The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-31
'PERSHING'S4O
GET A ROARING
WELCOMED HOME
Battle Veterans, Hale and
Bronzed, Enthusiastically
Cheered by Crowds.
HERE TO AID POLICE FETE
Will Be at Sheepshead Bay
Field Day as Feature Of
Great Programme.

Some hint Of the welcome that New
York Is saving up for the return Of the
victorious American armies escaped from
the throats of thousands yesterday when
400 boys OF Pershing's Own. six months
At the front, striped on either arm for
wounds and foreign service, detrained in
the Pennsylvania station and marched
crosstown to the Sixty-ninth Regiment
Armory. They opened their mission in
this country by roofing for the big po-
lice celebration at the Sheepshead Bay
Speedway this afternoon.
The men did not look war worn or
weary. They marched with no heavy
feet nor yet with difficulty over the
hard pavement. Considered in the light
of recent reports af battle. the veterans
looked surprisingly healthy. with strong
logs. sturdy backs and a high tan in
their cheeks. Their wounds-and many
OF the men bore two and three gold
chevrons-happily had disappeared or
showed only as fine scars No legs or
arms were missing in this gay. husky
bunch Of American fighters.
second street and north of Fourteenth
to hear the tremendous shouts OF the
crowds that gathered along the route.
The cheering doomed after the manner
of a hundred ton explosion as the line
snap stepped up the stairs of the sta
ton to the street. followed Thirty-fourth
street TO Fifth avenue and went thence
TO the armory on Lexington avenue.
Fully 5000 were in the station to shake
rQ xxvtth ha tale nj
Spectators wild with JOY.
When the line appeared outside bur-
nished brown in the sunlight. the word
OF their coming travelled like forest
hre, sweeping through adjacent streets,
Office buildings. subways. bringing out
thousands OF men. women and boys. Of
fees were temporarily deserted. Auto
mobiles parked suddenly and the occu-
rants ran to the street intersections.
Surface cars were surrounded and I'M
able to move for the jam.
When Pershing's men went by hands
reached out from curb and car windows
and from automobiles to grasp those of
men who had met the boche and bowled
him over. At the head Of the line Lieut..
w. Laurence Hazard. in command,
looked helplessly back. despairing Of
keeping his men in staid military align
ment with the people pulling at them So
He finally gave 1t up with laugh, and
frown.
At Fifth avenue there was a traffic
delay, and with one great wave Of
hands and breath OF lungs the thicken-
ing thousands from vantage points on
the street or In buildings gave vent to
a roar that must have been reminiscent
OF certain high explosive eruptions in
nE Ia -
Fourth of July parade. For an inn
promptu demonstration 1t outranked
anything that has been heard on Fifth
avenue in the war marked months that
have gone.
Hearts Beat with Every shout.
The days news of victory shouted by
newsboys. the sight Of clean American
made fighters who had won their per-
sonal battle with civilizations foes
their stripes Of valor and the indubitable
impression on sight that these men in
health and vigor and superb bearing
were representative Of the American
Army that is driving the Boche from
every tree and village in France con-
triouted to the spontaneity OF the APP
plause. There was heart beat for
every shout that greeted Pershing's
boys.
After dumping their marching equip
ment In the Sixty-nnth Armory the
men formed again and were taken in
Fifth avenue buses on n tour uptown,
dropping or at traffic corners to boost
the ticket sales for the police field day
at Sheepshead Bay to-day. BY arrange
ment of the Police Department the men
were permitted to leave Camp Dix,
where they are acting as instructors.
A committee that included Fourth
Deputy Commissioner Frederick A. Wal
lis. Inspector Underhill. H. b. Rosen,
chairman Of the feld day committee.
and Joseph Stehlin, the Brooklyn men,
her Of the Lafayette Escadrilie. con-
Quoted the soldiers on their trip over
the city
When the green buses picked them
up for the drive up Fifth avenue a
police platoon formed in front and
cleared the way. 1t was an unmistak-
able signal that people far up the ave-
the rolling Of a drum. There began
frantic plungins to the curb sides, and
now and then ardent ones dashed out TO
grasp a Drowned hand OF a real, honest
to goodness. wounded. hero.
Brings the War Close to Home. l
II was the feel of war that was on
New York at the sight OF those men, For
the thousands who did see them Il was
keenest Joy and privilege. For the
millions who did not-well, there are
still tickets at 81 obtainable for the
Police Field Day at the Speedway, and
the Pershing boys will positively appear
Last night at the Hippodrome where
the soldiers went as spectators. the house
went wilder than 1t has gone even over
Al Jolson or De Wolf Hopper, even
granting the combined applause for the
stars for. say the last six years could
be turned into one babel OF sound
Restaurants in various parts OF the
city fortunate enough to draw a detail OF
the visiting command had to call the re-
serves TO keep the crowds from their
doors.
booths where Held day tickets were be-
ing sold none but slackers edged away,
and no pacifst dared 10 raise a boo.
In addition to the soldiers there will
he seventy army airplanes in action at
the Speedway to-day. Caruso. Amato.
Mccormack and Anna Fltziu will sing
popular war songs. Ralph De Palma
will knife the wind In n motor speed
race. and the police reserves will go
through n sham battle under Regular
Army leaders. The Mayor will preside
over all. and with him will be members
OF the Uruguayan Mission.
The programme will begin promptly
at 1 40 with a review OF several thou
sand soldiers and sailors. The mounted
police will exhibit next. the sham battle
will follow, and then will be heard the
singing by the concert stars. Aerial ex-
hibItInps and thtrty-nina other evenfs