New-York tribune., 1918-02-05
Continuous Cheers Greet
Boys as They Parade
Through N. Y. Streets
Soldierly Bearing
Wins High Praise
Governor, Mayor and Many
Other Notables in Re-
viewing Stand

TWO nOuTS marcneQ through the WIND
swept streets.
Really, though, it was much more
than parade. 1t was the turning of
page in history. Never, save possibly
in Civil War days, has there been any
thing quite like it.
AS the men filed by, 1900 strong, it
was not simply the first unit of tho
new National Army to show here that
was passing; it was John and Henry
and Peter, it was Isador and Angelo
and Mike; it was the youth who used
to sell you picked herring at the cor
ner delicatessen, the boy whose care
! lessness you used to curse at the Office
last summer, the chap who peeved you
so by being late for that appointment
last July, the lad for whom you'd give
your very life and soul.
Strongly the realization Of all this
was upon the crowd that, despite the
bitter cold, banked the entire line Of
march from the time the boys left the
list Regiment Armory until, little
over two hours later, they started back
to Camp Upton at the Thirty-fourth
Street ferry. And although cheers
were frequent and vociferous, it was
not the cheers, nor even the reiterated
cries of encouragement, which formed
the essential feature of the ovation. 1t
was this sense of strong, intimate
bond, all almost tangible link, between
the marching men and the civilians
along the streets.
Proud of "His Boys
"lou can say for me-" said Brigadier
Evan NJ. Johnson, when the big gray
ambulance wagon that brought up the
rear of the 308th Infantry's parade had
passed the reviewing stand at Fifth
Avenue and Forty-second Street. that
Pm proud of my boys"
Just five months ago New York had
seen these same boys march up Fifth
Avenue on their way to become sol
diers--a rough shod, gawky lot. Many
wondered if stuff such as this could
ever be moulded into the fighting men
of a modern army.
Yesterday they got their answer, in
the long, firm stepping lines, the quick.
responsive mien, the soldicrly bearing
of the high powered fighting machine
that displayed itself to the city's anx
ious eyes.
I've seen lot Of regiments march
UP this avenue in my day." said AT
old soldier near the reviewing stand,
"but, believe me, l've never yet seen
such a solid. efficient looking, built Tor
business bunch"
"lndeed you may be proud" said
General Radiquet, of the French army,
hero of the Marne, who sat with the
Governor and Mayor and other nota
bles on the reviewing stand, "both for
your city and your country of the dis
play these men have made to-day. And
they arc all so splcndidly fit"
The orders were that. after the ris-
missa Of Sunday, the men were to re-
assemble at the list Regiment Armory
long before that hour the spot was
crowded with swethearts and mothers
and we'll wishers, and the air was filled
with kisses and boodbys.
Started on Time
At o'clock Colonel Nathan Averill,
commander of the regiment, emerged
and spoke to the police officer in
charge.
81 want to start on police time" he
said, land ! want to start promptly.
Raise your hand, will you, please, when
the hour comes" And exactly at 1:15
the officer waved the signal, the Red
Cross women who had been serving
coffee and sandwiches and cake fell
back, the band struck up the national
anthem and the long ling started NOV
ing.
Through Thirty-fourth Street to
Eighth Avenue they swung. q squadron
of mounted police clearing the way, and
Colonel Avcrill and his staff. on foot,
leading. Deafening roars from the
crowd greeted the columns, roars that
rose to a crescendo as tho men passed
the Waldorf-Astoria, where big con-
tingent was on hand to do them honor.
All along the line, which led up
Eighth Avenue to Fifty ninth Street
and thence across to Fifth Avenue,
relatives and friends of the men were
on hand. crowded four and five deep
"Eh, Johnny" ooh. you Bill" eco
get 'em, boy!" were cries repeated
again and again as those in the crowd
recognized friends in line.
Not once, though. did single man in
that line of march for an instant for
get himself. Not once by the culver
of an eyelash or the twitch of muscle
did he offer any response to the
friends so near at hand, or in any way
~ SEo ii'iisoAJ N'oSiPi'itC' Hcy arc
all soldiers now, and already they COM
port themselves as soldiers by instinct.
Columbus Circle was thronged as
the boys passed through, but the big
gest crowd, of course. was at Fifth
Avenue and Forty second Street, about
the reviewing stand.
Notables on Reviewing Stand
On the latter. besides Governor
Whitman and his staff and Mayor Hy-
Ian and his secretary. Grover A. Wha-
len, were General Radiquet, Com
mander johns Brady, representing the
navy; Colonel Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Police Commissioner Richard E. En-
right, Congressman George w. Loft.
General Johnson. former Minister 70
Italy Lloyd Grscom, Major General
Dan Appleton, the newly appointed
chief of ordnance, Colonel Hollis Wells,
and Brigadier General Sheriff..
Among the women on the stand Mrs.
Whitman and the wife and daughter of
the Mayor were conspicuous. Mrs.
Conf;nypd nm P0ue Sir