New Britain herald., 1926-10-12
Former Commander of American Forces Tells Veterans He Is Glad to Renew Old Acquaint- anceS.
Convention Receives For. nal Notice From Paris Big Parade Is Feature of Afternoons Program.

bers of the American expeditionary force today faced their old com mander, General Pershing and cheered him until the smiling. gray haired warrior motioned them to cease.
 General Pershing, who many dele gates said, could be the next nation al commander of the American Le- zion if he so desired. made five minute eNtemporaneous speech be- fore the Legion's annual convention, in which he said he came merely to say How do you do," shake hands and review the arade this after noon.
 Tt Is a very thrilling thing to meet the men Of America who fought side by side in a great cause. and it Is a fine thing to meet each year to renew associations" said the general.
 Tn looking over speeches made at your conventions, I find that you are given advice on how to conduct yourselves, but I want to say to the Legionnaires you need no advice in civil life.
 You can always count on me as one Of you, standing together shoulder to shoulder, as you did during the war"
 The American Legion was not q political organization, said General Pershing. but it was especially inn portant that Its members see that men in their community were up- standing Americans, and not slack CTS or demagogues.
 French Invitation The formal invitation of France to hold the Legion convention in Paris next year was presented.
 This was preceded by a French chauffeur driving into the big hall a little red taxicab, one of those used to carry troops to the Marne
 The message Of President Dou- mergue, of the French republic, in- viting the Legion to Paris said:
 T send my most cordial salute 10 the American Legion and rejoice in thinking that its next annual con- vention will be held in Paris in 1927.
 When you, veterans of the World War, arrive in our ports next year, all the French will greet you, re- membering that nine years ago, dur ing tragic hours, you came with ad- mirable enthusiasm, bringing all the strength of your country to the service of right.
 Without doubt in place Of some of the battlefields you will find fertile plains, and instead of ac- Icumulated ruins you will find towns and villages, but if the traces of the war have partly disappeared from the surface of the earth. they are engraved In our hearts forever. You may rest assured that all the French people will warmly welcome those who formerly came to fight by their side and struggle with them to vic- tory.
 Therefore, this pilgrimage of thirty thousand of your members of the country that guards in its soil the tombs of your fallen heroes must be accomplished. It Is one of those events that count so much in the relations Of two countries, which make them better understand each other, and are a step toward the ideal of peace which is the goal oi our two countries and of their gov ornments."
 Messages were also received from Premier Poincare, NJ. Briand. Min. ister of Foreign Affairs. Marsha Foch, and the Veterans societies O ] France.
 Colonel Yves Picot, representative of the French government, made ar
 address after the messages wer' read.
 When he ceased speaking. Ma
 tional Commander John R. McQuigi , presiding over the convention, said If the enthusiasm with which thes . messages and addresses were receiv
 ed is any indication. it is not diffi
 cult to determine where the mex
 convention of the Legion will b u held"
 This observation by the nationa
 commander on question that ha z agitated the membership of the Le | zion, was received with long ap ' plause.
 = Vice-President Charles G. Dawe' T who delivered the principal addres 't at today's session. also received a T enthusiastic reception. V The Big Parade l. Men. who a few years ago at c "cornwilly" together In damp dus
 outs, who charged together throug e barbed wire entanglements an = shell-torn forests who bled an y crawled over rain-soaked battl ;, fields, marched together today UT IT der a fair sky. with gay hearts an friendly faces cheering them on.
 It was the American Lesion's ar e nual parade. Hosts of Legionnaire B. representing 4S states and thousand of of posts, were in line. With banc r. blaring. flags waving and uniforms of varied hue. they presented a colo ly full panorama as they passed dow I'd Broad street to the Seseouicen3sl sl le nial stadium, where they were r
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