Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-08
GENERAL GREETED
BY VAST THR0NGS
ON. ARRIVAL AT NY,
New York, Sept. 8.-Gen. John j. Pershing is
home again.
Standing on the bridge Of the huge Leviathan

ge of the huge Leviathan
itself symbolic of victory
over Germany, the COM
mander of the greatest
force ever gathered UNI
der the Stars and Stripes, came slow.
ly up the bay today, world famed and
hailed as a conquerine hero should
be.
Sad faced, stern and impressive, the
commander in chief Of Americas
forces in France might have been
thinking of the day twenty-sev
months ago when he slipped secretly
out of the harbor on his way to
France to prepare the way for the
hosts that were to follow.
Then he was only a major general
He came back today with four stars
on his shoulders. the fourth man In
American history to be given the
rank of full general.
Gen. Pershing stepped ashore at
$40 o'clock Waiting for him at the
end of the gang plank was Secretary
Baker with hands outstretched. Be.
hind Mr.. Baker were Senator Warren
Of Wyoming Gen. Pershings father.
in-law, and Mrs. Warren, with VIM.
G.. McAdoo. former secretary OF the
| treasury Back of this little group
were Gen Peyton c. March, chief OF
staff, score OF generals and the
mayors committee OF welcome.
After the first greetings We're over
Gen. Pershing made this statement
to the Associated Press.
"There isn't anything of cOnse.
quence to say in circumstances like
these II is nevertheless. overpOW-
erng. To say that | am not glad to
be home is supertuous. ! accept this
in the name of the brave fellows who
came over and served to the best OF
their ability, making our success pos
sible'
The welcome given him would have
quickened the pulse Of the hero OF a
Roman triumph. Fresh from the cap
tas of allied Europe. where honOrs
had been heaped upon him, it re-
mained for New York to show the
! first American to lead an army across
the Atlantic that Home, sweet home"
has a meaning deeper than Hail to
! the chief No foreign throats could
! - 81 al 40 rtS .,nulA
pulse the greeting that was Gen. Per-
shing's here today.
| Dawn barely had broken when the
| Leviathau loomed through the mists
| Of Ambrose channel lightship. Steam
| ing slowly through the narrow pas
| sage way the great steamship was
| greeted by a convoy Of six destroyers
while seaplaues circled overhead.
/ The forts which guard the harbor
| doomed a generals salute as the ship
which once was the pride of Ger
many crept past quarantine and nosed
through the narrows into the harbOr
under the shadow of the Statue Of
Liberty. While the guns still echoed
/ the whistles of merchant vessels from
the seven seas. sturdy tugs gaily dec
grated ferry boats excursion craft OF
every kind and the sirens of factories
on shore joined in a disCordant salu.
tatiOn.
The shores of Staten Island, Brook
lyn, New Jersey and Manhattan were
lined with thousands whose shouts OF
greeting came family across the wa
ters of the bay to the familiar figure
on the bridge They made up the
vanguard Of the vast army Of well
ccmcrs who had already packed Bat
tery park and overfowed into the
streets beyond waiting patiently un-
til Gen Pershing had been greeted
by Vice President Marshall and the
: secretary OF war and was ready to
cross the river 10 the great city that
, was eager to pay him tribute.
= The great liner came to her pier at
: s O'Clock and as she vas being warp
:. ed into her berth thcre was tremen.
| dous volley of cheering from the
crowd assembled there. Gen. Per-
Shing smiling in appreciation. WIN
head barred, bowed repeatedly in re-
snnnse. Once ne forgot his dignity
In his enthusiasm a. returning home
and waved his cap as he sauted the
n happy ,hrong,
, At the pier We're many dignltaries
, of nation. state and city, and 1t was
a there he was welcomed on behalf OF
a the nation.
h The first divisions band OF lVQ
(Contiuued on Page 81 n