The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-05-11
Million Citizens Join in Testimonial
to Seventeen Brave Americans
Who Died in the Battle
at Vera Cruz
PRESIDENT WILSON
CHIEF MOURNER
Chief Executive Appears in the Pa
rade - Memorial Services at
Navy Yard Mayor Mitchell
Delivers Address

BY United Press.
New York May 11.-Honor to the
seventeen blue jackets and marines
who died at Vera Cruz was paid here
today
With President Wilson In the role OF
chief mourner and all possible military
pomp more than a million citizens
joined in the testimonial and jammed
Broadway. The presence of President
Wilson In the parade was surprise.
1t was reported he would only appear
at the memorial services in the navy
yard.
The bodies we're taken from the fun
eral ship Montana and placed on gun
casions. Sailors from the Montana
and the Wyoming and the ninth regi-
ment of the national guard formed the
escort
The procession stopped mementarily
at the city hall, where Mayor Mitchell,
gertly moved. delivered short adj
dress and laid giant wreath of
orchids and bay leaves on the caissoG
Of New york's dead. Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels was prominent figure
in the ceremonies
The President Speaks.
In his address at the navy yard
President Wilson said In part:
4 know that the feelings which
characterize the whole nation at this
hour are not feelings that can be ex-
pressed in terms of oratory For my
own part. have singular mixture OF
feelings.
"Uppermost is feeling OF profound
grief that these lads had to go to their
death and next is one of pride and. IL
may say so, touch of envy for those
who were permitted to do their duty
SO quietly and nobly."
The president clearly indicated that
the nation was ready If need be to
make further sacrifices for the same
cause. He said WAR is only sort of
dramatic representation. sort Of
symbol of thousands of forms Of duty.
Il never went into battle; was never
under fire. but fancy that there are
some things that are just as hard to
do as to go under fire. fancy that it
is just as hard to do your duty when
men are sneering at you as 1t is when
they shoot at you. When they shoot
at you they can only take your natural
life, but when they sneer at you they
can wound your heart"
Bearing the bodies of the dead, the
armored cruiser Montana, escorted by
the presidential yacht Mayflower. with
/ Secretary of the Navy Daniels aboard,
reached port early yesterday and con-
veyed by the superdreadnaught Wyom-
ing, steamed up the harbor shortly be-
fore noon. dropping anchor off the bat
terry.
AS sae funeral cortege moved slow
| " up the bay. flags on the forts in
New York harbor, on all sailing craft
and from the great buildings along
the water front hung at half mast.
Along the piers and walks at the bat
terry thousands of persons stood in
silence. There was no noisy salute
from vessels or fort and no demons
tration by the people ashore. but an
attitude of silent mourning hung over
all.
The cortege came up the bay with
the Wyoming leading, the Montana
next, followed by the Mayflower. fly
ing the flag of the secretary of the
navy Behind the Mayflower was the
naval tug Powhattan and the revenue
cutter Manhattan. At Forts Wads-
worth and Hamilton the garrison could
be seen along the shore and the flags
flew at half mast, but as army ana
navy regulations forbid salutes on
Sunday. not sound could be heard
but the chNgging Of the engines and
an occasional whistle OF some vessel
signaling another. AS the cortege
drew nearer to the city. many small
craft came alongside to get a close