The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-30
RETURNED HEROES
 GIVEN OVATION BY
 NEW YORK CITIZENS
French Poilus and Ameri- can Sammies March Down Broadway Amid Cheers
 of Thousands

New York, April 29-One hunured dHe five heroes of the French army, members of the famous Chasseurs Alpine corps nicknamed "blue Devils" who arrived here today. and the 50 veterans Of Gen eral Pershing's army who came here yes terday from overseas gave New Yorkers a series of thrills today.
 Patriotic fervor reached high pitcr when Pershing's soldiers, many of them wearing the French war cross, awarded for bravery, marched up Broadway from the battery to the city hall, where they were formally received by Mayor Hylan. After the ceremony they scat- tered throughout the city to aid in the Liberty Bond campaign. The arrival ol the Frenchmen was entirely unexpected They also came to help the Liberty Loan |campaign.
 Although there had been no formal announcement of a parade py tne Americans, a great throng had lined the canyon of lower Brodway when the march began. Led by detachment from the New York state guard, the yeterans-many of them mere youths swung rp the crowded thoroughfare witn light step notwithstanding the heaVy weight of their full equipment, wearing their steel trench hats.
 WILD WITH ENTHUSIASM <
 spec.ators went wild with enthusiasm as the men, erect in form, filed by. Their happy, rugged faces reflected appfecla- t;on af inc extraordinary welcome. Dig nified business men and financiers threw their hats high into the air and danced in almost boyish glee, while several women broke through the police cordon to kiss the marchers The cheering all along the route was deafening and the flag and handkerchief-waving lent a lSaleidoscopic effect to the scene.
 Arrived at the city hall Mayor Hylan addressed the soldiers from the balcony. saving in part;
 T welcome you men in the name ol your proud countrymen. 1 welcome you in the name of the men, women and chii- dren of this city, and l. wish to say to you that we are proud of you and or the manner in which you have conducted yourselves while on foreign soil
 The city was just recovering from tnis outburst of enthusiasm when the vislt- ing Frenchmen-heroes all-and named "Blue Devils by the Germans because of their uniforms and their fighting qualities, arrived They appeared at Liberty ,oan committee headquarters on lower Broadway after having travelled through Fifth avenue and several down town streets on auto busses from the sl,; ;r ,ia rapaDfinU only exceeded by that accorded Persh- ing's veterans.
 The "Poilus'' with their smart uni forms and the tam-o -shanters of the Alpine corps made a dashing appear ance as they drew up in company lorna tion before the 1iberty Loan headuuar- ters and marched into the building to be photographed and interviewed as a pre- liminary step in their efforts to aid in the Liberty Loan. At the headquarters they met some of the American heroes and the meeting was the signal for q demonstration that lasted several minutes and included vigorous handshakes, con gratulations and expressions of admira- tion in French and English.
 Every man in the French contingent had won one or more decorations fol extraordinary bravery, and virtually al had seen continuous serveice since the
 
 had been wounded, most of them several times-a few as many as eight times They were welcomed to America py Ernest Guy. representing Andre Tar dieu, French high commissioner to the United States, and Guy Emerson of the Liberty Loan committed.
 .'It is with pride that France intro duces to the citizens of New York these fighters who come to them as the Ameri- |cans came to. France when General Pershing offered to General Foch every man under his command.' said MT. Guy France was deeply moved by that of- fer Our desire is that New York may be moved by the sight of our Poilus. As these soldiers of France parade youl streets we ask you to remember thai the United States will put new heart into soldiers of the allies and every cheer given to them will give some Ger. man cause for thought"
 POILUS ENTERTAINED Tonight the sPoilusr were formally introduced to General Pershing's veter. ans at D dinner given in their honor al Liberty Land exhibit, where Franco American amity reached it's height James W. Gerard, former ambassador Ito Germany was principal speaker. The Americans were disbanded tonight as unit. Sixteen of them will rema.l here to work for the Liberty Loan while the others will go to other cities 1 to campaign. Sergt. Hugh Marshall wil command detail to Philadelphia; Sergt Owen c. Hawkins will head a delegation Ito Chicago; Sergt. John J. Heffernan who was in charge of the men on tns trip overseas, will head a squad as