Parade at French Park, Receptions and Ball Held to Commemorate 150th Anniversary of Bastille Day Shanghai, July 15. SHE 150th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in Paris. which marked the rebirth of the French people, was cele brated yesterday in Shanghai with more than the customary eclat and—in keeping with the signs of the times—with a solemnity which has hardly ever been seen here before.
The absence of the customary sun and an occasional drizzle, particularly during the parade which was held at the French Park at 7.30 am. in no way impaired the spectacle of column after column of well-equipped and well-disciplined men march past the saluting base where a roar of applause greeted them.
Dressed in khaki, detachments from the police and the French troops were loudly applauded from the three slands where every. nation having diplomatic representatives here was strongly represented and from where the various colourful uniforms added much to the beauty of-the spectacle, A detachment from the Prench Navy and the French Fire Brigade were dressed in' white, however, whilst the biggest applause was heard modern and well-equipped tanks thundered past the many spectators, official stand earlier in the morning. were the beautiful dresses worn by Shanghai's ladies who had come in Breat_ numbers to drink the health of the French Republic. " OMcers from various nations stood together and conversed, whilst everywhere Jarge groups of friends were seen sally engaged in conversations. Here, at the parade earlier In the morn~ ing, all" mations represented in Shanghai were also strongly represented, Proceedings commenced with a few minutes delay and, on the arrival of "Henry Cosme, "French Ambassador to China, the "Marseillaise"™ Was played. whilst all those present stood at attention, Commander Constantin, in charge of the French Fleet in China waters, then took the salute from the parti: cupants of the parade who were lined up in a huge square on the lawn facing the main alley of the Park. Tu the centre of the lawn, two blue: Jackets wore ready. to raise the tricolor, whilst Lieut.-Col. "Grenier, commanding French troops garrisoned in Shanghai, accompanied the offer Inspecting the parade, The flag was. then raised amidst applause, whereupon decorations-—a list of which appeared In yesterday's "North-China Dally News"—were presented to the recipients who had meanwhile lined up on the south side of the lawn, facing the reviewing stands across the Whilst the various units taking part Ju the parade wore falling Into line, the Setilement Police band played a few gay alts, whereupon, for over halt-an-hour, spectators were treated to one of the smartest and best disciplined parades to have been seen Ju Shanghai in many years, To enumerate here all the foreign diplomatic, naval and military oMeials present at the parade, would be a Tengthy task, Be it sume lent to repent that all nations were strongly Outside the French Park and, for that matter, throughout the French Concession, a festive atmosphere pro-Vailed thoughout the day with {ricolors flying everywhere from Dulldings and private cars as well a from puiblle Vehicles, whilst many French establishments "and business houses declared a general holiday fas fo permit their staffs to attend the various functions which did not fend until carly this morning. the French Club The French community and their friends had a busy day ahead of them, however, for at noon, a large recep-ion was given at the Cercle Francais fon Route Vallon whilst at 1 pin. the French members of the French Club were the hosts to foreign members. Here 100, the premises were crowded to capacity.
In addressing the gathering, M. F. Bouvier, president of the Club said:
It is: indeed a great honour for the Committee and French members the Cercle Sportif Frangais to have the privilege to welcome you here fon our National day.
July 14 is not only a French holiday glorified within the limits of its frontiers, so often attacked, so often vieloriously defended, during - the course of a history twice millenarian, Tt has for more reaching effects:, has given scope to new ideas which have transformed the world. We can state without fear that in the confused Limes in which we are living, this feast assumes a symbolic character: {t rallies in all countries "all. those who love to live free and who want to safeguard the dignity of their own self, all those who think that nations, ko men, have a right to liberty, fand all those who want to lay the foundation of progress and the improvement of human condition based on ea-operation and universal good-wilh on the basis of these ideas of Uberty and ce-operation that our Club has been founded. It is a comfort for the French of Shanghai to have deen able to place its rich frame the disposal. of foreign residents of this town without any "distinction of origin, faith and opinion, One meets here members of nearly all nationalities: they express themselves freely in most of the languages of the lobe. In spite of all, the discipline becoming to such an international centre {s willingly accepted by all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.