New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
French Consul Is Speaker
in Manhattan Casino
at Liberty Meeting Held
on l3Oth Anniversary
Ceremony ON Riverside
Hylan Absent and Is Said
to Have Forbidden French
Flag Above City Hall

Nearly 5000 persons assembled last
night at Manhattan Casino, 155th
Street and Eighth Avenue, to celebrate
Bastile Day. There were many in the
uniform Of the French army and navy
and each was the centre of an admiring
knot of auditors throughout the even-
ing. When their fund Of war stories
failed the men in uniform sang songs
of the army and navy.
CASTOR Liebert, the French Consul
General, was the only speaker French
men had greater reason to celebrate
this 13Oth anniversary of French free
dom, nc said, than ever before and
greater reason than ever before to OBJ
serve the holiday in America. th4
country that had helped France to
preserve its freedom. He referred
briefly to the death in Paris of Ed
Guard de Billy, former French High
Commissioner, and resolutions express
ing sympathy for his family were
adopted
Dolls of French manufacture were
sold in the garden adjoining the casino.
Neither Mayor Hylan nor any one
representing him was at the meeting,
although an invitation had been sent
to him. Many of the holiday makers
were discussing report that the Mayor
had declined to fly the French flag at
the City Hall, giving as a reason that
when request had been made to fly
the flag of the "Irish Republic" there
the day that Eamon de Valera an
nounced his arrival in this country that
request was refused.
Reception at Consulate
Yesterdays formal celebration be.
gan with morning reception at the
French Consulate, 10 Bridge Street
where CASTOR Liebert, the French Con-
sui General in New York, was host to
100 prominent French and American
citizens. In brief address Nj. Liebert
spoke of the close fellowship between
Americans and Frenchmen and re-
called the great Bastille Day reception
at sMadison Square Garden last year
on which occasion France was signally
honored by the City of New York.
The achievements of democratic
France later were recounted by sew
eral speakers at celebration at the
base of the Joan of Arc monument, at
Ninety-third Street and Riverside
Drive. The principal address was that
OF Mrs. D. Laura Prisk, head Of the
Harlem Patriotic League. The war
time association of France and Amer
lca on the battletields of France, she
'*'N' he'N ASouiICu III q lIleuQSnlD De-
tween the citizens of the two repub-
lies which never could be broken. Al
fred Linner, of the War Camp Com.
munity Service, described the welfare
work which his organization is doing
In France and in this country. The
hundred people gathered at the monu.
ment stood at attention at the close
of the exercises while Private Henry
Freeman, of the 22d Infantry, played
on q cornet the national airs Of France
and America.
French Songs Sung
The singing Of French songs by sew
eral hundred members OF the French
colony under the direction Of the Wal
Camp Community Service featured a
celebration held at Mount Morris Park
yesterday afternoon.
In conjunction with Bastille Dav.the
War and Navy departments yesterday
initiated "Legion of Honor Week" in
this al other cities. Merchants
throughout the city displayed in the
windows of their establishments cita-
tions issued to them by the War and
Navy departments through Colonel
Arthur Woods. former Police Commits.
'sloner and now Assistant Secretary OF
War. The citations have been ISSUED
in recognition OF assurances given b,
employers that they will roemploy all
workers who left their jobs to enter
the service Of the country during the
war. The display will continue through.
out the week.