The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-18
FRENCH TIGER
HERE TO REPLY
TO CRITICISM
Pays Tribute to u. S.
Part in War

NEW YORK. Nov. 1s.-In fighting
trim, eager for his campaign in this
country, Georges Clemenceau, the
Tiger of France, landed on American
soil today with high honors accorded
him on every side.
Taken off the liner Paris early this
morning on the mayors yacht. Macon.
Clemenceau stepped on shore about
10 o'clock and was welcomed to New
York, at city hall.
When the Tiger was met down the
bay this morning, Robert Woods Bliss.
third assistant secretary of state.
greeted the old statesman in the NAM
of President Harding, and declared
that the president would be glad to
welcomed him in Washington
Thank you," said Clemenceau, for
the honor of the presidents welcome
and kind invitation. / am glad to be
in America again / hope to see Pres
:dent Harding in Washington, and
look forward to the visit with greas
delight"
Replies to Welcome.
Replying to a welcome from the
American Legion, extended on the
Paris, Clemenceau said that the
thoughts of men represented by the
American Legion, "are the ones that
count"
Bantering with newspaper men and
parrying their questions at every
turn, the Tiger, bundled up in fur
overcoat, refused to reveal anything
further as to the purposes of his
mission to America
81 have mission" he said, as he
sat on the deck of the Macon, coming
up the bay to New York.
But in reply to questions as to what
his mission is, he declared: Il will
tell you privately Tuesday night al
the Metropolitan opera house. tFhis
is Clemenceau's first speech here).
."I cannot feel better" said the old
man, chuckling, when he was asked
if his ocean trip had done him good
81 always am full up. always
feel better"
Tribute To America.
In his reply to acting Mayor Hull
bert, M Clemenceau paid tribute to
Americas part in theeWorld war say
ing:
greatest war. Men fell by hundreds
of thousands in that war, and we wait
ed very long sometimes and we looked
around to see if some help would not
come"
Help did come and it came mag
nificently l must say, in the shape OF
the American soldiers. can speak of
lit as having seen it on the field, and
have seen it too on the farm. very
often | met at the peasants home
big, huge American with two children
on his knee telling stories to them and
trying to understand the questions the
old men and women would ask about
America.
Discovered Friendship
"Of course he did not speak French
more than the others spoke English.
Some way or other they made them
selves understood. Very soon we dis
covered they were all friends.
"I have seen them, the Americans,
in the fight and l have seen them in
the field when the Americans under
the command of General Pershing took
hold at st. Mihiel, releasing a
great many people. When | arrived
the next day what did / see? All the
American motors in the old city full
of French women and children and
flowers. These poor people who had
not been allowed to get out of their
dens for three years, were rescued by
the Americans.
"And ] saw the crowd crying, and
laughing and crying. / think / saw
once in while an American soldier
get a kiss from some woman. 1t was
the next day after the battle took
place when all of the city had beer
emptied by the Americans. It was
a joy not to be forgotten.
Refuses at First.
'T saw sometimes the worst. | have
seen Americans in the mud of the
trenches for days and days, without be-
ing relieved, and looking very sorry,
but the moment ! came and brought
them the crosses of war, they had so
magnificently gained, they were all
smiles. We shook hands and we spoke
of the old place. America, was the old
place.
"They did not cry and l could see a
| twinkle in their eyes. OF course, they
knew | was there and they knew that
they were mine One day in high
way / met a troop of soldiers. going
/ home and they made me feel sad, when
/ they spoke of the old country.
They said. won't you come to
| America some day?'" | said No, /
am too old. / cannot think of going
there l said you make me speak and
| it tires my lungs. ! have very few of
them left, poor miserable things.
Decides To Come.
"They said you do come, I won't
co. / said. and for years and years
said I won't go. One morning / was
/ in my private house, bordering on the
sea on the other side of the water
when / received bad news from Amer
| lea. heard bad names. We were
called Imperialists, and Militarists. /
think that is horrid, and / thought |
had better go and tell them how things
/ happened to pass and to show them
that their judgment was not correct.
Zone day a British newspaper ar
rived. 1t contained criticism from a
man of very high standing calling
America bad names. At that moment
| decided had better go to America. .
III. 5. Transport Arrives