Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-01

Boston, April 25-The Yankee boys
came marching home to-day. They found
nearly all New England on the cheering
line.
For three weeks, by battalions and by
regiments, the men had been trickling
back, but this was the real home coming
when in battle array, with flags flying
and drums beating, they marched In
familiar streets past a cheering. weeping
multitude of their home folks"
And as each sought in the mighty
throng to express his emotion In his own
way, the one time National Guardsmen
Of New England, now the famous 18th
Division of the United States army-the
first national guard division in France
hiked on unperturbed with the steady
swing OF veterans. Tanks that moved
machine-like around three sides Of his
toric Boston Common and into the wide
reaches of Commonwealth avenue did
not seem to be merely parading. In
trench uniforms, with bayonets fixed and
set faces under ugly steel helmets, they
| made a great grim picture of Uncle Sam
with his sleeves rolled up.
All New England shared in the well
come. In the double roadways up Com
monwealth avenue each of the six States
had a stand where State and municipal
officials, congressman and senators and
| host of relatives welcomed their own
with the music Of bands and community
| singing.
! The weather also made them feel at
home with a variance typical OF New
England During the night ice formed in
| the pools on the common. Early in the
forenoon the sky smiled and promised a
perfect day. Before noon the sky was
overcast and a swapping northwest wind
with furry of snow in it's wake all but
froze the early ones who had perched
on the grandstands long before the start
of the parade. Later arrivals came in
furs or carried automobile blankets and
all sorts of mid-winter clothing.
EDWARDS GIVES THE WORD
At one o'clock Major-Gen. Clarence r..
Edwards. to whom Major Gen. Harry
c. Hale yielded the place Of honor, gave
the word and the final advance of the
organization Of the 18th was under way.
Starting at Charles and Beacon streets
the ~ D." moved $1,000 strong through
Beacon and past the State House where
the New England Governors. representa-
tives Of the army and navy. Massa-
| chusetts State officials and members of
| the Legislature on three reviewing
stands gave a rousing reception to the
doughboys.
Preceded by an escort Of mounted
police and astride his dancing dapple
gray, "Y. D." General Edwards looked
100 per cent. West Point, but his features
betrayed that this was quite the hap
piest day of his military career. The
sight Of the commander who led the
Yanks when they were making history
| was all that was needed to start the
crowd in wild acclaim.
1850 WHO DID NOT PARADE
Then suddenly the cheering ceased as
a sergeant and six men brought to view
| the proudest emblem In all the parade
1t was the white and gold division flag
On a shimmering white field was a gold
embroidered star just above the figures
1860, representing the total Of those OF
the Y. d. command who had made the
supreme sacrifice Next in line came a
2l0-millimeter howitzer captured by the
26th on the road to Trugiy July q. 1918
during the A!sne Marine offensive. Fol
lowing It were 2GO automobiles Of the
Woman's Volunteer Motor Corps OF the
American Red Cross. carrying 800 wounded
| men. InOuSu tney were 100 weak tC
walk, and many had been unable to enter
the machines without assistance none
in the parade looked happier than the
crippled young veterans. Roses were
| showered upon them as they passed.
OVATION FOR GENERAL HALE
Riding at the head of the active divi-
sion and accompanied by his mounted
staff General Hale received an ovation
worthy of the man who had brought the
Yankees home. The 26th military police
company followed, and then the 10ls
Engineers.
The smart appearing 101st Field Sig
nal Battalion was followed by the lois
Machine Gun Battalion from the Con
necticut cavalry and the old First Yer
mont Infantry. These men were with
the 102nd Infantry in the night dash Il
Vigneulles at st. Mihiel.
Brig. Gen. George II. Shelton will
the 51st Infantry brigade headquarter,
turned into fremont street as the heat
of the parade reached the avenue. BY
this time two seaplanes from the sta
ton at Chatham were lowering over tn,
route. The tumult increased as tn,
101st Infantry-the old Fifth and Ninth
of Eastern Massachusetts, the first int
the line at the Chemin des Dames-cam,
in sight On the heels of the lois
was Connecticut's own. the 1O2nd In.
fantry. which won fame at Seishepre,
and more at st. Mihel. At it's head
was Col. Douglas Potts of the regular
army and its colors were decorated will
the Croix de Guerre earned at tn.
Mouse and Argonne. The music OF
Keep the Home Fires Burning" sig
nailed the approach Of the 52nd In.
fantry Brigade Headquarters. Brig
Gen. Charles II. Cole received a salve
of cheers.
Maine and New Hampshire showed
especial interest in the lOard infantr,
based on the old End Maine and LIST New
Hampshire.
These men who had fought so well a,
Chateau Therry were led by Colonel
Frank NJ Hume.
1t was Massachusetts, turn again when
the colors of the 1o4th infantry appeared
also decorated with the croix de guerre
This was the first National Guard infan.
try regiment to have contact with the
enemy and drove back the Germans in the
battle of Bots Brule. Colonel e. +. Chat.
ham of the regular army commanded
what was developed from the old End, 9Th
and 9Th regiments of Massachusetts.
A feature of the parade was Ave woman