Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-07

Halr dozen trolley cars, dozen
automobiles and teams made the
street all but impossible. Most of
tn" co1ored heroes could not even
reach the line which was struggling
through the center Of the crowd and
they were forced to march along tae
curb until after the parade had
turned up Fourth street for some
distance.
Many of the veterans were from the
361st Heavy Artillery, and others were
from the 36sth Infantry. Both units
falo Division, and were among the first
5O.O 600 troops to reach the front. Be
cause of their early departure over
seas. they were among the organizations
known as "Pershing's Crusaders.
Her Sweetheart
One very pretty colored girl saw a
sweetheart in the line despite the
crowd and it was but q minute until
she had reached his side with a
scream ef delight. And she marched
| with his arm through hers.
After the parade had gone short
distance and the line got straight
ened out after the crowd had tfined
SO that the returned heroes could
get their soldiery bearings the
throngs on the streets managed to
get look at the men returned from
active service.
/ BeseigeS By Friends.
It was not for long, however, as
| the line was almost constantly
| threatened by waves of humanity. 1t
was impossible for the mothers,
sweethsarts and sisters of the men
to see them go by without rushing
out and grabbing them. 1t was
lonely boy indeed who wasn't hugged
and Kissed by many.a lass after his
| old mother had enveloped him for
resouhding smack.
These women cared nothing that
their onslaughts on the line knocked
out of plumb the we'll trained sol
dierly steps. Even with the training
| of many months under old army mas
ters could not keep the line straight
when the soldier was trying to guide
one or more Of his best girls at the
| same time keep his eye open for his
| nanny and his daddy.
A dozen or more colored men ar
rived in the city earlier than did
their compatriots and most OF them
were on hand to join in the welcome.
Smoe were In the "tin hats they
wore at the front and others wore
| the overseas caps. 1t was a very
small boy but very proud, who
| lugged one of the heavy helmets and
| a great package done in newspaper
| for his "Unc1e Jim.'
Welcomed at Hene
The welcome that the boys re-
| ceived at the station nothwiShstand-
| ing the number of persons who turned
out to meet them nor the blare of
the three bands nor the handclapping
along the route of parade amounted
to nothing alongside the glad greet
| ing that met the men in the colored
wards.
Until the small hours of the morn
ing every mans home was a center
| of activity. 1t made no difference
| to the few men who have no homes
of their own. Any home of any
colored man In town was his to COM
mand. The returned soldier was
hero and the center of an admiring
| throng.
| Every Men : Here
With the frankness and fullness
that Is perculiar to the negro man,
woman and child were open in pay
ing full homage to the man who had
dared the submarine pirates, who had
| worked under the orders OF Foch and
Pershtng and had gone across the
wording meet the Hun at his own
! The as no end to the curiosity
on theFsSfeets as to the meaning of
the divisional marks, mainly that of
! the blue buffalo on a light blue field.
The gold stripes showing service
"overthere" and the souvenirs that
! the men managed to carry home for
gifts among their friends also were
centers of interest.
Veterans Every Man
EtxaN -
many campaigns, as is told by their
wound stripes and official citations. The
infantry regiment saw service on three
| fronts. The regiment left 700 killed and
wounded on the battle front during fif-
teen days fighting in the Argohne for
est. The regiment was awarded an Of
! iicial regimental citation for its first
work in the trenches, when 1t gained
aration, losing 800 IDen in the terrific
battle.
The s51st Heavy Artillery won fame
| for Itself when 1t prepared the way for
distinct German strongholds. At one
time, In the French forest, it sustained
gas attack. and lost fifty men. 1t had
to its credit the smashing of the fortifi-
diers, Pagny Sur Muelle Chemoint
Bouxieres and BoiB de Frehaut.
Welcomed By Mayor
At the armory. the committee had the
!
worked out that everything went off
without g hitch. Mayor Keister well
coined the soldiers back with q few
/ words of gratitude for the part they
accomplished overseas. Moreover. he
promised that every soldier should re
ceive a Job as good as the one he left
when he Joined the nations fighting
| forces. Frank Jefferson, attorney from
Steelton, also made a speech of well
| come.
1 Private Ernest Jones, steelton. wear
ing the "Croix de Guerre" for dlstin-
| guished bravery in carrying dispatches
across a sharpnel swept plain on the
/ Champagne front, was given a place on
the platform. He. is a member OF the
471st Infantry. and lives at 302 Ridge
| street, Steelton.
The ComH.ittee
Soon after the speeches began, the
band started to play for dancing, and
the overseas soldiers were started to
enjoy the dancing the official welcomem
ende. ,-t
Those in charge of the reception were
Col. James M Auter, chief marshal /;
Prank ~ Robinson, chief of staff; aids,
DR.. Charles Ii. Champion, DR.. A. Les
lie Marshall, c. Sylvester jackson, DR..
! C. L. Carter, Walter ]. Hooper, Marshall
| Ficklin. Augustus Stewart, James Pols-
ton. Robert j. Nelson, Frank IL. JeHer-
son, James Taylor, Charles i. Howard,
| John H. Baker, William Beckwith and