Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-29
ROYAL WELCOME
AWAITING TROOPS
Receptions to ''Boys" of
State Divisions to Be
Greatest Ever
PLAN RIVER PAGEANT
No Limit to Extent of Demon
strations in Honor of
18th and 10th

The greatest demonstration in the
(. h,story OF Pennsylvania is promised by
Governor sproul in honor of the return
ing soldiers of the Iron Division-Penn-
svivania's own" the Twenty-eighth.
Tha celebration will be repeated when
4he liberty Division returns. the Gov
ernor said In a statement today.
81 .sY intend TO make both of these occa-
a;ons something that will surprise Penn
svlyania," he said I'VE want two cele-
brutIons, too-one for the Iron Divi-
sior our own National Guardsmen, and
fhe other for the men of the selectiVe
service who wrote their own glorious
page.
K "personally I can say 7 am working
hard on the plans right now. ana
am going to see that the reVle" ana
their return will mean the mightiest
demonstration OF which Pennsylvania is
capab,e. The return intact of these
tr,n divisions to this state is now a
certainty, and We will leave not
ainoIe stone unturned to show those
hovs the love, the gratitude and the
devotion they have in our hearts for
the splendid achievements they have
accomplished with their arms, Halor,
bravery and courage
plans for greeting the 109th and
31loth Infantry and the 10Sth Field Ar
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. regiments in the
rwenty-eighth Division-are well under
way. Several< conferences between j.
.Tarden Guenther, secretary of the Coun-
ell Of National Defense, and city officials
and members of the welcome-home COM
rnittee were held yesterday. Others are
scheduled for today.
AS the opening feature in the series
of events that will mark the return OF
the Keystone fighters to this city the
welcome Home Committee of Philadel-
phia is planning a big river pageant.
Mothers to Meet Boys Down River
Z Announcement has been made that
the mothers of returning soldiers will
meet their boys far down the river, but
tho committee, anxious to lend color to
that spectacle will organize a river fes-
.tiyal.
q II ,harbor officials find It possible to
grant permission, the returning fighters
will be met by fleet of harbor craft
These boats, ranging in size from a
small motor launch to the palatal river
steamers, will be decorated in holiday
CLOTHES and form a fitting escort for the
transports
The plan Of the Welcome Home Com
truittee, to give soldiers mothers places
of honor in every event that Is held, has
met the approval of the women who
gave their sons TO Uncle Sam.
Today J. Jarden Guenther, secretary
f0f the committee, received a letter from
= group of North Philadelphia mot ois
They expressed their joy concerning tn"
debarkation of their sons at this port in
tho following words:
I'VE, the undersigned mothers of the
various detachments of the 10Sth Field
Artillery, Twenty-eighth Division, wish
70 express our gratitude to you for your
success in having the War Department
agree to land our boys in Philadelphia.
We will do all in our power to assist
! you In giving them a hearty welcome
home"
S. This letter is signed by Mrs D. C.
vozan. 7l31 North Broad street; Mrs.
M. A. Ritter, 1900 North Broad street
Mrs. B. Thomas, 1907 North Broad
street, and Irene NJ. Ritter.
Plans Taking Definite Form
John H. Mason, president of the Com
mercial Trust Comany and acting chair
man of the committee, said today that
plans for the great reception are taking
definite form and that by another week
the personnel Of the enlarged reception
committee would be completed.
/: We propose" said Mr.. Mason, etc
make the reception 4 genuine affair OF
the people. First consideration will be
given to the mothers Of the returning
soldiers. for they are deserving of every
consideration. They made noble sacri-
fees in the war and will share the graft.
tudo and thanks of the city and state in
the reception that will be staged fol-
their sons. Our committee will CO.
operate with the city and state officials
Pennsylvania's gallant sons will be
given the greatest welcome ever ac.
corded to American soldiers"
The first official meeting of the well
come home committee will be held next
Friday BY that time Mr.. Guenther
hopes to learn the arrangements the
War Department will expect the city to
make 10 entertain and care for the Key,
stone Division.
u Adjutant General Beary is expected to
make a survey of the port facilities here
on Wednesday. He will confer with Di
rector Webster regarding the utilizing
OF the municipal piers and the facilities
for entraining the men after they have
disembarked.
1t is not expected that the first units
Of the division can arrive here before
May 32, providing they sail from France
ON May 10, but the officials are losing
q To- NJ ,in ha