soldier, a French sailor, an Alsatian girl, a girls from Lorraine and Coledmund Groh. This last wreath was in mem- ory of 72 members of the Lafayette escadrille who lost their lives during the war.
 Marshal Joffre, the victor of the first battle of the Marne, passed under the Arc d'Triomphe at 8:45 o'clock. He rode alone. Behind him came Marshal Foch, the commander in-chief of the allied forces during the final campaign of the conflict. A storm of applause arose from the vast throng as the two marshals passed the Presidents stand and moved down the brilliant avenue.
 i Pershing Second in Line. Gen. J. J. Pershing, with a number ! of American generals, came next in line and was received with equal enthusiasm. Forty American organ izations. soldiers and marines, march ing with wonderful precision, were greeted by sea of waving handler chiefs and flags and with reafenng cheers.
 The American military band was composed of 126 men.
 The American troops in line con- sisted of composite battalion selec- ted from all the regiments of the American Army of Occupation, form ed in four companies. The first two companies in line were separated from the second two by detachment of linen carrying forty regimental flags. The color bearers and guards altogether about 200.
 Last in the American section of the procession came a company of 150 marines. Altogether there were in line few less than 10000 Americans.
 The marchers used the so-called "triumphal marching step" by direc- tion of Marshal Foch. This calls for 128 steps to the minute. The parade was viewed from advantageous points by 30,000 American army officers and enlisted men.
 Remember dead
 While youth danced last night far different scene was enacted near the Arc de Triomphe in the vast Place de La L'Etoile. All the even- ing until late at night, seemingly endless line. of somberly-clad per sons filed slowly and silently before the huge cenotaph-the empty casket in memory of the dead-placed before the shadow of the Arch. This sad procession was composed of failies of the dead.
 Vast crowds of spectators were held back by the police while the process sion enacted this pathetic ceremony. This respect for the dead, strong trait of French. character, seemed more solemn for the quiet that pre- vailed over such a great crowd. :, In the dusk, of the evening search. lights played on the ,cenotaph and clouds of incense rose from great urns on each side. Mounted repub- lican guards; sitting on their horses like statues:. held torches. Through the night. they kept their vigil. Y. s. AIIDrDyc IF, <. 4"