The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1921-09-23
lMfR|CAN LEGION DELEGATION
WARMLY RECEIVED BY FRENCH
xO FOREIGN DELEGATION EVER
FETED IN LIKE MANNER
/ By Robert y. Madry)

hers which came to France to renew |
+ba bonIs of friendship formed during
the war and TO pay homage to the !
French and American dead, has just
sailed on its return voyage to America. |
The Legionnaires were in France just
tbrap weeks. but during this time they
,rpra welcomed and feted in a man
ner that has broken all precedents.
themselves admit, has ever been so
warmly acclaimed in France.
In welcoming these former fighters
the French had in mind the fact that
they represented that vast Army of the
A. E. F. which fought in France dur
inc the war as well as the millions Of
others who were ready to cross the
and virtually every combat division
was represented by the delegation,
which was composed Of men from every
former rank, from generals to privates.
There was no official distinction on
this trip to France: they all wore their
civilian clothes. The former buck
private was as good as the former dig
nified general, and this was shown
BY the way the delegates mingled,
whether or their special train, in the
cafes or elsewhere. They were
Irregular fellows,'' as the newspaper
fraternity puts it. Travelling by spe
eial train. which had been provided by
The French Government, the delegates
made a complete circle of France dur
ing their tour of two weeks. Their
last week they spend in Paris, where
they were officially received at num-
erous receptions, including a visit to
the summer home Of the French Presi-
dent at Rambouillet. They also spent
three days in Belgium, where they
were received by the King of the
making a tour of the battlefields.
II member Of the group is asked
IN what part of France the delegation
received the warmest welcome, he will
not be able to make any distinction,
Tor everywhere the Legionnaires went
whether in large towns and small
towns, whether in the beautiful coun-
try of the South of France or in the
devastated regions Of the North-the
Whole town turned ont to greet them
IN each instance they were met al
Ihe station by the mayor, prefect OF
police and the highest civil and mill
'ary officials; in each instance there
Aelr honor on the quay of the station
III each instance the line OF marcl
Atou9h the streets Of the city was
ahhed by honor guards composed O.
Ie organizations, and in each in
''Aee they were received at the 10
'aI elty han and officially welcomes
~ the mayor and other officials an,
\ later fete5.
81 accompanied the delegation on it
me Legion men naturally expect
'OFk Herald, and therefore had tn
'Ppoftmnty TO see Just what sort o
'0''loh these receptions produced.
ine Legion men nanturally expect
10 be warmly welcomed in th
''N-Scarred areas, where many o
VI" We're formerly billited with tn
l. f. Bat they did not know wha
"Peff IN the South of France. Th
"'A Is that one could make no dis
Snction.
III the South of France at Bloi
D'suX' Tarbes, Pau, Toulouse; q
'nS' IN the Midi section; at tn
rated city of strasbury, in, tn
as well as at Flirey, Saint -Di
@"Nibiel, Metz, verdun, Rheim
III "ahy other towns in the batt1
~they received the same so1
- Wr'comes. It was not a Sc
tier; all Of France responde