Evening star., 1927-09-19
LEGION is GREETED
WILDLY BY FRANCE
IN ANNUAL PARADE

Continued from First Page)
to send out their ripsnorting cheers,
which are all Greek to the French.
American voices from the crowds
lining the streets piped up every little
while with banter and advice and
there was a constant exchange OF
complin nts between the marcherS
and the friends among the specta-
tors or among the thousands OF Le-
gionaries who preferred to watch
rather than parade.
Khaki Draws Applause.
The regular wartime battle-scarred
uniforms of khaki with the accompa-
nying tin hats got big hand for the
detachment Of the Oneida, N. Y, Post
16. They We're something that the
French had seen before when every
American soldier made lasting i'm
preston and the cheers had a real
kick in them.
The drum majors who tossed their
long batons high into the air with
all the traditional skill of the small
boys idol gave a new circus touch
to the parade for the French crowds
which are accustomed to rather sol
emn than staid procedure at these
events. 49,
March Through Famous Arch. -
For the first time since the great
victory parade of 1919. the heavy
chains whichsbare the entrance to the
Arc di Triomphe were removed to per-
NIT the Legionnaires to march
through. The Americans presented an
impressive picture as, bareheaded and
with serious set faces. they dropped
their tiny flower upon the tomb Of
the Unknown.
A deep silence ruled for fully three
minutes as the first delegations passed,
all the bands having ceased playing
as they reached the historic monu-
ment Then suddenly applause and
cheers broke from the thousands pack
ing the square to the full limit. They
had seen Marshal Joffre and Gen.
Pershing stand at salute near the
tomb and then enter their automobile
to join the procession.
In addition to the American Legion
marchers there were troops from the
French Republican Guards, bat
TALON of French infantry and march
ers from the Interallied Veterans AS
SociationS.
The crowds along the line of march
swayed to and fro in an attempt to
get better closeup of the marchers,
all of whom were receiving an en-
thusiastic welcome, until the Loulsi-
ana delegation appeared, led by
man who looked more like the gen.
orally accepted type of Frenchman
than is ever seen on the boulevards
of Paris Hundreds Of women threw
kisses at him in delight.
tt1 P,stn II.
NOR, singing songs with the march
ing Legionnaires-when they knew
them or thought they knew them
producing some weird English ac-
cents at times in their enthusiasm.
NotabIes at Opening.
With a tremendous roar Of applause
and cheers from the 1000 delegates
for President Doumergue. Marshal
F'och, Gen. Pershing and National
Comdr. Howard =. Savage the ninth
convention of the American Legion
was opened at $50 o'clock this morn
ing in the famous Trocadero Palace.
President Doumergue, head Of the
French Republic. was the guest of
honor. Members of the cabinet, sena
tors, deputies and leaders in the mill
tary, naval and diplomatic life of
France occupied the platform.
Everywhere there was a spirit Of
enthusiasm. Huge refiectors threw
their light on the gathering, remark
able Nor it's color. The Marseillaise"
and .The Star Spangled Banner"
shared honors as played by various
! bands. while Marshal Foch. sitting at
Gen. Pershing's left bowed his appre.
citation of the spontaneous outburst
which greeted his appearance.
The business portion of the opening
| session was exceedingly brief. A few
committee reports were hastily
adopted and orders were given the
| committee chairmen for the after,
moons parade.
Tribute to Dead.
Suddenly. on a sign from Comdr.
| Savage, the vast assemblage arose
and the strains of There is No Death
| throbbed through the building. Then
came Il moments silence in memory
of Americas war dead.
! The great auditorium Of the historic
Trocadero had been profusely deco.
rated with American and French flags
and pennants. entwined. The plat.
form was picture in crimson and
gold, with the national, departmental
and State banners Of the Legion form.
ing a background.
Eight Legion bands appeared in uni
form. The famous Red and White
Stetsons PLAYED national melodies, my
Old Kentucky Home" and Dixie" Wy
ing with "Over There" and La Made
Ion" for the applause Of the Legion
naires, after the national anthems OF
France and the United States had been
played several times.
Message From Coolidge.
A message from President Coolidge
to the Legionnaires. which arrived by
wireless an hour before the convention
opened. was read and greeted with
thunderous applause.
The message was as follows:
my Dear Comdr Savage:
ITO the coming convention of the
American Legion there Is attached q
y significance far greater than tha
which was given to the gatherings In