Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-03-20
Second A. E. F. Mobiliz-
ing For Paris Excursion
Continued From Page one)

Twenty-Five thousand Paris hotel
rooms have been contracted for
Most of the rooms obtained are in
the smaller hotels of the city
Rates for legionaires for the week
of the convention range from $40
to $40 per person. These prices are
about half what similar accommoda-
tions in hotels in the United States
would cost.
Ninety per cent of the legionaires
who already have made reservations
for the France trip have made ar
rangements to make battlefield and
cemetery tours.
The tours have been divided into
five districts, comprising 20 separate
itineraries. All trips can be made
from Paris in day, They will be
made both by train and automobile
and will cost from $5 to $3.50.
Through arrangements made, with
foreign governments, the American
legion will save it's European going
members something like $4,000, 600.
The steamship companies have given
extremely low figures for trans
Atlantic travel to the veterans.
Railroads of the United States are
offering half-fare rates to the Elk
soldiers Railroads of France and
other continental countries are cutting
their fares in half, while the railroads
in the British kingdom have reduced
prices one4fourth
All European governments, with
,ty;II IL %
no passport wise charges. All
legionnaires are required to do is
purchase an Identification certificate
for ST. This entities them to enter
all countries on the continent without
paying the ordinary passport visa
charge, which, in some countries,
runs as high as $40
The landing charge of So, made
at French ports, also has been
eliminated through the efforts of
the France convention committee of
the legion. Congress recently passed
a bill exempting legionnaires from
the regular $5 steamship ticket tax.
1t is estimated that a man from
the middle west can make the trip
to France and back to his home city
for approximately $780, allowing
$3.50 for incidentals. This figure
also includes the cost of a trip to
the battlefields and an American
military cemetery. 1t will take about
four weeks to make the trip to
France and return. Employers
throughout the country are promising
veterans long leaves of absence.
Rates for the round trip, offered
by the steamship companies, range
from $148.5O to 1870 on most of the
vessels. OF course, higher classes
of passage may be obtained. How
ever, the ordinary accommodations
permit veterans freedom of the ship.
The food will be of the best.
Staterooms will be far different from
the hunks of war days.
The legion has arranged insurance
for legionnaires going to France.
There will be free medical surgical
and hospital treatment. All ships
will have surgeries in which major
operations may be performed.
Savings clubs have been formed
throughout the country and legion
naires have joined them by thousands.
AS soon as the veterans have de-
posted $50, the banks send certifi-
Gates to national headquarters of
the legion here, advising that the
veterans desire reservations on par
ticular ships.
The veterans continue their deposits
until a short time before they are
to leave their home cities for en-
barl1ation sports. Then the money
is presented to them, with the $50
reservation charges deducted and ap
piled on tickets.
Americans who cannot speak
French will not have much difficulty
getting around, or in obtaining that
which they want.
French cops are learning to speak
English. as it means good assign
ments for. them during the week Of
the legion convention. Interpreters
will be everywhere.
Bands and drum corps of legion
posts throughout the United States
are planning on making the Partisan
trip. All these will participate in
the grand parade through Paris on
September 20. Contests will be held
and prizes will be given the best