New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-21
Gaps in 9th
Will Be Filled
In Big Parade
Third of Division Composed
of Troops From Other
States, Says Col. kincaid
Battle Losses Concealed
Eighty Gallant Soldiers To
Be Decorated by British
Ambassador in Public

Nearly one-third Of the $4,000 men
Of General Organs eth Division.
formerly all New York men, who will
have their second parade on Fifth
Avenue next month"; will be from other
states. sent to the 9th as replace
ment drafts. The officers who already
have returned to prepare for the ar
rival of the division have been in
structed by the War Department to
keep the casualty figures to them
selves. 1t became known yesterday,
however, that requirements made up
about 80 per cent of the 9th day.
When they marched down Fifth
Avenue that autumn day Of 1917 10 the
strains of over There" every man
was New Yorker The old regiments
still were intact and groups of up
state watchers cried greetings from
the curb as this or shat company of
the LIST came striding past. At Spar
tarfburg the 107th, whose nucleus was
the old 7th, absorbed the LIST and the
process was duplicated in other regi-
ments as they conformed to the new
divisional organization. A new 27th,
which has kept alive the spirit of the
old, will march in Fifth Avenue.
Il want to say SAID Lieutenant Colo
nal j. Leslie Kincaid, who has charge
Of the vanguard Cf the division, that
General Organ expressly ordered
that all men in the division as it is
now constituted, 25,oo0 in number, are
to take part in the parade. Not all
Of the men in the division were with
US when we went over. and not all Of
them were in the fighting with us. for
we have had our full share of replace
ments. But we realize that the men
who came in after the fighting was
over were just as ready TO do their
part as the men who were lucky enough
TO be there all the time, and are en-
titled to as much honor as the rest Of
u.s.
To Parade After March Il
Colonel Kincaid said that it would
be after March Is before New DIRK
got a chance to welcome the DIVISION
Tentative plans that have been made
show that the welcome will be cordial
and impressive, and include the adopted
sons of the state. The division is to
begin to leave Brest on or about March
), and 1t Is estimated that five or six
days will elapse after the arrival of
the first transport before debarkation
is completed. The troops viii be di-
vided between Camp Mills and Camp
Merritt, where they Will stay until the
parade.
The public investiture by the Brit
sh Ambassador to the United States
Of more than eighty members OF the
division who won British war decora-
tons for gallantry in action in France
rs planned as one of the outstanding
ieasures OF the celebration Colonel
Knead said that all details of the
ceremony had not yet been completed,
but that he had every reason to be-
ieve that the plan would be carried
through.
Distinguished Services Crosses to
the number of 120 and SIX Congress
sonal Medals of Honor were conferred
on members of the division by General
Pershing on the eve of their depart
ure for rest camp. This ceremony
took place at the Belgian camp near
Lemance.
Almost all the wounded men Of the
DIVISION have been brought home and
are now in hospitals here awaiting d
change Of station. Those who have suf-
heiently recovered to march at the time
Inc division returns Will have their
pace IN their respective commands,
wnie the others will be in the parade
IN automobiles.
The sentiment of the returning mem
eers Of the 27.h is that the bodies of
nose Of their number who fell in ac-
Ton should be left to sleep on the soil
Of France, Colonel Xincaid said yester-
day.
Where the families of the men WHO
were Killed desire that the bodies be
returned, there viii of course, be no
esort to prevent that action being
!aken,' said Colonel Kincaid "But
happen 10 know that General Organ
vent to the trouble of sounding the
sentiment Of the men on the subject
and tndt they were unanimous in the
."pnlon that if 1t were they who had
eeen killed they would want to be
surled on the field Of battle whore
There are two places in France
~here members Of the 9th are buried"
ne continued, "and ! Can assure the fam
mes OF all these men that their last rest
ihg place could not lie better attended
" more sacredly guarded. Father
snciiy, our chaplain. sDent much of his
Mme before We left France seeing to
me proper marking Of the graves and
me lnclosurc Of the plots. One Of
ttnese burial grounds is right in the
.ofefrcnt Of the old iHndcnburg line
y little village The other is at
0aiiiemont Farm"