The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-03
FOUR THOUSAND
SOLDIERS ARRIVE
FROM FIGHTING ZONE
Mauritania Brings First
Large Contingent
Back Home.
w Arm WELCOME
Sirens and F actory Whis-
ties Herald Return
of Victorious
Yanks.
w AR M WELCOME

New York. Dee With $500
American troops aboard. the first
large contingent to return since the
armistice was signed, the Cunarder
Mauretania steamed majestically up
the bay today and was warped into
her slip. Only the noise made at vic
tory day celebration was comparable
in volume ana variety of units TO that
which greeted the returning soldiers.
River and harbor craft. liners at their
docks, and factories ashore set their
sirens and whistles shrilling and
shrieking. and every person in lower
New York who was not born rum b
added his or her voice to the general
din,
Perhaps the soldiers heard the well
coming medley of noises--but If they
did they have good ears. for they
were making as much noise them
selves as four thousand machine guns.
The units Of the Mauretania con-
sisted Of twenty -four aero squadrons,
one construction hricklayers company,
attachments of radio mechanics. and
l16 wounded men of other units.
Mayor Hyiand. heading the may
ors committee. went down the bay tn
give the returning men an official
welcome from the city. They heard
the soldiers yelling and singing
while Yet a considerable distance from
the heavily camoufiaged Mauretrfsfa.
Boarding the ship the mayor and his
committee were officially received by
Cot H. G. Pratt of the aviation corps.
TO whom Mayor Hylan handed the
citys keys. 1t il worthy of note right
here that had the boys been con-
suited. everything in New York would
have been unlocked and they would
haze enjoyed one swell time
\ The s.tavt,r. 'sscttng pSif.e Is6ntYiafs-
sioner John A. Leach and others or
the committee circulated freeiS
among the men. chatting. shaking
hands, and assuring them that Nes
York was mighty glad TO see them
The most familiar and oft-repeated
question and answer were:
Glad to get home again7'
"Betcher life. Everything Ameri-
can looks good to me"
Various bands on the big liner al
other vessels played patriotic airs -
the Mauretania proceeded TO nor
wharf. hut for the most part the
PLAYERS best efforts appeared TO "A
pantomimic Whenever the soldiers
caught familiar strains they burst into
song.
GIVE them hail, hail, the gang
all here's said Mayor Hylan, when
the snip was nPiNE puSutu AHio tNN
slip by the busy little tugs, and from
4 goo throats New York was noisip
apprised OF the coming of the gang.
On the pier 200 Red Cross canteen
girls. in charge of Mrs. Henry =,
Davidson. were waiting TO serve cot
fee am, other refreshments. Very
Trim they looked In their natty uni
forms. and the soldiers were duicK
to take notice of the first American
girls they had seen.
Cannot SEQ Men
A large crowd Of relatives ana
friends of the returning soldiers watt
ed outside the pier, but were not per-
mitted to mingle with the men, May
or Hylan, who had requested Secr"-
tary of War Baker to permit the men
to parade on Fifth avenue, had been
informed that the request could not
he granted. Ferry boats conveyed the
soldiers from the pier to Long Island
CITY. where they entrained for Camp
Mills. where their clothing is to un-
derSo Immigration and the men are TO
be examined In few days they Will
be sen, to Mitchell field, where their
relatives and friends will be permit
ted to visit them. All are to be de-
mobilized with a week or so. 1t was
said
Harry Lauder. the Scotch comedian
was a passenger on the liner and he