Evening star., 1930-04-06
American Gold Star
Mothers

Detailed instructions to Gold Stal
Mothers who will make the pilgrimage
to France under the direction Of tbs
War Department have been issued by
the quartermaSter general Of the Army
who Is making all arrangements for the
movement. These instructions have been
worked out so that each Gold Star
Mother will be able to tell in advance
almost to the hour, how her time will
be spent during the entire trip.
About the only thing each mother or
widow will have to do for herself Is to
secure the necessary passport, and this
has been made as simple a procedure
as possible. Transportation and eX-
pense money from their homes to New
York will be sent to them in advance.
On arriving at New York they will be
met by Army officers and escorted to
flrst-clasS hotels, where reservations
have been made. The stay In New York
will be from "a to 4S hours. At the
proper time they will be escorted to the
steamship upon which passage to
Europe has been arranged, and quar-
tered In cabin class accommodations.
The ocean voyage will last about
eight days and when the ships dock
at Cherbourg, France, each party will
NC A1CO by O1ICCIS CopCCldlly OSId1lGu 1OE
the purpose and taken in a special train
to Paris, where first-class hotel quarters
have been reserved. The first day in
Paris will be devoted to resting. On
the second day the women of each
party will place q wreath on the Tomb
OF the French Unknown Soldier and
attend reception in which the French
War Mothers, government officials and
prominent civilians will participate. On
the third morning the groups going to
the different cemeteries will leave Paris
travelling in motor busses, and proceed
to the cemeteries, where they will re-
main for about seven days.
twenty-five women will be assigned
TO each bus and an Army officer will
have charge of the bus. The itineraries
70 and from the cemeteries and the
daily itineraries while at the cemeteries
nave been varied so as to take in points
OF historical interest as well as some
parts Of the battlef1elds where Ameri-
can troops were engaged. Upon return
to Paris each party will remain for
about five days and during this time an
opportunity will be given to see the
points OF historical interest in Paris and
vicinity. The entire duration of the
stay in Europe will be IA days.
Except in case of illness or other I'M
avoidable cause, it will not be possible
for any woman taking the trip to re-
main in Europe for longer period than
IA days nor to leave the party with
which she Is travelling unless she is
prepared to pay all of her expenses
after leaving the party, since the act of
Congress authorizing the pilgrimage
specifically states that the Government
shall not pay the expenses of any
woman who wilfully leaves her party.
Upon return to the United States
each ship will be met in New York by
Army officers, who will escort the
mothers and widows to the trains which
will take them home. Before leaving
New York each will be provided with
her return railroad ticket, a sleeping
car ticket and enough funds to cover
the cost Of meals and other travelling
expenses. Baggage for the trip will be
limited not to exceed two pieces of hand
baggage. Adequate arrangements have
been made, both in New York and
abroad, to take care of any who may
become III while en- route.