New-York tribune., 1919-02-18

fa1
- line proud chests
expanded beneath
IS the medals valor
{ - had won. The i'm
SzH passioned cheering
~ of the crowds
" masscd along the
way drowned the
blaring cadence of
their famed Jazz band. The old 18th
was on parade and New York turned
out to tender It's dark-skinned heroes
New York welcome.
It was the clty's first opportunity to
honor one Of its own regiments. The
negro volunteers who sailed overseas
in December 1917. unit of the states
National Guard, returned last week as
the 369th Infantry. Wherefore, New
York joyfully seized the chance to pay
its tribute to the 5000 veterans who
had carved out with blood and steel
on the Champagne an epic of glory.
Nha. matter that more than half of
the ebony warriors who marched were
re?acement troops who trod the pave
ments OF New York for the first time :?
New York didn't care about that. New
York sax IN them. one and all, the
boys OF the old 18th. whose heroic
deed lad he'd luatre on tho city's
name ard New ork took them to its
aesr-
From the moment the procession
passed under the Victory Arch at
Twenty-third Street throughout its en-
tre progress up Fifth Avenue there was
to-. i4uous and deafeNing ovation.
Never have white Americans accorded
So heartfelt and hearty reception to
soatingent Of their black country
men. Racial lines were for the time
displaced. he color OF their skin had
nothing to 90 with the occasion. The
blood the shcd in France was as red
IS any Other
Homage of Gratitude
The enemy. from all accounts, had
respected them as much as others Of
the Allied forces. That was the respect
born OF fear and bitter experience.
YESTERDAY homage was that Of graft
tude and affection.
Colonel william Hayward marched
At the heal oi his regiment. There had
been seme fcar that his overseas in
'ary might compel him to lead The
parade or horseback. But the colonel
would have none Of that He limped
little and his face still showed the
mes os Illness induced by German
p9isou -, ouv for all that his carriage
vas military and his eyes fairly
geamed with pude Of his hell fight
S.a.' livery ether commis ssioned officer
q 'he UNI, all white save one, was just
q. proud as he.
There was reason beside the
,,aoreme one If their record in France.
Il lay in tac precision with which they
AeVed 80 'he time Of their band, the
efect oeariag Of snelr bodies. the
Nleksd anele Of their glistering bayo-
.e,s ana tae lucy tilt Of their trench
sss'aeta. tnev we're seascf ed soldiers
~ los comparison with any on earth.
lieutenant jim" Europe, the only
ssgso officer in the regiment. marched
gsiae ais band, the band that had ali
5@F3s lazz-mac. He did Tot lead it, for
ae mas been III and was apprehensive
sSt ne M ght not be quite equal 10 the
Ssk oI conducting 90 crack IN organi
4@Aon o. melody makers, but the
uoNa easily picked him out in the line
sac ne cot rousing greeting.
Fef"ap5 the spectacle Of all most
esuiated 70 draw attention was the
sssh1 G. Sergeant Henry Johnson, he
~ASse rife butt and bolo knife slew
.9ot Of tae foe and incapacitated
sa"}g-t"o otners who had the hardi-
cOed . rad his post one midnight.
estgeanf johnson has silver plate in
MS >2ot a. . relic Of that memorable
Oeeazion, 50 he could not march. In
,eTa he occupied the tonncau Of a
'@fge automobile.
lie stood up in the car and clutched
gfeai bouquet Of lilies an admirer
sso asndod him Waving this offering
y ore hand and his overseas hat in the
Ss,ns9' tne ebony hero's way up Fifth
a'eAue Ma a vertaDle triumph. BY
.as mansions os the city's wealthy he
as. Ana from their windows as we'll
:, IRON the concourse Of folk upon
e s.Gewalks Auttering handkerchiefs
~. ~ shouted piaudits heraldod the pas
'ass ci tois black man.
All Harlem Grects Heroes
hat the greeting the regiment re
ssseq along Fifth Avenue was TO the
sa ss@oH "nica greeted it IN Harlem as
fse "eas mad 10 tornado. Most Of
yne. IN i9cai boys wno remain on the
sgEf nave tneir homes in the district
t-+..ouAains l15th Street and Lenox
vss'1S' mere Il reviewing stand had
H.. sfeetoe. There II seemed all Har-
M M had assembled, and the pande-
g.. luat broke loose when the
a ass k'a.oon Of inc olive drab hgurez
etsdss Inc corner would have done
~ . tAe lungs of forty Harlems
,ss ss'''ners, fathers, gweetheartx, cheer.
fsss efginI, preeBed in toward the
S.. - tne advancing troops, the po-
bxek ~ nard pressed 70 hold them
~ ~ Egery eascment in the negro.
NJ ,s'@heea aAts wlthin seeing distance
fsSs. PACKED With flag waving, yelling
~ x.s IT me 18th Lcnoz Avenue
es s's she sfreets for block in
is eifeea5oa we're jammed With al
an, HFa0le na1a Of humanity, clam
b. an efo~ding for Riimpsc Of
~H NJ their real home coming
eoatdnued nm poge edght