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Show French Flyers Lionized in Ogden 3 ? 3 Compliments Fall Thick and Fast OFFICERS of the French military commission to Siberia, members of aviation avia-tion section; photographed at Ogden by Kobert Nevins, of Browning Brothers' kodak department. Commandant P. Boudin is at the extreme right. Noted Squadron on Its Way to Siberia to Fight With Allies. OGDEN. Nov. 29. Tho famous French flying squadron, acting as the French military mission to Siberia, Si-beria, totaling 350 officers and men, and traveling In two special trains, were the guests of the people of Ogden for about three hours today. The men are fresh from the battlefronts and are now en route to aid the allied forces in overcoming the strong Bolshevik movement in Siberia and Russia. From the expressions gained from the officers and men, they fully appreciate the nature na-ture of their mission and are prepared to carry out their orders to the fullest extent. ex-tent. They expect to reach Vladivostok December 22. The mission left Paris on the evening of November 12, . In the midst of the greatest celebrations ever known in French history. They saw the splendod ovation the French people were extending extend-ing to the American soldiers and little realized that a similar reception awaited them in this country: From the moment they passed the Statue of Liberty, given by the French people to the United States, members of the mission Were reminded re-minded that they were at "home," and every possible attention and honor were showered upon them. A Continuous Ovation. Their tour across the country. Adjutant Paul Boudin said, was just one continuous continu-ous ovation. It was "one grand mag-niflque mag-niflque ovation." In Ogden the officers and men were divided into groups;of three and four and taken for an automobile ride of the city and in the canyon. After the return from the canyon the Frenchmen were stalled for adjectives to express their admiration of the scenic gorge. One little lit-tle lieutenant of the air forces, who wore insignia upon his breast to denote he was an ace, said in much expressed excitement excite-ment that the canyon was as grand, and "magniflque" as the great American nation na-tion and its loveahle people. Many of the soldiers walked about the street, where they were taken In tow by citizens who Insisted upon having the Frenchmen dine with them. One business busi-ness man who wears a service pin with three stars, had finished his breakfast and was walking down the street with a companion when they met five of the Frenchmen. Hear Own Language. The business man greatly surprised his companion by addressing the visitors in French, and the soldiers greeted the business man like a long-lost brother. The local man knew how- to reach the hearts of his new-found friends, and he took them in charge and led them to a candy store, whore they were given their fill upon lee cream. The host hunted up more of the visitors and Insisted that they be his guests for a short time. While the pollus were enjoying ico cream their host disappeared and soon returned with several cartons of cigarets and came to the assistance of his companion who was trying to tell the appreciative soldiers of the tricolor how much he admired the French people. The soldiers could not "comprehend,'' nor could their new-found American friend "pariez vous," but they all got along finely. After the soldiers were entertained -at lee cream, the Ogden man commandeered a few automobiles au-tomobiles and showed the visitors the city. After the Frenchmen had gone to the depot the host said that he just feit that he could not do enough for the Frenchmen because they had treated his three sons so royally on many occasions in France. No Set Program. The reception of the one man of the city was only an example of what was accorded the visitors by hundreds of other men of the city, l'ierause of the health regulations, no regular entertainment entertain-ment or rei't-ption could be carried out for the Frenchmen, who seemed to enjoy-to enjoy-to tho utmost the spontaneous reception they received in the city. The greater number of the aviators were between 'JO and .TO years of ae. All had seen two or more years in service with the French forces. They said that they expect to return to France through Germany, and Germany Ger-many must pay their way. After landing land-ing at Vladivostok the French will join the American, Kritish, Japanese and Czeeho-yiovak fur res and start r;cst t h ro n h Siberia, and w i i 1 meet allied f-irecs nt Omsk comma: from the north and tiie British forces from i he Holy I,nnd, who will land at Odessa and man-h north. They figuie thnt their mission will ho to "oheck t'ne trouble" and wipe out Botshcviki nnd preserve Russia. Tho first train left at 1-:U) p. m. and the second suction followed an hour later. |
