New-York tribune., 1919-04-26

night at the Biltmore, whore the ad-
vance party of the unit has neadquar-
ters, told newspapermen just what he
thought Of the doughboys with whom
he had wadcd through the Argonne
forest.
General Alexander Is q sturdy, kind
ly figure. His tanned face breaks
quickly into the warmest smile; his
whole bearing shows desire to do
away with military formality and "red
tape" and get down to human euua-
tons 1t Is easy to see why to his men
he IS both "bearcat' and "private's
general"
Praises His Soldiers
The commanding officer of the LIB
erty Division-New York's Own--had
taken the reporters into his conf
dence on the plans Of the parade, and
had established a general feeling o.
equality, when he was asked to say
what he thought Of the men in the
ranks Of the organization he COM
mandcd The grizzled campaigner of
six wars, who had himself risen from
tho ranks, paused in embarrassment.
There was suspicious moisture in his
eye-which he quickly tried to account
for by waving away somo imaginary
cigarette smoko--and huskness In
his voice when he finally replied:
III | started to talk about this dlvi-
sion, with ell the affection / have for
1t, I'd never stop" he said slowly.
Mind, I'm not saying they won tho wpr
oil by themselves, but they never were
called on to do anything that they did
not do. This division Is mighty close
to my feelings"
Wears Wound stripe
General AleHander wore 4 wound
stripe, n Distinguished Service Cross
and a Croix de Guerre with one star
as trophies Of the World War. IN ad-
ditfon he wore the colors showing no
had taken part in the Indian cam
paigns, Cuban paciAcatlon, Spuulsh-
American War, Philippine insurroction
and the Mexican punitive expedition.
me nrst rnfn the general greeted on
entering the Biltmore woD Scrgcant
Boneclct Cnrlin, who was secretary on
his star Ia Franco. "Wo didn't DO
much nftcr you lett" tho general said
genialiy IT, tho sergeant, who was
bursting with pride.
.u,.l Il .h,nk hed u very fortunate op-
portunity on ChriatmaA Day to express
TO the President the feeling Of pride
with which | am animated when lhinls
or the ecrviccg rendered bv thia di-
vision" said General Alexander. seated
later ht table surrounded by re-
portcrs
Always Played Game
II said to him that | felt the greatest
pride at being associated as n comrnde
with the men composing this orgnniza-
ton; that in its ranks we're rcpreaenta-
tives OF Ill the races which go to make
up the population of the CITY of New
IA I, 4
had seen, the conduct Of the men while
at the front, his heart would swell
with pride III them as did mine, and
that the markers st the graves Of our
dead bore the names Characteristic of
the cosmopolitan races of which the
division is composed ed-every one Of
them an American, proved so by his
final sacrifice Of all he had to his
Americanization.
OF the men who did not come back,
who VIII be represented by the gold
stars carried before the marching
troops, General Alexander was loath
TO speak. IL have personally answered
every inquiry about these heroes, and
each time | am embarrassed for words
to express my feeling he said.
Fershing Praised Division
General Alexander then had d Ger
man minenwerfer box which he hau
captured brought into the room. and
pried open. It's contents proved to be
nothing more dangerous than lot of
letters and official documents. One
paper exhibited with much pride, was
the report Of Lieutenant Colonel f. B.
Mitchell, in charge Of troop inspcc-
ton. to General pershng, after in
specting the 77th Division. After
praising highly the condition Of the
mems uniforms and equipment and the
efficiency OF the officers, the report
concludes.
Their work shows what can be done,
and 1t is the consensus of opinion of
all the inspecting officers that this
inspection was by far the best and
most satisfactory that we have ever
made"
The report, made on April 7, shortly
before the troops sailed for home,
brought reply from the Chief of
Staff in part reading:
ne Willingness and ability Of an
organization to perform its military
duties out of the line with the same
enthusiasm and devotion to duty as
characterized its service in active
operation, he (the commanding pen-
eralJ considers well worthy Of emu
lation."
Talks Of the Argonnc
ASKED to explain the tactics which
carried the division through the Ar
gonne forests, believed impregnable
!. General Alexander answered
They butted their way tbrouch tho
woods. There were ro tactics to il. II
was not like taking an objective in a
1alrly open place. The whole woods
: we're so thick you couldn't see FORTY
, 1eet IN front Of you. There was noth.
, ng Xou coVid point to and say GO
Tor that. You simply had to dcplov
that lino and start it going forward" ]"
General Alexander said. with q rom
inlscent chuckle, that he had "put one
oyer" on the 10th Division After the
) Shristmas Day review Of the 77th by
} the President and Mrs Wilson. General
HieEandcr presented the latter with Tho
/ qlYisional patch boarinG The Statue Of
, i"Dertf. Thore WAS ruch rejoicing in
the 17th and consterpaton in the 7Gfh
whcn Mrs Wilson lutor attended 81 1Gtb
dinner, proudly wearing the Liberty
, symbol. ~
Arrived on Mt. Vernon
= Tho transport Mt. Vernon. waseh
, bfoufnt General Alexander, his t,afg
me "ot III !nfab;ty ccfnpicte, and tre
400 infantry Headquarters -E,Y1a OIL
cefs ana mon iu nil, docaod TT t,or >
Hotokeh, ~ 9.SD yeBtordny fnorr,ftv
30 early did tho ttoopthip rench hor
hetth that the tour boats og thc NAV.