The Washington times., 1918-05-10
PERSHING' FIFTY
ARE WELCOMEDBY
COMMISSIONERS
CONTINUED from First Page)


never be fully able to discharge our
obligations to you
At the conclusion OF the Commits
eioners address. the lines CT khaki
clad heroes, flushed with the pleasure
Of their reception. and plainly en-
barrassed by the fervOr Of the cheers
and applause with which the as
Eembled crowd greeted them, walked
up the steps Of the District Building
and shook hands with the three Com
nlissioners-
Another cheer from the crowd as
the last man grasped the hand CT Cen
'sral Knight. and the procession again
whirled off, the take the visiting
soldiers about the city.
Following their welcome at the
District building, the soldiers were
driven about the city. The process
sion FIRST made its way to the Capitol,
where some OF the boys got their
frst glimpse Of the building in which
the declaration OF war against Ger
many was passed.
After touring the Capitol Grounds.
the autos returned up Pennsylvania
avenue to the National Hotel. Here.
through the patriotic spirit and cour-
tesy Of Thomas X. Ruth, managing
director OF the hotel, the soldiers were
served with a luncheon.
the city's principal downtown streets
followed, the bugIers from Fort Myer
at the head Of the procession pro-
claiming the coming OF "Pershing's
Boys" The streets along which the
soldier-Iadeu automobiles made their
way were lined with crowds Of en-
thusiastic Washingtonians, whose
cheers and applause showed what the
Nations Capital thinks Of her boys
ever there
Cheered by Crowds.
The procession, after traversing the
downtown section, made its way out
Sixteenth street through the resi-
dental section, where the soldiers
were given the opportunity OF seeing
the beauties Of the Capital OF the
nation whose honor they are defend
ing In the trenches Of France.
The tour about the city lasted sew
eral hours, and everywhere the SOL
diers were taken they were greeted
with cheerA Flags futtered, and in
all II was a regular gala day. Many
Of the boys in khaki will attend the
baseball game in the afternoon, after
the parade, as guests OF Clark Grif
nth, manager Of the Washington club
Tonight will occur the big public
mass meeting at the Liberty Hut, for
merly Billy Sundays tabernacle, on
the Union Station plaza Thousands
OF Washingtonians will undoubtedly
jam the huge auditorium to pay trib-
ute to the American veterans, and to
best accommodate the crowd, il has
been decided that there will be no
tickets and no reservations. In other
words. It will be a case OF first come,
first served
At Liberty Hut Tonight
The doors will be opened at 7:3O,
when the military band from Fort
Myer VIII start to play. At 7:45, the
soldiers will take seats on the plat
form, and at s o'clock, the speaking
will begin Henry B. F. mcfarland.
chairman Of the finance committee OF
the District Red Cross, will be the
only civilian speaker. according to
present plans.
The affair will be run on the as
sumption that those who attend do 50
to hear the remarks Of the soldiers,
and for this reason. the entire even
ing will be devoted to the speeches Of
the boys in khaki They will tell OF
their personal experiences, what they
have seen, what the boys over there
think about the war. what the folks
back home can do to back them up.
OF course, not all OF the fifty can
speak, but many will. The Liberty
Hut meeting will probably be the last
chance for WashingtOnians TO see the
boys in one group, as they will be
divided up into small squads there
after to be sent through every State
in Che Union, speechmaking and rous-
ing the spirit OF America
Received BY sOIOns.
nifty was the reception by Senators OF
the Military Affairs Committee at the
Senate office building yesterday
Shortly after o'clock. the hour set
for the reception, the thirty-eight sol
diers-that being all that had report
ed at Fort Myer up TO that time
piled out OF three big gray army
trucks and made their way into the
office building. after posing for their
pictures.
In room z26, they found Senator
Chamberlain, chairman OF the Mill
tnry Affairs Committee, and the fol
lowing Senators OF the committee
Warren, Thomas, Beckham, Mcclellan
Kirby, Fletcher, Weeks. Reed, anC
New. Senators Henderson, Ramsdell
and Sutherland, although not OF tn,
committee, were also present, a!
were a number Of members Of tht
House. A large delegation OF wOmeI
relatives OF the solons-was als'
present
As the soldiers entered they werl
greeted with handclapping, and wer,
then introduced to the Senators. WIFI
drew up in a line at one end OF tn,
room Cigars were passed around
and there was a merry little infOrma
taIkfest for a few minutes. as tn
soldiers told Of how they felt
Soon the entire party adjourned e
the front steps Of the building. wher
they were again photographed. Thel
the soldiers went to the ball game
Senator Duncan u. Fletcher had thi
TO say about the boys after the recep
ton:
II was impressed with their stur
diness and healthy appearance. a
fine looking lot OF boys they are will
evident qualities Of courage and de
termination examined all thu
crosses OF honor and found the pos
SCISSORS unusually modest. They rep
resent the best in our army.
Their families would indeed b.
proud to have them home for a time
and / think they should be Giver
leave, for ] am sure they are anxious
to visit their homes"
One of the fifty remarked 70 {
times man that he had received 81