Middletown transcript., 1916-05-20
new YORKS BIG
DEFENSE PAGEANT.
Has Greatest Civic Parade Of
Nations History.
LINE MOVES FOR IL HOURS
Hundreds OF Thousands Of Spectators
Cheer Throng Made Up OF All
Glasses and Including
Many Notables.


attitude on the question of national
preparedness by holding the greatest
civic parade in the history Of the coun-
try. A host of men and women, esti-
mated at more than 10000, represent
ing all walks of life in the nations
metropolis, marched for IL hours, 20
abreast behind bands playing patriotic
airs, through f1ag-bedecked streets
lined with hundreds of thousands of
cheering spectators. All the profes-
sions and trades which make up the
complex life of the city were repre-
sented.
In one division were the street
sweepers in their uniforms of white,
while in another were the dignifed
Justices of the Supreme Court of New
York. There also were the clergy
nearly 200 representing every denomi-
nation in the nations greatest city.
Lawyers, physicians, trained nurses,
veterans of the Spanish-American
War-all were in line. But the most
popular division was made up of the
city's 10000 National Guardsmen-in-
fantry, cavalry and artillery-who
brought up the rear.
This" declared Major-General
Leonard Wood, in command of the De-
partment Of the East, who reviewed
the parade, "is the greatest argument
America has ever known in favor of
preparedness against elements that
are at present unknown. Every pro-
fessior is represented by its best-by
men whose duties bring them in touch
with the affairs Of state. The same
applies to the various trades. 1t shows
an interest in preparedness that
amounts to a national awakening.
That is what we need. 1t shows that
the time has come to do something in
the matter of national preparation"
March Twelve Hours.
The great civic army began march
ing at $50 A. NJ, and the last Of them
had not passed the reviewing stand in
Madison Square until $50 o'clock P. NJ.
The mammoth pageant began auspi-
ciously. Just as Mayor John P. Mitchell
and a party of municipal officials left
the City Hall at the head of TIE first
division, an aerOplane appeared above
lower Broadway and hovered around
the great skyscrapers.
The paraders marched rapidly, more
than 10000 passing a given point with
in an hour. When the first division dis
banded, after walking the full length
Of lower Fifth avenue to Fifty-seventh
street, the Mayor, accompanied by
Major General Wood and Rear-Admiral
Nathaniel Usher, in command of the
New York Navy Yard, left their car
riage and took seats in the reviewing
stand. Except for an hour for lunch
con they remained until the parade
was over.
Governor Whitman, who viewed the
demonstration from a fag-draped bal
cony of the Unicn League Club, de-
clared it was the most remarkable ex-
ample of patriotism and civic pride he
ever had witnessed.
Speaking as a citizen" said the
Governor, 81 should say that every New
Yorker who saw the parade should
have been inspired with pride"
With few exceptions the marchers
carried small American flags. Most
Of them also wore buttonhole en-
blems.
The new armored motor battery, the
first thus far acquired by any National
Guard in the country, was greeted with |
cheers all along the line of March. |
There were seven regiments of in |
fantry, three Of coast artillery, a part |
of the First Cavalry, batteries of field |
artillery, the signal corps, engineers
and the motorcar battery.
Edison Heads Contingent.
Thomas A. Edison, notwithstanding |
his 50 years, tramped along with the |
stride of man half his age, at the |
head of a contingent of % members of
the Naval Consulting Board Of the
United States. He expressed great
satisfaction with the demonstration |
after it was all over.
Such a parade needs no express
sion" declared the inventor. The fact
that I marched in it expressed my
sentiments exactly"
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