Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-21
LEGION LEAVES
PARIS TO VISIT
| BATTLEFIE

PARIS, Sept. 20 tP-Leav.ng the
shouting and tun1ult of their con-
vention behind, thousands of Amer
ican legionnaires today reverently set
out for the real pilgrimage of their
visit to France. They LETT Tor the
battlefields of Rheims, Lille and
Verdun to visit the graves of their
comrades in arms who fell in the
great upheaval.
At the Palais Du Trocadero they
had heard General Pershing and
Marshal Foch vaunt their heroic war
deeds and later they solemnly placed
a wreath at the tomb of Lafayette
Later they were the guests OF Presi-
dent Doumergue and still later en-
joyed Marshal Foch's hospitality at
a garden party All these events
paved the way for the real purpose
of their visit to France.
They we're here to LOOK upon the
little wooden crosses, standing row
on row, in the former war torn area
where their brothers fought and
fell. After all the preliminaries this
heartfelt purpose was accomplished
for some today. The others will go
later.
The big parade of yesterday which
will go down in French history as
O marvel of American organization
and efficiency-had placed the visit
ors prominently before the population
cf Parts but today brought the re-
newal of old acquaintances IN towns,
villages and hamlets in the hills they
knew in the war.
The convention got down to busi-
ness today and a large dinner
rendered by the legion tonight iii
honor of President Doumergue ended
tFa official parties and receptions.
The women, too, were free for a
time today, but time was noo a heavy
burden on their hands. They had
been looking longingly at the shops
and today they descended upon them.
Impatient to pay tribute to their
dead comrades, thousand legion
naires were off for Verdun- cockpit
IF France travelling in immense
motor cars. It was a subdued and
quiet group which went to visit their
dead, leaving the carnival spirit be-
hind in Paris.
The 1egionnaires were welcomed at
the Verdun market place 10y the
s4dYOI Dt'gQUV CCl11lC1UC1.4 Hit 10OyS
were entertained at a luncheon by
the city of Verdun and they moved
on to visit for Douamont, Hatton
Chattel. Saint Mihiel, Thiaucourt,
Pont-a-M MousSel1, names written in
gold on the pages of American his.
tory.
On the road from Verdun to Sains
Mihiel two miles from Verdun, IS
q little cemetery called '"The Cemetery
of the Unknowns.'. The Americans
stood at attention for a full minute
before the graves of these nameless
heroes.
The people of Verdun and Saint
Mihiel gave gave an enthusiastic re-
ception to the legionnaires.
AT Rheims a ceremony of thanks
was held by the people in expressing
their gratitude ito the people OF the
United States, not only for their aid
in the war but their help in re-.
construction" Lille, decked out in
flags, gave a cordial greeting to the
Americans.
The Iowa delegation presented the
president with a banner made for
him by vote of the Iowa legislature.
Expressing his thanks, he asked the
spokesman. Legionnaire Burton, sew
eral questions about his state and
said that he understood Iowa was
q great wheat state The delegates
from Iowa chided Burton 1ate:' WI en-
they learned that their spokesman
had failed to correct Doumergue by
Informing him that Iowa is 'the
greatest corn state in the union ;;
In contrast to Doumergue's digni-
fled official function was Marshal
FocIl's chatty and intimate reception.
Besides a hearty handshake the
marshal frequently squeezed the left
arm of the American being introduced
to him or patted MIN on the shoulder
in a playful manner as some of the
Americans recalled that Napoleon
used to pinch the ears of his veterans.
The host repeated over and over many
American phrases expressing cordiality
and affection. Most of these he
picked up at the American legion
convention in Kansas City in 1921
For an hour before the arrival OF
his guests, Foch was entirely sur
rounded by admiring women who
stood on the steps overlooking tile
magnificent garden of the Interallied
cIuO. Inc KlHQly OIu WaII1OT NAG a
smile for everyone.
He turned his ear for music. toward
Tie legion bands from Miami and
st. Petersburg, Fla, and the drum
corps from Fort Dodge, Iowa, as
they alternated in making the air
merry with their tunes while several
hundred legionnaires slipped tea
Hundreds more were only presented
without drinking tea, but there was
no other beverage General Pershing
and National Commander Savage
wore cutaway coats, while General
Gouraud was in full uniform