VICTORY WEEK IN PARIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 4

VICTORY WEEK IN PARIS

ARMISTICE CELEBRATIONS

OLD TIME GAIETY REVIVED

[The following picturesque account of the rejoicings in Paris during armistice week was written for the "Christian Science Monitor" by the Paris correspondent of that' journal.!

Never in 'all its records of past fetes, festivals, and festivities has Paris known such a "gramle s'cinaine"—such a great week as tho one through which. it has just lived and which closed with a monster manifestation organised in honour of Alsace-Lorraine. Never has the heart of Paris beaten with a nobler or a finer enthusiasm, for with the present joy mingled tho remembrance, of those first days of August, 1914, when, bedecked with, flags of the three first Allies, France, England, and Belgium, nil Pans trooped 'down towards the stations, going where dutv called it, with that spirit of resolute sacrifice which has been the dominant trait of the whole /French, nation throughout its long ordeal. Now tho great city is all a-flutter wi h the colours of the Allies, those of the first hour and those who, one bv one, joined in the 'struggle, of right against might. And-these, innumerable banners and flags seem so ninny exvotos offered by tho world to the armies which, have saved it. "When at 11 a.m. on November H (which day, by tlie way, it is said, i» about to become a National Fete. Day) the first church bells began to peal out the glad tidings of victory, all the windows were flung wide open and a few minutes later skilful hands had decked the houses of the city in their gay apparel. Soon the loud thunder of a thousand guns proclaimed the welcome news lo the very furthest suburbs. A few minutes ' later Paris was, in the streets. The crowd descended from the remotest quarters of the. city, a crowd of all kinds and conditions of men, a crowd which was essentially Parisian, 6ince it was composed of the most cosmoooliian elements, a crowd united.by that powerful and fraternal sentiment, bv that sort of religious exultation which is the very essence of patriotic enthusiasm. A . deep feeling of . unity seemed to flow through the whole population, thus strengthening the lies already binding those who haw fought, thoso who have suffered or those who have simply -held, during these four long >' Cal ' S ' ~ . 'n 11 Very naturally the pilgrimage of all Paris' was the Place de la Concorde, where, for the last month, the German guns-spoils of war of the Tenth French Army—have been pointing their murder-ous-looking muzzles disconsolately towards the sky. German tanks, longrange guns, lmiinenwerfor, aeroplanes of all sizes and descriptions have become the playthings of the good people of Paris, who spare neither jokes nor remarka. as they ■ pass . among these .trophies, which they are even allowed to touch, and to take away if. they wish, for M. Clemenceau. gave strict orders concerning this, declaring that. "there are still others where these came from!" And thus tho Tiger, or as he is now more generally called, Le Pore la Vietoire, has once more revealed that understanding of the masses which is one of his most remarkable qualities. .. On Monday and Tuesday, November 11 and 12, the centre of the Place de la Concordo was given over to the people, who made the best of. this opportunity. A meeting was hqld in front of the statues of Lille and Strasburg, submerged under a profusion of wreaths and flags. , At the foot'of the statue of Strasburg a young woman, carried away by patriotic fervour, begau to sing the "Marseillaise," and the crowd around'her gravely took up the hymn of liberty, which re-echoed all day through the different quarters of Paris. A group of wounded soldiers, escorted by their Pled Cross nurses, advanced haltingly through the crowd, which parted respectfully before the procession. On catching sight of them a. little Midinette gravely bent over ono of ■ these heroes wheeled in a bath chain 1 , and kissed him on the forehead with a gesture of infinite respect, thus unconsciously 'symbolising the ' everlasting ' gratitude"-. of, France towards those who helped to procure her victory. '

The general emotion was dissipated by the sight of a'small boy who climbed on the longest gun he could find, brandishing the. French and English flags and shouting derisively, "Nach Paris!" An old poilu fired by this, youthful" example, clambered in his turn on a fat howitzer and began chanting the "Mrirseillaise" with an «rdour which so delighted several of his comrades that they proceeded to drag him and the came in triumph up the Rue Royal toward the boulevards, which, although they have witnessed /fell the great ;episodes in the 'history 'ef Paris, had surely never seen such a sight as this! A procession 'was soon formed, the members of which bore the Allied colours, whilst wildly shouting a Medley of national hymns, and it was soon proved that in spite of the four years of -self-restraint it has so scrupulously observed,' the population of Paris bus not. yet lost that love of manifesting its sentiments which is one of its chief characteristics. Cheers for "The Tiger." During the first two .days of the armistice u ceaseless r.owd of laughing, shouting, cheering humanity paraded down the boulevards fvciu tllo Place-de la Madeleine onward, slopping now and then to listen to some gioat singer, such as Martho Chenal or Note, who appeared several times in the course of those (wo first afternoons at different balconies and sang the "Marseillaise," which was taken up in chorus by the 'crowd. 'On Monday afternoon, the crowd suddenly caught sight of M. Clemenccau, .who, lescortcd by his two daughters, wished to mingle democratically with the people whose confidence he has so absolutely :won. Deafening cheers arose, and It. Clemenceau was almost borne aloft in triumph! At length he succeeded in escaping from his too enthusiastic admirers, and a moment later he .reappeared on a balcony of the Place do L'Opera acknowledging with his usual "bonhomie" the. tremendous ovation which gieeted him. Fathers gravely told their children, perched, on their shoulders: "Look at-him! Remember him always! He is le Pare de. la Viotoire" And n middle-aged lady, with an undeniably American accent, exclaimed: "The dear old man. Isn't he cutoJi*

Motor lorries piled high with American soldiers rolled by, and the Yanks greatly delighted the Parisians by wliistling shrilly and by firing off their revolvers, "just'liko the movies," as ono young girl exclaimed. Great enthusiasm was also provoked by the sight of the immense maps of the front, on which tho Parisians have been accustomed to follow, since last July, the victorious progression of tho Allied forces. Now the arrows at last reached the Gorman lines, and, piercing the towns of Cologne, Coblenz, n«d Mannheim, oven crossed the Rhine, thus, reminding all present of Alfred de Mussot's famous poem on the "French Khine."

However, if' tho greater part of tho population gave free rein to its enthusiasm in the central quarters of the town, a heavy percentage remembered the great here of tho day. Marshal Foch. After having otKniaUy announced to President l'oincaro tho signing of tho armistice, the Marshal returned to his home, .which is appropriately situated in the Avemio de Haxe, to find nil immense throng awaiting him. Cheer upon cheer rang out, and ho was nt last obliged to appear on the balcony in his field uniform, and salute the. crowd. Then he exclaimed in mock entreaty, "Now do let me lunch," which familiar appeal greatly enchanted all present, for, ■. as a workman declared, amongst general nppiobation: "That is a good man. Ho is not proud." And this from a French workman is perhaps the highest praise one can receive.

From Wednesday. November 13, until Saturday evening "Paris resumed its normal occupations, fitfully, it is true, for as soon as it enjoyed mi instant of liberty the youth of the great city made a dash for the open, where it proceeded to express its'satisfaction with an unflagging energy. Each evening the boulevards wore invaded by a peaceful crowd of bourgeois, who resumed their oUlflmbit of taking their evening constitutional arm in arm with their wives, promenading slowly up and down before tho cafes

filled to overflowing, and enjoying, tnt novel spectacle of Paris ablaze with electrics light. The Alsace Fete. However, the "clou" of this unforgettable week was the grand manifestation, organised on Sunday, November 17, to celebrate the reunion of Alsace-Lorraine) to the Fatherland. By a happy coinci* deuce this fate took place on the anniversary of Clemenceau's accession to power. More than 500,000 persons took 'part in. tlie- monster profesioir. which-sta-rbil froni the Arc de Tfiomphe and went down the Champs Elysees, and, crossing the. Tuileries gardens, massed itself on the Place du Carousel, where, facing tho statue of Gambetta, a magnificent tableau vivnnt'commemorated the famous scene of the composition of Rouget ds I'lsles' immortal hymn of liberty.

The procession which, as one poilu jocularly expressed it, resembled a "civilian review, passed by soldiers," the latter being onlookers, was headed by delegation's from Alsace-Lorraine .'— amongst them 150 'Mayors'of'the liberated provinces. One hundred huts had been erected' on the Chomps Elysees in which' to receive the subscriptions; for the Victory Loan, and each one of these huts bore the name of a city of tho reconquered territories: Oobnai', Mulhouse, Minister, Altkirch.' Several foreign delegations represented the Allies. That of Great Britain was particularly fine. It comprised more than, four hundred per•sons bearing banners'on which wore inscribed the names evoking the glorious history of.Great Britain,"since tho inauguration of its national, corporate, and communal liberties. The bands of th* Horse Guards and. of the Black [ together with American, and , Italian [ bands and .several Musiqu'es Militaires, played lively marches which blended with sound of tho cannon and with the. loiid penis of church bells.

Several platforms had been erected in the Place de la Concordo on which MM. Poineare, Clemenceau, Marshal Joffre, and all the Ministers took their places. Some earth from Alsace-Lorraine hod been, sprinkled before ths official stands oii both sides of which fir trees from Alsace had been placed.

M. Poineare made a much-applauded speech in which he celebrated 'the persevering faith of, and Lorraine in their ultimate deliverance, ■ and ha also.rendered'homage to M. Clemenceau, the architect of victory. The text of this speech was carried to the four corners of France by 2000 carrier-pigeons which circle wildly in the lowering sky before disappearing from eijht. . ' At the same jioment a flight, of larger birds flew full tilt .across the Place de la Concorde—sonic 50 or GO aeroplanes which proceeded to achieve the most daring Acrobatic feats—turning, wild somersaults, looping-the-loop, or .doing the "dead leaf" trick—shooting suddenly to the ground, only to skim upward, swallow-like, at tho very moment when the assembled crowd was drawing a deep breath of apprehension. Tho crowd itself was a most extraordinary sight. The bees of the Champs Elysees bore, great clusters of people.' The statues of the Place formed so many pedestals for laughing, gesticulating groups, who waved the. Allied colours. The windows, balconies, and roofs of all the neighbouring houses were black with people, and some particularly daring and curious hoys had even settled on tho cornices! Hawkers offered tiny patriotic souvenirs for sale, and all present wore the emblem of Alsace—tho 6prig of fir.

:-Afrw having witnessed the procession, M, Clemenceau was the first to leave, anlidst great cheering. M. ' Poineare next democratically returned to the ■ Elysee on foot, followed by Marshal Joffre and the different ministers, also on foot!

However, the crowd seemed loath to depart.'- It still lingered for long on the Place, following with.admiration the evolutions of the intrepid aviators. Tlie cold, gray wintry twilight foil gently, and.one-.by one the aeroplanes lit their lights, which twinkled like great, luminous stars, shedding rays, of hope, nnd liberty on all who watched, before winging their homeward flieht. ... "Truly, Paris has had a great week— the great week. - -