Evening star., 1926-04-23
.LEG|ONNA|RES' TRIP
!. TO PARIS OUTLINED
D. C. and Virginia Veterans
to Make Crossing on
8 Luxurious Ship.

The District of Columbia and Vir'
ginia quotas of the $4,000 American
Legion members, together with thou
sands of Legion Auxiliary members,
for whom transportation facilities are
being arranged for the legion con-
vention in Paris in September, 1927,
will embark from Hampton Roads,
. Va. aboard a liner of the Interna-
4 tional Mercantile Marine, yet to be
designated.
Embarkation details are being
worked out by Bowman Elder of
indianapolis, Ind, chairman of the
legion's convention travel commlttee.
A movement already has been
started in Congress to insure an ade-
quate vacation period for eX-service
4 employees of the Government so they
can attend the Paris convention, ana
the Legion's campaign to insure the
same vacation opportunity for those
' in private employment already has
received the Endorsement of many eX-
ecutives of big business concerns.
Has Coolidge Approval.
The convention, which will COM
memorate the tenth anniversary of
Americas s entry in the World War
and will afford legionnaires an op-
portunity to pay homage at the
graves of fallen comrades, has re-
ceived the Endorsement of President
ton from the French government,
through Premier BRAND, in making
the occasion a memorable. one.
In the arrangements for their COM
fort and pleasure on the transatlantic
passage there will be nothing to Sug-
gest the embarkation of veterans dur
ting the war days, says J. A. Nichols
of Richmond, France convention
travel officer for this section, in an
uouncing arrangements already made
IAN the comforts, luxury and pleas
Nres of tourist travel will be open to
the veterans on the return to France"
he says. There will be no embarka-
ton from screened pier to a crowded,
aarkened, camoufiaged transport no
giSZagging course to avoid sub
marines; no sudden alarms at night;
no forming of lines with mess kits at
mealtimes: no sleeping in a musty
lfold on hunks built in tiers three
deep.
Instead. the legionnaires and the
auxiliary members will be billetted in
comfortable StateroomS. They Will
find recreation in the luxurious public
rooms of the liners or on the wide
white awninged decks. Meals will be
served in the de luxe dining salons.
There will be a battalion of trained
servants and stewards aboard each
vessel.
Class Barriers to Go.
''As a part of the legion's program
to make the France convention as
democratic as possible. all discrimina-
hot 011 will IA a o.
aboard ship. No matter what ac-
comodation he may happen to pur-
chase on the legion liner. whether
it be the sumptuous parlor, bedroom
and bath suite or a berth. in a. sin.
bed cabin, the veteran will have u1s
restricted access to all parts of the
vessel. All deck space and public
rooms will be open to every one. re-
gardlesS of accommodation used.
! Extremely low rates have been arr
ranged for the pilgrimage in order
that the trip may be placed within
reach of the rank and file of veterans,
representatives of every economic and
social class which gave service during
the war. 1t is estimated that the
entire trip from home to home can be
made for an little as $500. The mini
mum rate determined, which will in
clude passage both ways on the
Atlantic, transportation in France,
providing trips to an American battle
field and an American cemetery and
hotel in Paris. will be about SITS.
Other rates will range up to $3.50 for
the best class of accommodation.
"In order to enable legionnaires
and auxiliary members to save con-
veniently for the trip, the legion has
sponsored the organization of Ameri-
can Legion savings clubs in banks all
over the country. Hundreds of these
clubs have been organized and others
arc hein0 established each week" :"