The sun., 1918-12-27
WELCOME FOR
MEN Is HEARTY
BUT NOT NOISY
COcky on Their Sea Legs,
Sailors Swing With
Happy Strides.
GOLD CHEvRONs ON EACH
secretary Daniels, Gen. March
and Admiral Dewey's Widow
in Reviewing Stand.

A street aflame with flags under a
cullen winter sky. Crowds pushing
..tir with excitement, not aroused to
high pitches Of roaring enthusiasm
MT heartily welcoming men who had
aone a nerve wracking job well
Bsnds cheering groups Of boys in uni
form. critics par excellence. and in the
broad stretch Of open space a swing
ing line Of men in blue marching
isuntily with the gold stripes of over
sea service on their sleeves and the
colors of their country at their head
this vas Fifth avenue welcoming the
naval heroes home.
The dim, drear reaches of the Scapa
Flow we're behind them, the long
morning watches under battle tension
we're bits of memory. the days OF fog
and gale and bitter wind in the North
Sea were things to Joke about, and
this was New York opening its arms
TO them-the men who had upheld its
traditions of the sea.
Cocky on Their Sea Legs.
They walked cockily, happily, not
with the precision OF trained lands
men but with the swing of men long
anoat and glad to be ashore again
IN their own home land. And from
the sides went up little cries and signs
Of happiness and pride.
II was an odd parade. One expected
for these our first massed heroes of
the war glad shouts and crashing well
come. But instead there was the re-
Fiction of what their job had been:
a silent enjoyment. prideful possess
sion, short cracking bits of applause
for what took the moments fancy,
and behind it all vast appreciation.
Their work had not been spectacular
not noisy with the stuff OF which
epics are made, not of the kind to stir
the popular mind. And so New York.
used to its glittering and eye appeal
ing parades, hardly knew how to take
il and fell back upon a quiet gladness
Pride in Spectators Faces.
men in blue. the peace which their
vigilance and the dashing brilliance
" their comrades in khaki had won.
They are the first fruits of victory.
They are heralds of the day when
soon the men. battle scared and worn
by combat, will flow down this street
and drive the victory home. And so
people crowded the sidewalks and
l,. %
TO see and treasure what they saw.
And pride glowed in every face.
There were smiles OF happiness
from the officers with swords at sa-
lutte and the gold bands of rank on
their arms. smiles from the petty Off
Cers-the backbone OF the navy
smiles from the gobs, who made up
the big bulk of the line, smiles from
the men who carried the high step
ping mascots of the fleet, smiles from
them all and answering smiles from
the crowd. There was the deep cam
sraderie of spirit, something of the
motive which made this nation a unit.
Up in a balcony opposite the re-
viewing stand at the Public Library
little crowd OF sailors and soldiers
ripped into a cheer once in a while,
and it was taken up heartily by the
crowd And when the marines went
by-men OF the corps that made Cha
t@au- Thlerry a word emblazoned on
The battle standard of the country
there was a round measure of ap-
pIause. But on the whole II was an
abstract demonstration. for the ways
OF the fleet and the Grand Fleet of
which it was part, are still all but
unknown.
h"s""tH Rejoice at Feeling Land.
The most OF the rafting happiness
mat made this a day OF days was
up al the landing piers where the men
"ho have been so long abroad hoped
ashore and stretched their legs upon
th"lr own home land Even the dogs
were eNuberant; they wagged their
t'HS and yipped with pleasure. and
danced about in way most unbe-
"Ning mascots of some OF the biggest
ana best fighting ships in the world.
ana tho chattering and jollity con-
Nl"d until the men lined up and
formed for the long march down town.
For hours people had been gather
z along the line, croWding up against
N" hluo wall OF policemen, clamoring
nor an opportunity to see more, SHOW
''S ana iostling in the good natured
way peculiar TO New York crowds on
'oIlday In the windows OF buildings
"'ue stands Of honor had been ar
''hP"d and here were hundreds of the
"'eh III olive drab, with canes and
VrH''hes or recovered from their
wounds but with the stripes OF honor
on their arms
Automobiles swerved up in front Of
INC reviewing stand and men prom
"eh' IN the city life or high in the
'''y ana army lists, stepped out and
o'N their places on the benches.
mere W"ro representatives of nearly
Every allied nation in subdued field
,"o'ms on suits rich with the gilt of
their rank.
III ono Of the front rows could be
~" I"'ut Walkers who served in the
nesr'iHte venture at Zeebrugge on
"' Nlndictive when that British
'''A' torn ship was sunk across the
manuel Lieut. Walker has a hook
H''" Of left hand now, but he
'pp'd his feet gaily to the music of
f"Il"e Band and smiled in antici-
',,"N ~ seeing the American repre-
''uF"S Of the Grand Fleet.
o, ''Is" shout that the parade was
'0"'hs went up and behind a caval-