Evening star., 1927-09-16
LEGION CAPTURES
HEARTS OF FRENCH
Noisy Welcome Given Former
Doughboys Led by Gen.
Pershing.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated FTebb.
PARIS September 16.-Gen.
John j. Pershing and the leaders
Of the American Legion arrived in
Paris at 4:40 pm. They were
greeted at the Invalides Station by
civil and military notables.
By the Associated Press.
CHERBOURG, France. September
16.-Bands played, seaplanes whirred
overhead and thousands cheered as
the biggest contingent Of the second
A. e. f.. led by Gen. Pershing. arrived
here on the ~Leviathan today, bound
for the Legion convention in Paris.
"The Legion Is here!' exclaimed
Mayor lie Brettevillois as he grasped
Gen. Pershing's hand. 1--WE wish you
could have landed here in 1917"
cts the greatest cargo OF Legion
naires ever to come to France" said
Howard P. Savage. national COM
mander of the Legion. surveying the
1000 he and Gen. Pershing brought
with them.
Get Noisy Welcome.
.Cherbourg had stayed up all night
to welcome the veterans. The Levia-
than's arrival had been announced for
3 o'clock In the morning, but 1t was D
before the mammoth liner slipped into
the roads.
The Legionnaires were up early and
viewed the cold and clammy dawn,
while four seaplanes circled above the
ship. Seven naval bands blared the
strains of the "Marseillaise" and THE
Star Spangled Banner" and whistles
footed.
Everywhere the French tri.color
and the Stars and Stripes were dis
played, in most cases intertwined;
There was no sign Of the reported
Communist opposition as the Legion
naires tramped from the docks to the
railway station to entrain for the
capital.
II there had been any doubt as to
the genuineness Of the welcome voiced
by the French officials 1t was fully
dispelled by the warmth Of the wei.
coming cheers and obvious heartiness
of the greetings extended by the citi-
zens of the seaport.
French Seek Pershing.
While the welcome to the Legion.
naires was warm, 1t was Gen. Per.
shing who dominated the entire cere.
mony. BLACK Jack" looked very
civilian In a dark gray suit, soft felt
hat and tan shoes.
"Where is the general?" the French
war mutilated asked, while the bands
played la Madelon."
"Welcome home." said Admiral
Vindry. maritime prefect Of Cher
bourg. to the commander of the
A. e. F.
To the queries Of the newspaper
men, Pershing replied: II have moth
ing to say. What can I say? We
have had a wonderful trip across.
vados Hills, somewhat this looks
familiar"
In a speech Of reply to the ad-
dresses of welcome, Comdr. Savage
said the Legion had come to France
further to cement the ties forged In
Lafayette's day and strengthened In
the World War.
1--WE are coming back to renew old
friendships and to enjoy for few
days the comradeship of the French
people," he continued, "and we come
under happier auspices than accom-
panied us nine or ten years ago, when
the harbor and shores were grim with
materials Of war and the faces Of the
people were drawn with the strain
Of the struggle.
Contrast to 1917.
To-day we see a harbor busy with
the commerce Of peace, and we are
impressed with the indications of the
splendid recovery made by this ma
tion, so strongly stricken by the war
We feel that the fine courage which
carried France to victory in war has
carried her forward through the tre-
mendous, heart-breaking task of re-
construction.
"Out on your fields and hillsides
there are rows of white crosses that
mark the resting places Of comrades
who were with us when we first
landed here but who did not accom-
pany us when we embarked. 1t is
toward those places that our steps
are directed, there to stand beside
those graves in communion with
those men who died for the ideals OF
France and America.
I'VE know that you will under
stand. and we know how tenderly
you have tended the graves of those
boys who lie SO far from home"