New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-22
French Cheer
Pershing From
Havre to Paris
Throngs Greet Him ON His
Arrival in Port at the Sta.
tions on Way Through
Country and in Capital
Answers Great Welcome
That He Is Not
to Select Or Bring Back
American Soldiers Body
By Wilbur Forrest
Special Cable to Tho Tr;bun.

N~opyt IL H. I92l, New York Tribune Inc
PARIS, Sept. 21.-France WELCOMED
General Pershing back to-day with an
enthusiasm comparable only to the
scenes four years ago. when, as major
general with small staff, he reached
the French shore, the vanguard of the
American fighting machine. From the
moment the liner Paris nosed it's wav
past the land forts at Cape Heve this
morning, where the guns barked out
the first welcoming salute, the Ameri-
can Army leader was the center of a
storm of greeting.
thousands lined the quay at Havre.
crowds surrounded the stations through
which the Generals train passed to-
ward Paris, and thousands more
jammed the streets about the St.
Lazare railroad station, where he ar
rived in the city. When Pershing, ac-
companied by officials of the French
government and Myron T. Herrick the
United States Ambassador, stepped into
an automobile and motored to the Hotel
Crillon, which faces the Place de la
Concorde, another huge crowd in that
square took UP the cheers, refusing to
disperse until long after the General
had disappeared into the suite put at
his disposal by the French governme ent,
whose guest he is.
To Bestow Decoration
The sole purpose of the generals
visit is to bestow the Congressional
Medal of Honor, recently voted by Con-
gress, on the unknown poilu who lies
buried under the Arc de Triomphe
aymbol of all Frances fighting men,
The ceremony will take place on Oc-
tober 2.
Before that time General Pershing
will be in Paris most Of the time, al
though he plans to go to the Rhine
on September "a to review the Ameri-
can troops there. On his way there by
automobile he will stop in several Of
the cemeteries in which American SOL
diers lie, to make plans for their beau
tification and permanence
General Pershing told The Tribune
correspondent tonight that the report
he was here to select the body of an,
unidentified American soldier to be
there was entirely erroneous. AL
though body will be selected and
sent home within two or three weeks,
General Pershing said, he was not plan
ming to aid in the selection or to ac-
company it to America.
Speaks at Havrs
Answering series of welcoming
speeches at the City Hall in Havre Cen
eral Pershing, speaking alternately in
French and English, said:
II am extremely touched by the re-
ception given me here and regret ex-
guage of France all that fills my heart.
1t is gratifying to receive this honor
on behalf of my soldiers, many Of
whom were warmly welcomed in this
port, and it is gratifying to have the
honor of returning thanks on their
behalf.
~ am visiting France on the impor-
tant mission Of bringing to you in the
form of a decoration for your beloved
dead the appreciation of the American
people, their love, admiration and good
wishes for the future"
AS the liner bearing General lsPersh-
ing passed up the broad mouth of the
Seine from the open sea it was Joined
by four befagged little destroyers
which acted as an honor escort. Ahead
was the battleship Strasbourg, waiting
to lead the Paris to the harbor. She
had been selected because Pershing's
ancestors came from near the now re-
stored capital of Alsace-Lorraine. At
the mouth Of the harbor stood five
little gunboats in battle formation.
Long before the liner docked, the
General was taken off by small steam
launch. Marshal Franchet d'Esperey,
heading q distinguished group of
French officers that included repre-
sentative of Marshal Foch, and fanked
(Cantnued on pase tsn)