The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-30

ltontinued from tGTst rage
they marched from the battery to
city Hall PARK. where Mayor Hylan
waited 70 hand them an official well
come Tin hats were worn above
uniforms stained and torn The heavy
trench shoes ciacked loudly upon the
pavement. and every clack sent
thrills 20 the hearts OF the welcoming
throngs
The heroes marched or tried 10
march in column of tours The side
walks overlooked aud the crowds left
barely room for the men to pass 4
girl slipped past the front ranks Of
the spectators to touch a sleeve of
Corporal Milton Willard, Of Rhode
Island She just wanted to touch a
hem OF a garment of one who had
offered himself for humanity And
those nearby in the crowd. quickly
recognizing the Biblical precedent for
the action. paused a moment in their
wild cheering and then cheered the
girl as well as the soldiers.
some different from German 4
touch en-. Mill =" srinned Sergeant
Manning Grimes. also Rhode Islander
Three men from the Old fighting
Sixty-ninth regiment were in the front
rank--Sergeant +. c, Netcais Corpo-
raj Milo II. Plant and Private John +
ACt cFFHSEk. HFN were EFtPIeI Nv
many who knew them along the line
or March. Upon the breast OF Corpo-
raj Plant and five Of his conn aniors
rested the French Croix de Guerre
and many soft feminine hand reached
from the crowd 70 touch those tokens
Of bravery on the battlefield.
Liberty bell in city Hall park clanE-
30 a noisv welcome that was scarcely
heard above the cheering and hand
{ - 81 ~ n
the winds and cheered with the most
enthusiastic Of them as the men drew
up in company front. their escort from
the new Stxty-ninth regiment stand
ing aside to salute the city's chief
,'onicial. Tire official greetings over,
the soldiers assembled the platform
where they were greeted with further
cheering
Not for a moment did tho soldiers
permit the great personal ovation 70
sidetrack the purpose for which Presj-
dent Wilson directed their return TO
America-that they might work for
the liberty loan even as in France they
had gone over the top for the nations
cause They went to the stock ex-
change which broke for the first time
its rule excluding members from
the floor. There for fifteen minutes
they mingled with fnsrciers. urgiuG
the need that the fighting men he
backed to the limit.
Tonight at liberty land. in the Six
ty-ntnth regiment armory they were
greeted by the entire liberty loan corr
n1ittee and by crowd which bade
fair to bulge the walls. Miss Eliza
beth Wilson. former Ambassador &C.
rard and Mai General William VI.
Mann were among the prominent
speakers, and the returned heroes
heard over There" and other songs
sung by the peoples liberty chorus of
1000 voices,
! sixteen OF the fftv. who remained
( here to work for the liberty loan. viii
( form the chief attraction tomorrow Al
the sub4treasury meeting. The others
left tonight for Chicago. Washington.
Boston and Philadelphia,
one hundred French soldiers from
! various branches of the French army.
arrived here today to help put the lib
erty loan over the top. These blue
devils as they were afectionateiy
named because OF their hGhting quail
ties, dined tonight with the fifty re-
turned American soldiers and later