Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-09-05
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
WELCOMED IN ENGLAND
MRS. RALPH G., NORTON WRITES
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
LONDON.
DELIGHTED AT SIGHT OF TROOPS
Americas Entrance into War BOlsters
Up Courage Of English. and French
Armies.
Buckingham st., Strand,
London. w. G. g., England.

Buckingham St., Strand,
London, w. G. g., England.
In April it was my privilege to at
tend the wonderful service at st.
Pauls to commemorate the entrance
of America into the war. I must say
my loyal American soul was thrilled
on that occasion. But I think yester-
day had more of thrill when I saw
our gallant American boys marching
down the historic streets Of London
with a mass Of cheering British hu-
manity lining both sides of the street.
This demonstration had been plan
ned for some weeks but after a very
quiet manner for military reasons, for
I suppose nothing would have given
the Germans much more joy than to
have dropped a few score bombs upon
our American troops and the crowds
tronging the streets and parks. Never
theless the night before the parade was
to be held, announcement was made in
all the newspapers in great headlines,
and yesterday morning perfect Eng
lish summer day with blue sky over
head and cool breeze stirring
throughout all the length of the prin-
cipal streets and from business
houses, were flying the Stars and
Stripes together with the Union jack
At about one o'clock my husband
and I left our offices and with our
friend, the Belgian soldier Peter Won
Koeckhoven, of whom I must speak
little more later, we took our way
down the Strand and through st.
James street to the Green Park.
We halted outside the railings OF
the park, and through the mass OF hu-
manity we were able to catch
glimpse of some 1000 of our Ameri-
can boys, seated at ease on the beau
tiful green slope of this park, partak-
ing of a lunch provided for them by
the London Committee. How we re-
ioiced to see our brave boys, and were
delighted to see them in true American
fashion after they had finished thell
lunch. come over in the friendl1es'
possible manner and distribute them
selves along the inner side Of the rail-
ings and converse with the crowd on
the outside. It was real American
touch that rejoiced our soul. When
the bugles rang out and the time came
for them to fall in for the procession
we three scrambled up to the top Of
the stone coping where we could gel
an excellent view Of the Parade as II
circled out in the front Of Buckingham
Palace, and swung into the Mall We
could distinguish the faces, those gooc
American faces, clearly, as the!
marched past US. The men were most
" of the engineers, but they stepped
out in fine style and we admired ev
erything about them-the way the!
carried their guns. their fine tall up
standing figures, their graceful stride
and swing, their erect but natura
movements. I felt as though we were
almost foolish in our pride OF these
our own soldiers, after seeing onl!
those of the other Allies for so long.
And then, just as they got in from
of where we stood, cheering and wav
ing our handkerchiefs along with hun
dreds of thousands Of real Britishers
who were almost turning themselves
inside out with enthusiasm, the order
was given for the men to march al
ease; and then the marching mer
were free to return cheer for cheer
and to exchange remarks with the
greetings that were called to them
from the crowds outside. It was just
the friendliest and most interesting
time imaginable, and we were truly
thrilled.
There was something so wonderful
ly stimulating to the war-worn Brit
ishers in the promise Of this vanguard
of the great numbers who are on thei1
way across the sea to help in the
cause of freedom; and I suspect
MANY a heart was cheered amongst
that assembled crowd through the
days spectacle.
I know that as I turned to our
dear Peter at our side, a Belgian sol
dier who for three years has been
separate from wife and family and
who has borne all the miseries OF
three years incessant warfare, shiv-
ering with the cold and wet Of win
ter, and with his soul daily tortured
by the incessant bombardment and
brutal cruelties of this modern war
fare, I know that as I turned to him
his eyes were filled with tears and
knew that he was thinking that this
procession of stalwart gallant soldiers
meant for him the fastening OF the
day when once more he should see
home and country free from the op-
pressor.
must say just here that our friend
Peter, when he came to us was hard
ly himself, as he was suffering from
the last dreadful gas attack which
they had suffered on the Belgian
front. The Germans had launched a
new form of gas, colorous, and with