Evening star., 1951-03-31
AurioI Visits
Mount Vernon
1oLayWreath
French President
Also Honors Tomb
Of Unknown Soldier
By james 6. Deone


and the Unknown Soldier of World
War I.
Bright and early this mornins
the visiting President journeyec
to Mount Vernon to lay a wreath
at the tree-Shaded resting place
of America S first President, whom
France helped to win a revolution
and whose own success helped tC
inspire another revolution il
France.
Later Mr. Auriol drove bach
along the sun-lit Potomac to Ar
lington Cemetery, where he placed
another wreath on the tomb SYM
bolic of a struggle which wa;
Frances as well as Americas.
Special Concert Tonight.
The French leader addressed
the Pan American conference at
noon, and late today he l.ill re-
ceive the French colony at the
French Embassy. Tonight he and
President Truman, with their
wives, will attend a special concert
in Mr.. Aui'iol's honor at Constitu-
ton Hall.
The bright sunlight that bathed
the countryside through which the
French visitor motored today con-
trasted sharply with the rainstorm
he was forced to weather yester-
day on his visit to honor the
United States Naval Academy.
The 66-year-old statesman and
veteran of the wartime Resistance
proved he could take it yester-
day, when he went on undaunted
through a parade-ground speech
despite a downpour that sent
some spectators scurrying.
Pins Decorations on Flag.
MI. Auriol. with the entire bri-
gade of $500 midshipmen looking
on, had just pinned two OF
Frances highest decorations-the
Cross of the Legion of Honor and
the Croix de Guer Con the acad-
emy's flag when the rain began.
It fell gently at first. But about
midway in the speech it turned
suddenly into a minor cloudburst.
The stocky, rotund little Presi-
dent went right on with his
speech, however, with the rain
drops splashing on his bald head
and drenching his manuscript. He
spoke III French.
Af.erward, some one handed
him a midget-size umbrella. and
he gave the spectators a laugh by
grabbing Vice Admiral Harry w.
Hill, academy superintendent, by
the arm and forcing him to share
the partial covering back to the
canopied reviewing stand.
Then Mr.. Auriol and a grand
stand-full of onlookers were
treated to the Middies' first parade
in full-dress blue uniforms since
before World War II. The rain
ended just before the last of the
-buttoned, white-belted fu-
ture admirals strutted past.
Salute by FL Guns.
A 21-gun salute and Marine
honor guard greeted the President
and his wife on their arrival at
1870 am, and the first hour Of
their five-hour visit was devoted
to conducted tour, which in
cluded the chapel, dormitory
rooms, ordnance equipment in
Ward Hall and the armory with
its two installations of movable
5-inch gun batteries.
The distinguished visitors
showed particular interest in the
huge mess hall. Mr.. Auriol studi-
ously examined a menu. Nine
Auriol laughed incredulously when
dish she dropped on the floor
at an officers suggestion-failed
to break. ut was plasticD She
also sat down in one of the alum
mum chairs.
Then the party stationed itself
on the Bancroft Hall steps to
watch the noon formation nf mid
shipmen, and the President ten
dered them a French-style salute
as they marched snappily by on
their way to lunch. Mr.. Aurioi
also chatted briefly with the mid
shipman brigade commander, 81
year-old William Porter Lawrence
of Nashville, Tenn.
Hill Host at Luncheon.
Admiral Hill entertained the
visitors in his quarters f7r lunch
and reception following.
Gov. McKeldin of Maryland ar
other high Staye officials came to
meet Mr.. Auriol and watch the
afternoon ceremonies. French
Foreign Minister Robert Schu-
man and Ambassador Bonnet also
were thr "e.
A group Of President Auriol's
countrymen-126 blue-uniformef
Naval cadets from the training
cruiser Jeanne d'Arc-Stood at
attention at both sides of the
academy colors during the pre-
sentation of the medals. The
French cadets also watched the
review from the grandstand, af-
terwards getting a personal greet
ing from their commander in
chief.
The Jeanne dare will remain
at the academy until next
Wednesday.
Mr.. Auriol, in his speech, eX-
pressed gratitude to the United
States for it's aid to the French
navy and paid tribute to this
country's navy for showing "the
full measure of her valor and of
her efficiency as fighting uni"
in the Korean war.
Banquet at Embassy.
He said he was certain TIE mid
shipmen will always remain true
to the spirit of cooperation
which, he said, "also inspires
France in the task which she pur-
sues without weakening in order