Salt Lake Telegram | 1949-02-02 | Page 5 | French 'Merci' Train Arrives in New York

French Merci Train Arrives in New York I NEW V YORK Feb 2 A UP-A P A French ship symbolizing the gratItude gratitude gratitude grat grat- of the French people to Americans received a riotous welI welcome welcome wel wel- wel- wel come in New v York harbor Wednes Wednes- I day Ship whistles blared planes roared overhead and lire fireboats boats spread a sheen of white water skyward as the steamship Magellan Magel tagel- lan bearing the French Thank You train passed the Statue of Liberty The car 49 train train one one car for each of the states and the District of C o 0 1 l u m b i a is a-is is the French merci for the Friendship train which Americans sent to France last year laden with food and gifts Among the gifts aboard the train are historic documents flags and other othe souvenirs of both world wars Veterans working on Frances France's nationalized railroad system system system tem are arc mainly responsible for organizing organizing organizing or or- the Gratitude train The harbor display of Americas America's welcome began as the Magellan shepherded by a dozen welcoming smaller craft neared the Statue of Liberty Liberty itself itself a gift of the French people completed on tiny island in 1886 Echelons of army navy and police police police po po- lice planes winged overhead in the bright winter sunlight From the reaches of the upper bay whistles whis whis- whistles ties of large and small ships sent up a throated deep-throated roar of wel wel- come The big hoses of fireboats arched water into the sky sly The Magellan a freighter of the French Line was boarded earlier at Quarantine by a welcoming committee It included Grover Whalen halen the city's official greeter Chancel French consul general In New York and Drew Pearson columnist who instituted the idea of the Friendship train The Magellan moved on toward a berth at Weehawken N. N J J. J across the Hudson river from Manhattan Manhattan Manhattan Man Man- hattan where huge derricks will lift the cars of the train onto a railroad siding The New York state car will willbe willbe be towed across the river to the city to be included in a parade after an official presentation at city halL Sections of the train will begin moving out of Jersey City N. N J. J during the coming week end