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Show nIRSI retain RIDES INTO ITZ Commander in Chief of the French Armies Is Given Ovation by Lorrainers. Guns of Famous German Fortress Fire Salute to Conquering Troops. METZ, Tuesday, Nov. 10. (By the Associated As-sociated Press.) The historic event accomplished ac-complished at 2- o'clock tills afternoon when Marshal Petain, . commander in chief of the French armies, made his entry en-try into Metz, the great stronghold of Lorraine and the pivot of Germany's effort ef-fort to crush France, may be said more t tan any other happening to consecrate the victory of the allies in this war. The occasion, in which the French commander figured for the first time aa marshal of France, also gave rise to one of the most , picturesque demonstrations ever carried out by the people of Lorraine. From early in the morning all the roads leading to Mctz were crowded with Lorrainers Lor-rainers on their way to the city to raise their voices there for retain and for France. People unaccustomed to any tongue other than German for years began be-gan many days ago brushing up their Knowledge of French jn preparation for this occasion, and, although the majority of the population undoubtedly has a perfect per-fect acquaintance with no other tongue than German, little of that language was heard in the streets today. German Is Gone. Other things German had disappeared overnight, including the statues of the German rulers, which bad been hauled down by the citizens. William I had toppled top-pled over from his equestrian monument, while Frederick 1U, who for many long years had pointed a menacing finger at France from the pedestal upon which lie stood, had come down with a rone around his neck. Former Emperor William II was still left to figure grotesquely as a statue on the facade of the cathedral. The hands had been chained during the night and into them had been put a band with this inscription: "Sic transit gloria Tnundi." On the other hand, flags were flying from the statues of French heroes still standing in jUetz. Marshal Petain made his triumphal entry, together with a staff of allied officers, at the head of the famous fa-mous Iron division, the Thirty-ninth division di-vision of the Twentieth corps. Following was a long procession of Lorraine societies and other groups, including in-cluding a great number of girls in the natonal costume of Lorraine. This procession met the marshal at the Fort de France and conducted him In triumph tri-umph to the Esplanade, where, surround-ed surround-ed by a remarkable group of generals and r other high officers, he received the troops that had earned the honor by contribu t-ing t-ing the victories of the allies on almost every battlefield ot France. Jubilant Procession. The day was one of notable enthusiasm throughout, winch dusk failed to diminish.. dimin-ish.. Hands wil h torches appeared as toon as the light bean to fade and jubilant processions continued gaiiy to 'irculate through the town until a late " hour. Meanwhile, from the French lines nil around 1 lie fortress there was a brilliant bril-liant display cf fireworks which brightly lighted the sky, signal fuses and star siills serving as skyrockets. It would be untrue to say that all . Metz wns gay today. A considerable number of Germans still remain here. Some of these tried to put a good countenance coun-tenance on the situation and join the throngs out of doors, but their glum faces were mostly seen from open windows, peering out with curiosity mingled with interest. Those Germans that were met with in the crowd were treated with con-sid con-sid eration. Signalling the approach of the marshal and his cavalcade, airplanes began flying fly-ing over the town about 1 o'clock and the air was soon full of miniature tricolor tri-color flags which the airmen dropped. A lit tie later the cannon of the forts around about the city began firing a sa- lute of 300 rounds. The famous cathedral hall, the motto on which reads, "I announce an-nounce just ice," gave the signal fnr tho other bells in the city to peal forth a welcome to "our liberators." as the people peo-ple of Metz call the French and the allied al-lied armies. When Marshal Petain appeared, mounted mount-ed on a fine white charger and followed by the entire general staff, with American Amer-ican and British officers attached, a shout went up that drowned the whirr of airplanes flying overhead and the crowd surged forward, breaking the line of guards in places, to get a glimpse of the victorious commander of the French armies. Still mounted. Marshal Petain took up his position In front of the statue of Marshal Ney to review the troops comprising com-prising the Thirty-ninth division of infantry, in-fantry, with its artillery, under General Pougin. a detachment of the first corps of cavalry under General Feraud, other mounted troops under General de Bois-sieu, Bois-sieu, two escorting squadrons from the first Moroccan division and a detachment of tanks. The staff of the tenth army. which General Mangin was prevented from heading head-ing because of the accident he had met with, was lined up directly in front of the marshal, while Genera 1 Fayolle, commanding com-manding the central group of armie3. stood near the commander in chief just in front of the Ney staLue. which the various officers saluted in passing. France Is Cheered. Enthusiastic cheers of "Long live France!" greeted every flag as it appeared. ap-peared. The dignity "of the reviewing ceremony, however, prevented the people from giving free play to their joy. The case was different in their contact wilh the troops in the streets after the columns col-umns had left the esplanade. Then there were three columns, two of which were citizens marching on either side, hand in hand, with the soldiers In the center. Pretty Lorraine girls brought a blush to the cheek of many a poilu when unexpectedly un-expectedly embraced. Women who had known Metz when It once before was French threw kisses and cried out thanks to their liberators from open windows clnnir (ho lino nf mnreVi The ambition of every child in Mntz appeared ap-peared to he to shake hands with every man in a French or allied uniform and to give him a cordial greeting in French, which, although often deficient, was never misunderstood. The people of Metz. the majority being be-ing Roman Catholics, know Latin if they are not strong on French. They crowded around the cathedral nil morning lo witness wit-ness the transformation of I lie statues. Meanwhile the statues of the French heroes Ney and Fahert (Abraham de Fa-be Fa-be rt, mars ha 1 of France In 1 oS" were decked with flowers and hunting. French military engravings appeared as if by magic In the windows of art stores and an oil painting of Napoleon was hung out from a conspicuous window, where it would be in full view of the incoming1 heroes. Conversed in French. Preparations for tho reepption nf Marshal Mar-shal Petain were made Kundav evening at the first public meeting in forty-eight years at wheh the, people of Lorraine could meet finely and converse In French without running the risk of being sent to prison. AH classes of citizens participated, partici-pated, including newly returned exiles, and excluding onlv that element of the population descending from immigrants. All were out early this morning in long processions airing the line of entry of the French troops, which -were approaching tho town in three columns along the Moselle Mo-selle to unite at M"iitigny. |
