The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-02-23
MEN OF THE NEW ARMY
MAKE BRAVE SHOWING
ON NEW YORK STREETS
GRIM DETERMINATION
ON EVERY COUNTENANCE
British "Tank" Feature of
Parade, With U. S. and
British Flags Flying.

NEW YORK, Feb. 22.-If the
spirit of George Washington could
have been abroad in New York
this afternoon, and there were
many who felt it was, the soul OF
Americas first great chiefeain
must have thrilled with pride.
There was parade Of soldiers
on Fifth avenue-nearIy 10000
of them. But Fifth avenue has
seen so many parades, there was
nothing novel in a military pa
qeant. New Workers have
cheered loyalty all kinds and con-
ditions Of soldiers; have cheered
enthusiastically. They didn't
cheer to-day. They felt more like
weeping. What they saw was
more than parade. II seemed to
them like solemn dedication.
Five hundred thousand men
and women. children. toe, stood
for two hours or more in sweep
inc snow storm and singing
wind to see their sons and BROTH
ers and sweethearts marching by
men Of the National army, not
regulars or volunteers. but draft
ed men.
The men in line we're New
York's own, and they were typ
icat of the great poIye'ot city.
Swarthy Armen;ans strcde side
BY side with fair-haired Scandi-
navians. Irish boys rubbed el-
bows with Jews: italians trudeed
beside Poles. Here and there was
a Chinaman. and then face that
was typicaIIy Yankee. Sons Of
sons and daughters Of the Revo-
luton marched with boys whose
fathers were immigrants gener-
alton ago. But every one OF them
was citizen Of the United
States, and they were soldiers all.
They had been fused in the great
melting pot Of war.
Five months ago the same boys
had ramoled through the same
street, a nondeseript throna Of
individuals-cierks and mechan.
les. bookkcepers and brokers,
orocers' boys and 'Ioneshoremen
representing almost every trade
and profession and almost every
race under the sun. They were
the raw material from which ar
mics are made.
They came back to-day men OF
the 77th division. National army,
Camp Upton. welded together into
compact military units. Brigades,
regiments. battalions, batteries
and companies strode through
the wide street in heavy march
inq order with the swinging stride
Of veterans. Their bronzed
cheeks elowed with health, and
their clear eyes shone with pride
as they stepped briskly through
the haze of falling snow to the
stirring music Of their resimensal
bands.
Not a sword nor an inch of gold
lace was to be seen. Brigadier
General Edmund Wittenmeyer,
with a single gold star on the
sleeve of his service overcoat
marched at the head Of the line
like the humbIest douehboy Of
the lot They were grim, deter.
mined. business-like. Young cap
tains and lieutenants VINO were
carving out peaceful careers a
few months ago. barked COM
mands which were obeyed with
machine-i;ke precision.
"Eyes 'front.'" was the order,
and under the spell Of discipline
only a flicker Of a smile respond
&c as some proud. but fearful
mother sighted her sturdy son
and shouted his name. But il
was then that the sympathetic
throngs which lined the curbs
gave way to cheers, and they
were only to give courage to the
mother left behind. The rest Of
the time they seemed to be think
ing of ehe day when these same
sons Of democracy would be go
(Contiaued on Page Twe1ve.)