New-York tribune., 1919-03-15
Mayors Committee Says
There Is No Room for
Wounded Crandstand
NAV Watch Parades
From Curbstones
Protests Made by Gen.
Organ and Red Cross
Officials to No Avail

There VIII be no room in the city's
great reviewing stand from which
wounded soldiers now in New York hos
pitals may view the parade of the tr-
umphant 9th Division.
The 5000 men who sustained injuries
in France while Offering themselves
for the supreme sacrifice will be COM
PEELED to view the welcome to their
former comrades from curbings, the
tops OF buses and stores and ofFic
that may be thrown open to them
through generosity of individuals along
the line of march.
That this arrangement for taking
care of the wounded" men now con-
valescing in hospitals here had been
made by the Mayors Committee of
Welcome to Homecoming Troops was
officially made known by that organiza-
ton for the first time yesterday.
With the announcement came re
quest from the committee that news
papers publish requests that business
men along the route find places for as
many wounded as they could seat in
their windows.
Official Protests Futile
Protests from Red Cross officials
and urgent requests from representa-
tives of the 9th Division, from Major
General O'Ryan down, were met with
statements by representatives of the
Hylan Hearst reception body that there
were not enough seats to go around
and the wounded men would have to
be cared for in some other manner.
Yesterday afternoon there was
meeting of representatives of the COM
mittee for the purpose of devising this
: some other manner"
A statement issued later said the
pageant committee, of which George
". Loft is chairman, would take over
the duty of providing such facilities
as might be available for entertaining
these wounded men. But it was ad-
nittcd the arrangements would consist
OF obtaining as many buses of the
Fifth Avenue Coach Company as were
available, and as many seats in the
windows of private business houses
as might be offered
II is expected, however, that only
a very small percentage of the wound
cd men will be given seats on the few
buses available. The great majority
OF them will be forced to remain on
cots in hospitals, because they are
unable to battle for positions along
crrbings on Fifth Avenue.
Grover Whalen, representing May
or Hylan, was unable to make even a
rough guess at the number of wounded
men in hospitals who would be taken
care Of by the committee.
Il can't tell thing about the num-
ber," ne said. 'You know there are
an awful lot of them and many of
them will not be able to go to the
parade even If given seats. l think
the buses that are to be provided will
be adequate for most of them, how
ever"
Spectators Already Busy
Meanwhile reports that tickets for
the biggest reviewing stand ever erect
cd in the city-were being hawked
snout the city by spectators result
cd IN the refusal of members of the
committee TO issue any tickets until
next week. Secretary Whalen said rep
resentatves of spectators already
mad appeared at the camps and were
attempting to negotiate with the sol
diers for their tickets.
Still another plan for issuing tick
cts TO those desiring to view the pa
rade was under consideration by the
Mayors committee. This contemplates
distribution of "standee tickets, -
which permit the bearer to occupy q
place on the sidewalk on the east side
Of Fifth Avenue between Fifty~ninth
and 10th streets. Thus the west side
OF the street, now occupied by the big
stand, would be available to holders
oi reviewing stand tickets only and
the cast side of the street to holders
o. thls newer variety Of ticket.
but the general public would be
barred from any part of the line of
march except such positions as might
Se found along Fifth Avenue below
S'fl}-nintn Street. IN order to ex-
slauc the public from the east side Of
iltn Avenue 1t is proposed that police
meg be drawn about the side streets
leading TO Fifth Avenue early on the
morning OF March %. and only the
'oiaers OF tickets be permitted even to
ePproaen the avenue between Fifty
ninth and 10th streets.
"Standee'' Tickets for Guards
according TO Secretary Whalen. tn,
aisudee tickets will be distributed
largely among members Of the veteran
organizations Of the New York Cuart
ssgiments here. They will be ayaila.
1's to others. TOO, but the list Of thos,
,asored with this boon has not yct
been completed. -
~ the headquarters Of the 9th Di
slsion, at the Biltmore. IL was avreet
re exclusion. Of wounded men Of cthc,
o'y,slons .,a.It IN hospitals here would cas
(, s,pom Oyer the greatest day in thu
"sstory OF the organization,
" course all Of shose wounded rorr
Ar3h,'l Jsgh,a be ,u g,ysp seats" said Major Mac
obtain places for them. but thn,