Republican farmer., 1918-04-12
5000, 1000, Campaign
Throughout Nation
Started Today.
NEWTOWN RAISES
QUOTAIN MINUTE
Bridgeport Parade the
Feature of Opening
of Big Drive.

world war In defence of civ
ilization, and today not only
celebrates the anniversary of
that memorable event, but
makes it the occasion to collect
S3,OOO,000,000 from its citizens
as the Third Liberty Loan to
finance the fighting.
Indicative of the spirit with which
this opportunity to back our fighters
in France Is hailed by this city and
the State at large, Is the fact that A.
T. Nettleton, of the Newtown Savings
Bank, chairman of the Newtown COM
mittee, telegraphed New York head
quarters one minute after opening
hour this morning that Newtown's
quota Of $4,000 had been over-sub-
scribed $4,000.
No section of the country has hailed
the day and the purpose with more
enthusiasm or patriotic fervor than
Bridgeport. Soldiers, sailors, police
men, firemen, and civilians, marched
together in a monster parade which
symboIized to the cheering thousands
lining the tnoroughfares, the impor-
tant part each must play in winning
the war.
From sun up this morning, an air
OF festivity, mingled with pride and
determination, pervaded the city.
Flags were flung to the breeze in pro-
fusion and mingled with the Stars and
Stripes, as we'll as the oolorS Of our
Allies, were the many starred service
flags which waved from church, fac
tory, and home, mute, but eloquent,
evidence of the fact the United States
is in the war to the finish and to win.
Trains, trolleys and all other forms
of conveyances from adjacent towns
or suburbs of the city were crowded
with holiday makers coming to Bridge
port to witness the celebration and
parade, and from an early hour began
taking their places along the line of
march.
Special traffic squads were detailed
to handle the crowds as well as the
vehicles and many stores turned their
windows into grand stands for the
benefit of those too old or feeble to
witness the stirring events from the
sidewalks.
Promptly at 2:3O this afternoon the
parade headed by the military and
civic officials swung into line from
Washington park. The bands struck
up martial airs and as the sailors
from the Black Rock naval station,
under command OF Lieutenant Dyer,
came into view they were greeted
with enthusiasm by thousands who
shouted themselves hoarse, wildly
waved hats, flags, or anything that
could in any way demonstrate their
feelings.
The ovation given the bluejackets
had scarcely died down when the deep
roar of cheering multitudes swept
along the line and once more the
crowds were wildly cheering amid wav-
ing flags, and we'll they might, for
Bridgeport's Own, the Fourth Regi-
ment, C. vi. g., headed by its band
and marching like veterans passed
before the admiring gaze.
The men are well drilled, well
eoufppeld, and looked fit for anything
or anyone The ovation they received
was we'll deserved and was continued
until the appearance of the machine
gun squad from the U. N. C. Co. man.
ming their Emma Gee" which was
mounted on one of the famous Rikel
+r,,cxs This businesslike outfit ther
attracted the attention Of the crowds
and came in for we'll earned applause
Heading the second division was the
famous Coast Artillery band, which
played for the large force of police
men commanded by Superintendent
John H. Redgate, along the line o.
march and put such real military
kick into the music the policemen
marched like regular army men.
Then came the firemen commanded
lob
Anely built, we'll uniformed men mad
as fine showing as any in the pa
rade and were greeted with great en-
thusiasm by the thousands along tn
line.
Following the f1remen came con
tingent from Elias Howe, Jr., Post, G
A r. There was not one in the vas
throng who did not feel a lump ris
in his throat as the men who Tough
for the cause of freedom and democ
racy in 81, now too old and feeble t
march with their younger brothers
arms, passed in review comfortabl
seated in Riker trucks.
But even if they could no longe
march with swinging stride to tn
beat of drums and the shrill note {
the fife, their spirit was the same, the!
every glance showed that today, as
the dark days of the Civil War, the
aims and convictions are unwaverin
and one could note the look of env
in their eyes as they watched tn
younger and to them more fortunat
men who were able to take up a riff
in defense of what they fought fol
bloody years to attain.
Bringing up the rear of the b
parade we're a large number of Rik'
trucks loaded with literature appea
sng to the people to take shal
IN the great fight against the modeI
Attilla, to help keep the magazines
our soldiers filled with cartridges TIL
will prevent the Hun from ravagir
another inch of civilized lands.
These appeals we're distributed by
large number of Boy Scouts. who
to late hour last night despaired
getting the literature in time. A cor
mittee from Bridgeport went to Ne
York and succeeded in getting 100
application blanksand large amou
of advertising literature just as
came off the printing presses at @:
this morning The entire lot w
rushed to Bridgeport in time for t
Boy Scouts to do excellent work in d
tributing 1t.
Members of the deposed Romano
family living in the Crimea are n