The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
PLANS ALL READY
FOR 77TH'S PARADE
Free Preliminary Entertain
ments Nightly in Madison
Square Garden.
DINNER FOR OFFICERS
Men Grateful for "Sun''
Smokes, Says Major Cur
ran, Just Back.

30 confident II this Mayors Committee
on Welcoms to Homecoming Troops that
the parade Of the Seventy seventh Divi-
sion will be held that II practically has
completed its plans for the welcome, the
parade and the entertainment Of the
members OF the division.
After conference between Grover
Whalen. secretary to the committed. and
also to the Mayor. Lieut. Col Douglas
Campbell Of the division. "a representa-
tive of the War Department" and Rod
man Wanamaker, chairman Of the com
mittee, plans were announced az fol-
lows:
AS the troops arrive they will be ssnt
to the nearby camps for the necessary
medical examination and the usual
clean up process. The parade will be
held within forty eight hours after the
arrival of the last unit of the division.
Entertainnlents in Garden.
The preliminary entertainments, at
which the city will act as host will be
held in the Madison Square Garden be-
fore the parade the committee an
nounced, and the only necessary admis-
sion will be the soldiers uniform and
shoulder insignia. Each man Is invited
to bring his mother, wife. sister or sweet
heart For two evenings. possibly three,
there will be vaudeville shows and con-
certs, and light refreshments will be
served. Athletic events and dancing will
follow the theatrical programme.
officers OF the division will be the
guests OF the city at a dinner the night
before the parade. Representatives OF
the Federal. State and city governments
will be invited.
The various units OF the division.
whether they come In single convoy or
separately. will be welcomed In the har-
Dor by the relatives of the returning SOL
diers. These will be taken in a fotilla
Of the city's boats down tho bay and will
come UP to the landing piers with the
soldiers. The auxiliary associations also
will be represented in the welcome.
In speaking of the programme out
lined. Mr.. Whalen said:
I'VE have no doubt that the pro-
gramme for the reception and official
review - the metropolitan division will
be carried out on the largest possible
scale. Our understanding is that the
three big camps within the metropolitan
district, which are capable OF accommo-
dating about 10000 men, will be
emptied sufficiently so that there will be
no congestion when the Seventy-seventh
Division disembarks here. The Mayors
Committee has its arrangements SO made
that the review ana parade can take
place within forty-eight hours after the
division arrives.
New York. OF course, Is proud Of its
own and intends to do its share not
only In the welcome to It's soldiers but
IN meeting the national Governments
expectation that our people here will
subscribe $4,000. 00O. 900 to the forthcom-
ing Victory Loan. Nothing should be
done that will lessen by one jot the
patriotism and support that we are anx-
ious to have opportunity to display"
Nightly Illumination.
By request the illumination of Fifth
avenue. including the Arch Of Jewels at
Fifty-nintf street, will be continued
every evening from now until Memorial
Day, Borough President Bowling. chair
man of the Committee on illumination.
said yesterday.
While these plans are being made the
members OF the division are making the
best of the delay. Major Henry H. Cur
ran, 302d Ammunition Train. of the d.
vision said. Major Curran resigned as
Alderman from the Twenty sixth Alder
manic District to enter the war He
arrived here Monday and was last with
the division March 2s.
THE men are in fine shape" he said
to a number of newspaper men at ad-
vance headquarters in Hotel Biltmore
yesterday. "But they are all anxious to
ret home and get back to work. How
ever. they take tho waiting philosoph-
acally and are filling IN their time with
athletic games.' especially baseball and
football. They have lots OF entertain
ments too II 10 wonderful what the
Red Gross II doing for them. Candy and
smokes are provided. Where's THE
auH's reportsrr' ne suddenly asked. He
was Indicated By other reporters.
"I want 10 tell you It's great work
your paper II doing In sending smokes
to tho soldiers. They appreciate them.
TIL tell you. The boys have a warm spot
in their hearts for THE Sun. and they'll
always remember the smokes that you
sent over.
Getting back to the boys health
they are remarkably well. There is less
sickness among them than there was at
Camp Upton. And they want to parade.
evory man Jack OF them"
Some one asked AIator Curran II the
mon would be given new outfits. as were
some OF the other commands recently
mustered out. He said that he didn't
know. The Government usually has
given tho discharged soldier complete
new OUTFIT from shoes to hat and off,
GERS approached said that they could
see no reason why II should change this
course with the Seventy-seventh d.
vision men.