New Britain herald., 1919-02-15
ROUSING WELCOME
FOR BOYS OF 10Th
Former Members, With Other
Units, May Rejoin Commands

Boston, Feb 15.-The New Eng
land governors, in conference yester-
day afternoon at the state house.
voted to send Gen. Pershing in
France a Cablegram requesting that
the 26th division be sent home as
unit and landed at Boston.
With the understanding that the
division will be sent to Camp Devens
Immediately after disem barking, it
was agreed that there will be a pa
rade in Boston as soon thereafter as
she military authorities will permit
During the evening after the parade
the men will be entertained in Bos-
ton and on the following day, Will,
the consent Of the war departing nt.
they will be sent to the homes of the
respective units comprising the Yam
kee division.
Six Governors Attend.
The conference was called to or
der by Gov. Coolidge of Massachu
sets and there were present Cows
Marcus Fl. Holcomb of Connecticut
John w. Bartlett of New Hampshire,
r. vingston Beeckman of Rhode
Island, Percival w. Clement Of Yer
mont and Carl E. Millillen of Maine.
Maj-Gen. Clarence r. Edwards, Lieut.
Gov. Charming II. Cox of Massachu~
sets, Mayor Andrew J. Peters of Bos-
ton, Corporation Council Alexander
Whiteside of Boston, Louis A. Coo
lidge, chairman of the Massa chusetts
citizens committee to welcome re-
burning men, Senator James F. Cav
anagh and Representative Frederick
G.. Nichols, senate and house chair
men, respectively. Of the legislative
r@J1
Gov, CooEdge's Welcome.
Gov. Coolidge, in calling to order
the conference, said:
II welcome you here today as rep
resentatives of different states whose
sons have joined with the sons of
Massa chusetts in tho support of the
United States governme nt, in the de-
Tense of our common territory and
in the perpetuation of our rights and
liberties. We meet to consider what
suitable reception shall be accorded
to these brave men when they are
FSturned to their country, who, rep
resenting what is right, have repre-
scented us through the toll and dan
ger of the most barbarous warfare
ever waged by mankind.
I therefore welcome you all to a
consideration of what is betting, in
the way of public celebration when
these men return to us with their
wealth of honor and achievem ent. -
Plans for Committees of Welcome.
On motion of Gov. Beeckman, Gov.
~Goolidge was made chairman of the
conference. He suggested that each
state should appoint a congressional
committee of welcome, to include all
members of congress, and this sug-
4oI--
was another that each state should
have a citizens committee of well
come.
- Next Gov. Coolidge asked the gov
eFnors to state their preferences with
respect to reviewing stands, stating
that Massachusetts will erect a single
stand large enough to accomm odate
the official representatives OF all the
states, or it will erect a separate stand
for each state. Gov. Beeckman said
he would prefer a single large stand,
and this seemed to meet the approval
S0f all the governors.
49, Gen. Edwards States Difficulties.
Gen. Edwards was then requested
to enumerate some of the practical
difficulties which will have to be
overcome. He said one of the great
questions will grow out of the time
of arrival of the units of the div-
sion. If the entire division arrives
o1 single day, the problem will be
easy, but if it should be strung out
several days it may be necessary for
the early arrivals to be Through ed
from Camp Devens for a few days
awaiting the arrival of the others. He
urged that a divisional review be
held, saying that no civilian in Massa.
chusetts has ever seen one and for
hat reason no one can comprehend
a'1lat it means.
There was strong Endorsement OF
suggestion that the men be al
lowed to go direct to their homes
after the review. Gov. Holcomb said
he people of his state will want the
Connecticut men sent to Hartford as
speedily as possible, and Gov. Beck
nan said Providence expects the
Rhode Island men within a very
snort time after they arrive in Bos-
ton. Gen. Edwards said such a plan
will accord fully with the desires OF
he men.
Would Bring Former 26th Division
Men With 1t.
Gen. Edwards said he thought il
entirely practical to return to the
26th division before it leaves France
aearly all Of the men who have
served with that division, and he
urged the governors to make the re-
quest at once. lin my Office he
said, "there are many letters showing