Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-09
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
CHEERED IN LONDON
Graphic Description in 1.-THE
Thunderer'' Of Warm Recep-
tion Accorded ''Sammies"
in British Capital.
(From The London Times.)

yesterday morning Londoners nat
one OF their few chances to cheer ant
wax enthusiastic since the war began
American troops marched through tn,
streets behind the flag of the grea
republic.
From $50 the troops marched from
Waterloo to the Wellington barracks
At the railway station there were
hundreds of British soldiers going or
leave and few score coming bach
from France. II was there that the
Americans got their first noisy vel.
come. The Tommies cheered in Brit.
ish fashion, and the Americans, stand.
ing easy, responded with the sort oil
cheer that one hears from the big
league crowds when the White Sox
have put it over" the Giants. Every
nation cheers in its own way, but in
the cheers of both nations at Water
loo there was the same enthusiasm.
At Wellington barracks Colonel
Lassiter, the military attache of the
American embassy, was present to
welcome the units as they arrived.
With him were Lord Derby, Lieuten-
ant General Sir Francis Lloyd, and a
number of officers of the Guards
brigade There was a tremendous
crowd here from 9 o'clock onwards,
and the ratings of the parade ground
were packed with people eager to
make the men from the United States
feel at home, and incidentally to beg
a souvenir or two from them in the
shape of a button or a badge. At
1880 the troops left the barracks to
the tune of 'sThe Boston Tea Party"
surely strange air to be played be-
fore troops in the streets of London,
1ut still most appropriate one.
The Men Themselves.
The men were admired all along the
route. They were remarkably uni
form lot, and their physique was
splendid. All of them are volunteers,
and most of them are men who have
been working with their hands in the
west on railway CONSTITUTIONAL works,
and they are necessarily as st as an
open-air rigorous life can make them.
They marched with free step, much
like the Colonial troops. They never
seemed to tire or grow slack. And it
was a firing march, even though it
was not long one, for the streets
were hot, and the men were up very
early in the morning to entrain for
the city.
The Americans wear the hat that
has been made familiar to us by the
New Zealand forces--a felt hat with
a straight brim and pinched crown.
Each unit of the American army
wears a different cord round the
crown, with two tassels hanging on
the brim in front. The men carried
waterproof capes slung in their belts
behind. Instead of puttees they wore
canvas leggings laced in front. These
are particularly useful for every class
of service. On the Mexican border
they were found to be cool and COM
Portable. In France they. will be
every bit as useful, for they do not
collect as much mud as puttees, and
are easily washed.
Many Have Seen Service.
The sergeants, many Of them with
medal ribbons telling OF their service
in Mexico. the Philippines, or China,
all wore automatic pistols hung
handily on the right hip. Their chew
rons denoting rank are reversed and
the "Vs" Of the stripes point upwards.
There was at least one man from the
New York police in the non-commis-
stoned ranks, and perhaps patrol
man or two from Chicago.
In the watching crowd one was
often struck with the frequent COM
ment on the physical appearance of
the American troops. They went
along with shoulders squared and
their eyes to the front. There was no
talking in the march, and each man
kept the alignment OF his four splen-
didly. When, as often happened. the
column paused on the route, the men
marked time with a precision that
would have pleased even q Guards
sergeant-major. There was one
noticeable thing about their appear
ance, and that was the lack of mus
taches. Very few of them that had
mustaches, and fewer still had boards.
Saluting @old Glory"
AT the head OF each battalion was
carried the Stars and Stripes, and IL
can safely be said the sOid Glory
has never had such rousing recep-
ton in the streets of London before,
As each colour party passed it was
salutcd by every man. among the
watching crowds. Civilians DOTTED
their hats, and soldiers saiuted rigidly
Often too, it was the signal for three
cheers.
There were many individual ex.
amples of enthusiasm, and they were
not missed by the marching men. Ir
the Green park, when the men halted
one of them called to the other, SAY
did you get the little 'bell-hop' look,
ing through the grating in Peli Mel
street? The one that was hollerin
Are we downhearted?1 They hat
all noticed him, and his little tribute
was appreciated. As matter of fact
II was tue pagc-0oy OF the hutomo
bile club, who had squeezed his heat
through the grille above the from
door and so addressed the crowd be
meath and received a rousing answer
Once in the crowd there came ,
weird sound that caused all heads t
turn in wonder. The American file
knew II, and although they could no
respond, they smiled as they looke'
straight to their front, for it was TIL
college yell Of Harvard. Yale followe,
in lesser voice, and ended with
horse wheeze. Many of the men i
the ranks were engineering graduate:
and many Of them were athletes. Nor
than one private carrying his rifle i
Yesterdays parade has stood at th
diamond and hit balls that made tn
out field scatter to the four corner
Of the ground.
Some Real Athletes.
Many Of them have pitched ball
Il A