New-York tribune., 1919-09-11
Baker Praises Leadership
of Commander; Hayes
Pays Tribute to Religious
Growth of the Army
Fallen Heroes Honored
Chief Is Deeply Impressed
by the Welcome; Prizes
: Flag Presented to Him

Surrounded by many Of the generals
who commanded his army corps and
divisions in the victorious battles over
seas, General Pershing in the grand
ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
last night expressed pride and happi-
ness that the nation has been able to
fulfil its heavy obligation to Lafayette
and to France.
There were more than 1900 men
there to honor General Pershing. and
in the boxes of the galleries overhead
were women gay in evening dress. Flags
covered the walls; flags of other ma
tions, whose men fought shoulder to
shoulder with Pershing's men in France.
Then. too. there were the flags of all
them the stars and bars of the South
ern Confederacy. Behind the speakers
platform hung the red four white
starred flag of General Pershing.
The Secretary of War sat next to
the general Of the army and in his
turn told how John Pershing had
nodded and tempered and welded the
engine of war that represented the
might of the American people
Others spoke, too, and then Rodman
Nanamaker, the toastmastcr. said i:
fCrSnlNV
rose to his feet the gathering rose and
cheered for about the fifteenth time
since his arrival.
Proud of Decoration
Then the general began to speak.
He said:
MIR. Chairman, your honor, Mr.. Sec
retary, your Grace, ladies and gentle
men:
Il beg to thank you for this gen
erous welcome which more than over
whelms me. | beg to accept this deco
ration which is worth more to me
than all the decorations in the world
put together. 1t is indeed gratifying
TO set foot again upon American soil
and be again among my own people.
My associates and ! have been deeply
moved by the reception that is ac-
corded us, exceeding. as it does, any
thing that we could have imagined dur
ing the month that we have been MAX
ing preparations to return to you.
Mr.. Secretary, your presence here is
a signal courtesy which | appreciate
very much, being fully aware that you
and the officials of the state and citv
DO honor to the American Expedition
ary Forces. officers and men, by Your
presence on this occasion.
Began Task Overseas
When we entered the war the mill
tary spirit of the American people was
thoroughly aroused by a ruthless in
vasion of human rights. and the nation
had engaged itself fully in the cause
of civilization. The energy, the ini-
tiative and the resources of the United
States were consecrated to that cause
in no uncertain fashion. Something
over two years and three months ago
left New York with a handful of
officers with orders to prepare plans
for the organization and employment.
and to assume command of an army
which was to follow, the larger part
of which was not then in existence.
"Under the carefully considered
scheme of the War Department, how
ever, the ranks were soon filled with
the flower of our vigorous young man
hood. Eager, aggressive and patriotic,
these earlier contingents of stalwart
men were, by the most persistent eff
fort, made ready to meet the crisis in
midsummer of 1913, and all at length,
through the actual exerience of war.
were nodded into powerful. aggres-
sive force. commensurate with the
might of the nation.
Praises Support at Home
"The morale of an army is a barome-
ter of the morale of the eople behind
it. Its inspiration comes from the