The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-23
Hosts Cheer Metropolitan
Division for Splendid
Showing in Pageant.
GREAT HOME WELCOME
New Workers Greet Their
Kin as Conquering Goth
Century Crusaders.
DANIELS MUCH PLEASED
Transformation Of Boys Into
Trained, Equipped, Sturdy
Troops Evokes Applause.
DANIELS MUCH PLEASED

Some day >there'll be another march,
ing Of men that will compare with yes
terday's parade Of New York's Own
the day when these Same boys come
back from the wars. But until that day
all New York will treasure as her finest
possession the sight and the thrill and
the glory OF her fighters swinging down
Fifth avenue.
For 1t was more than a parade yester-
dAy--it was the final capitalization OF
an Idea and an Ideal. 1t was the proving
os citizen army, chosen In the only
way that a republic should ask for
service.
The $4,000 marching men OF this army
were the soldiers that the war lords Of
Germany had laughed at a few months
ago. 1t was New Yorx that smiled
yes,erday--a wise and very happy and
satisfying smile that had exactly 10.-
900 proofs and excuses for its existence.
and IL it were possible to catch and
translate a whole city's expression it.
would be something like this:
Mr.. Kaiser: We don't want to take
any advantage Of your slightly crippled
spy system over here, but we'd just like
10 call your attention to some OF our
boys who you figured couldn't be dragged
20 war and would never make soldiers
and fighters Say, Bill, mesf 10000 OF
our boys from Camp Cptoh. National
Army OF Freedom--and. Bill. don't for
get We have 100000 more just liko 'em
under arms and. say. 100000 or 81
100000 ready to get under arms, with
out speaking of 100000 or 100000
nNre . -littlo. younger or older than
these fighting boys here. But don't let
us spoil your dinner, Bill"
Many Cheers, hut Few Tears.
Considering the fact that this prob
ably was the final parade Of tho Metro
po.l,an Division before it slips through
The city a: night and silently boards
gray steamers for the greatest show OF
sll, there were rema rkably few tears
showing in the eyes Of the millions who
.or hours braved the ambitious young
blizzard to pay honor to these twentieth
century crusaders. Now and then some
mother or a young wife or an over
thrilled sweetheart would bravely shout
tie name OF the boy she loved as he
marched by and the next second bury
Asr face in the handkerchief tina. she
50 calamity had been waving.
Put all in all il was crowd and a
tos. city whose feeling was primarily
ore Of deep pride. At other great pa
-ades-the day when $4,000 National
Guard soldiers marched by on their way
20 the Southern training camps and the
every
marcher. but somehow New York does
rot realize how nearly these boys that
teamped yesterday. are ready for war.
ard how soon their chance 10 do the
great deed will come. And 80 II was
hat pride was the ruling passion yester-
day.
I. was we'll bestow ed. New York
'eyer has cheered better troops than
these men from Camp Upton. They
were not marching away to be trained
they were already trained. They were
not being sent forth half eauipped--they
were perfectly equipped. They were not
soft and unfit-they were hard and phys
cally perfect. They were not raw re-
crl.;s--they were real soldiers.
Quick Work in Building Army.
1t al, had been accomplished in from
three u five months. September 10 the
first troop trains ratified out of Long
Island City carrying their 1000 green.
nll!cn. drafted men TO the half born.
dusty camp. s!Xty-f1ve miles away
More drafted men slowly were absorbed
into the skeleton regiments as the weeks
slipped by. Disbursements were as
p.eltful as the scrub oak stuups. but
tust as the stumps were pulled and the
holes filed 30 was everything that stood
in the way Of making an army thrown
aside and smoothed over.
Little by little from out OF the confu.
son and the unframed mob there grew
rea! army organization. And then a
little slower. but just as surely. there
was born pride in the individual rcgi-
mea, and company and unit that soor
became working esprit de corps
With this came change in the hearts OF
Inc drafted men. They grew to be
proud OF their uniforms and of the fac'
mat they were American soldiers and
were thrilled with the prospect OF fight
ING that liberty might continue ant
America and the world be always free.
Now they know that New York
lAeir city and their own home folk-be
'eIo IN them and are proud OF them II.
ne Oh" thing they needed before they
far' on their great crusade. and in thu
mHNon cheers that broke from proud
hFoats and In the numberiess hant
sans and shouts 1t was given To then
y me fullest possible degree. And feel
.ns Wis and sensing the big. happy
proud heart o. the city. they Responded
WIN their own staggering, marching
pride.