The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-04
FRANCE HONORS
Gen. PERSHINC
Minister of Marine Leygues
Pays Fitting Tribute to
VaIor of Hero.
FEELINGLY RES NDS
Lauds Sweetness of Domestic
Firesides That Welcome
Our Bows"

Paris, July 4. Splendid tribute
was paid to France by Gen. John J.
Pershing, the American commander
| in-chief, in speeches made by him at
the reception at the Hotel De Vile
| Thursday afternoon, and later at the
dinner given in honor or prominent
| Aperican officials. ut is with a feel
ing of profound emotion that we
| Americans meet with YOU on the eve
of our national holiday" said Gen.
| Pershing at the dinner, where Min
lister of Marine Leygues presided.
France has always appealed very
strongly to the Imagination of the
Americans. The history of France
is replete with the records of the
brave deeds of her gallant men and
the devotion of her noble women.
"On this battle-ground generations
of Frenchmen have fought for their
homes and firesides against success
sive waves of oppression, and in
their crucible of fire there has been
nodded the sturdy French race of
our day.
1T has remained for us to see the
elimination of this uniform develop
ment of a free and independent peo-
pie.
Final Blow for Liberty.
I'm the conflict now happily ended
the courage and bravery of your
splendid poilus have given the world
new evidence of your stability. The
annals of war recount no greater he
roism than that of the French SOL
diers at Verdun. Their determina-
tion has been a fine example to
their American comrades, who are
proud to have been associated with
them in striking the final blow for
liberty and humanity. Throughout
the associations the comradnship of
the two nations has been firmly ce-
mented. The soul of France and the
soul of America are welded for all
time. We may now go hand in hand
together through the years of a peace
which our common sacrifices have
won."
Pershing Deeply Touched.
At the reception at the Hotel De
Vile Gen. Pershing said in part:
1--WE are deeply touched by
the very cordial reception you
have extended to us. AS it is i'm
possible between friends to dis
simulate so feel that your words
but family convey the warmest
of feelings that fill your hearts.
we IlluS yOuI otllll-
ments because our hearts like
wise are filled with sentiments of
affection and love for the people
of your city and France. 1t is
not as strangers that we have
been received, but as friends and
relatives separated from our own
country. Il
1--WE have found in your fam
lilies the sweetness of domestic
firesides. We shall always treas
ure these memories of our stay
among you.
what shall l say of beautiful
Paris? In the hour of peril, |
when the enemy threatened the
destruction of your monuments
and art treasures, accumulated
during ages within the city's
walls, the soldiers of America
were proud to spend their blood
upon the field of battle by the
side of their brothers in arms
for the preservation of Paris and
the preservation of her glorious
traditions.
After our glorious victory and
in the calm of a just peace,
Paris, entirely unharmed, will
continue towards her immortal
destiny. In the name of the
American army | extend her
our admiration and our most ar
dent wish for the perpetuation of
her grandeur and prosperity"