The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-17
NEW YORK GIVES
GERARD WONDERFUL
WELCOME HOME
American Metropolis Grccts Him In
Real Old-Fashioned Patriotic
Demonstration, like a Re-
turned Conqueror.
NOT AFRAID TO LEAD
AN-AMERlCAN REGIMENT
Says Country Is On Brink Of War,
and Declares He Has Absolute Con-
fdcncc In Loyalty of Men of Ger
man Descent.

New York. March l6.--There is
aone 20 foretell the future of James
". Gerard. But let fate bring him
what 1t may. there must remain with
lin always the memory OF the re-
>eption he received upon his arrival
in this city today.
III spirit and numbers, II was a well
come that a people might have ac-
corded the saviour of their homes and
flag. But there was no impressive
show of militarism, there was no
pomp.
1t was merely a city come forth
to let one hundred per cent Ameri-
can know tina; they loved, honored
and respected him for being just that
under circumstance that sought to
blind his eyes to the duties that were
his and to duh the edge Of his cour-
age
From the Battery TO City Hall,
thousands of men and women-men
and women OF q score Of races and
ivities-screane welcomes into
he ears Of this little, positive fellow
who showed E,lroHe what sort of a
man an American i.
Patriotic, Demonstration.
Battery park Itself was covered by
an army OF thousands City Hall
park was no less wonderful to look
upon. titth avenue from Fourth
street 10 Forty-Seventh was lined with
crowds which assumed a proprietary
interest in the returning diplomat.
But it wasn't The fact that they
roared and yelled their greeting: II
was the real American way they did
It. They called him Jim" and "Old
man''-''Well done, old man"--and
L ~ r,-1 Al 49,. "A
Good boy. Yankee" and names like
those.
I'm stay here until he'll freezes
over he had told the kaiser when
The German government decided he
would scare into submission. The
pirit of that simple. decIarative state.
;ncnt was the spirit OF red FLOODED
welcome today.
In his calm. unostentatious. uremo.
tlonai way he made A speech from the
City Hall steps. John +. S'anchtield
and Mayor Mitchell paved the way for
his speech With words of praise. But
when the returned ambassador was
showed 10 the front. the wide crowds
that spanneJ the plaza from ParN
Row to Broadway and over to the
Federal building broke forth into It's
roar for jimmy" Gerard,
II war comes with Germany. Gerard
would be willing TO lead Il regiment
of German Americans. he said!
I'VE are on the brink of war with
Germany. and believe those of Ger
man descent in this country Will re,
main loyal" Mr.. Gerard said in hi;
public address. II would not MIND
leading a regiment OF German Amer
leans in the event of hostilities -ant
feel sure / would not be shot in tht
back"
IL was two minutes after | O'Clock
that the police boat Patrol" bear
ling the ambassador, the committee. {
corps of camera men and reporters
arrived at Pier A at the Battery, and
il was then that the uproar began.
hundred policemen fought th'
crowds back far enough TO permit the
short procession TO reach broadway
Another hundred did their best Il
keep Broadway to the City Hall cleai
enough to permit the procession
passage. And vet another hundred
WITH mighty effort. prevented tn,
throngs there from overwhelming th'
tired looking man, who seemed dazeS
by the turore.
II have succeeded In saying moth
/ ing for 1,23l miles" he said to tn,
( reporters who demanded an inter
view, land I don't want to fall dowr
/ now. when within only mile and 1
! half OF my destination"