Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-10
Most Impressive Military
Spectacle Witnessed
in New York.
TRIBUTE PAID BY
COUNTIES NUMBERS
Pershins Led Down Fifth Avenue 22,co0
Veterans of First Division in Process
sion Which Stirred Blood of Every
Spectater-Escorted by Picked Regi-
ment From All Oivisions-Forty-
Seven States represented.

New York, Sept. 10.-Ccuntless
thousands of Americans, flushed with
the pride of victory. paid tribute here
today. in what probably was the city's
most impressive military spectacle to
the. nations leader in the world war,
General John ]. Pershing, Commander
in Chief of the American Expedition
airy Force, and to the far famed First
Division.
The sun burned Missourian, looking
as fit as youthful Indian despite his
80 years-the soldier who said to the
shade of Lafayette at his tomb in Pic
pus: Lafayette, we are here!' ana
whose army of 1,250,000, the largest
force of Americans ever to fight on
foreign SOIL turned the tide of possi-
BILE allied defeat into victory-today
Jed down Fifth avenue $4,000 men of
the First division in a procession which
stirred the blood of every spectator.
Ahead of the bronZed veterans,
mostly regulars" who had been
abroad nearly two years and a quarter,
and whose lighting was the admira-
ton of every poilu and British Tommy,
was General Pershing's guard of honor,
regiment of $500 men picked from
all seven of the American regular army
divisions in France.~This unique con-
tingent, known as .'Pershing's own,
and composed of two companies from
each regiment of the division repre-
sented, the companies in turn being
formed of one squad from each COM
pany in the regiment, was special
feature of the parade.
Accompanying General Pershing at
the head of the division rode Maj Gen.
Edward F. McGlachlin. commanding.
and with, him two other former COM
manders of the First, Maj. Gen. Wiz
liam L. Sibert, who took the troops 70
France. and Lieut.. Gen. Robert l..
Bullard, who took them into action
and later relinquished command to
take higher POST. With them was a
host of other officers, including Brig.
Gen. Frank Parker, of Charleston, S.
c., and other commanders some of
whom saw their first active service
with the division in France.
Forty seven States Represented.
The troops in line represented
forty lseven states of the union and
several of the insular possessions and
among the marchers were more than
4,OOO "old time doughboys whose only
recorded home is the United States
army. Trudging along under the
weight Of full combat equipment, every
pack in place. rifles clean and bay
onets cleaning in the sun. the fighters
presented picture of aggressiveness
and force. From 10th street, where
the parade started, to the Washington
Arch. where it disbanded, the
throngs along the curbs kept up al
most tnmutuous cheering.
There comes the Sixth field artil-
lery," some one shouted. A few
moments later this famous organiza-
tion. Battery C, Of which on Oct. 90,
1917, fired the first shot at the Ger
mans, came into sight and was wildly
acclaimed.
Delegations of home folks from
southern New York, Connecticut, New
Jersey. Delaware, and eastern Penn
sylvania, whose 2,700 sons or kinsmen
| were in the first division.Z were on
hand to do them honor along with the
men from other sections of the coun-
try. Many of these fighters, members
Of the 18th Infantry, wore the French
Ifourragere. the red and green cord
signifying that the Criox de Guerre
| with palm had been twice conferred
! for c&nspicious gallantry in action.
| The fourragere was bestowed upon the
18th by Brigadier Gen. Bracquet Of
the French army while officers and
mon were lined up on the decks of the
transport Mobile just before it sailed
from Brest.
First Parade Of Kind.
An epitome Of Americas fighting
| machine in Europe. the First Division
presented what military men say was
the first parade Of its kind In the
country's history. That is' not only
! were the doughboys equipped with
rifles, bayonets, packs,.- helmets. can
teens, belts and ammunition, but every
piece of the divisions artillery was In
Iline, as well as the ammunition trains,
the rolling kitchens and other paraph-
ernalia Of a modern fighting unit.
| Even the horses and mules. many
i Of WHICH had zservea thrnout in war.
were decorated with service stripes
and all OF the F'irst's insignia, Just as
| 1t was marked In France, was shown.
The divisions flags all bore the Croix
de Guerre with which 1t was honpred
by the French nation, the 2Sth Infantry
having two OF those emblems to Its
credit.
| Machine guns OF various types and
sizes, tanks and mortars,S grenade
| throwing devices were parts. OF the
| parade exhibits and were Viewed with
proud wonderment by the crowds
Then there was the anti-aircraft guns
whose muzzles often pointed skyward
as II to bring down hostile flyers.
| Among the lighters who won dis