Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-13
Line Led by Mayor

Mayor Ellis and the Camden safety
committee led the line in automobiles.
Following them were the city and
county officials, the visiting mayors and
the camden reception committee.
Colonel Williams marched at the head
Of his men.
Business was suspended everywhere
in Camden while the parade was on.
The big factories closed and their en-
ployes in their work clothes, thronged
TO the street to crowd the line of
march. Trolley and automobile traffic
was suspended; shops were closed
Camden declared a holiday while the
troops were being welcomed. All Cam
den belonged to the boys back from
the front.
The soldiers of the 114th and of the
i Fifty third pioneers marched as they
would have marched into battle. wearing
their "tin hats" and with their bayo-
nets fixed. They wore cartridge belts
and canteens. Their officers had their
automatics strapped to their hips. Ex-
cept that they left their heavy equip
ment under guard in the train. they
marched in the parade as they marched
into their battles in the Argonne.
Whole City Turned Out Early
camden was ready early for the
parade. For hours the people gathered
in little groups along the route, which
led from the Pennsylvania terminal at
Federal street to the Third Regiment
armory, at Haddon avenue and Micklc
street, waiting eagerly for the whistle
blasts that would announce the arrival
of the first troop train
The station, too, had its little groups
of waiting relatives, and tho big Ferry
Square was soon ringed with eager spec =
tators.
ut was 20 when the first whistle
blast, caught up by every factory in
town, every locomotive in the railroad
yards and every ferryboat and tug
on the Camden Side of the river, gave
notice that the first troop train was
arriving. 1t proved to be the train
carrying the pioneer regiment. The
men were leaning from the windows,
waving caps and handkcrchicfs, when
the train steamed in.
For q few moments it was uncertain
whether Captain Killan's contingent
was to parade with the 114th. Then
came word that orders had been flashed
from Washington that they were to
march, With the first whistle blasts
the crowds began to assemble in earn
est. A few managed to gain admission
to the trainshed. and the soldiers were
warmly greeted by these first arrivals.
An hour later the whistles once more
shrieked in chorus and an even longer
train, bearing Colonel Williams and the
first contingent of the 114th, pulled into
lthe station. The men of the Fifty
third were ordered back on their ,train
while the 114th's contingent, which was
to have right of way in the parade.
lined up on the platform, and with their
band leading swung out to the square.
The Fifty third followed the first
group of the 114th to the square, and
the soldiers lined up at ease in company
formation.
They had not long to wait for the
whistles that for the third time an
nounced that troop train was coming.
It brought the last of the soldiers from
the 114th. There were 502 enlisted men
and nine officers in the Fifty third Pio-
neers, 474 men and twenty four Of
ficers in the first section of the 114th
and 500 men and seventeen officers i'll
the second
While the troops were waiting in
the Ferry Square for the order to
march, Camden got its first real look at
its soldiers. The men were drawn up
in compact body, ringed round by
dense crowd. Hundreds climbed to the
roof of the long shed along the trolley
tracks on one side of the square, and
from the point of vantage waved flags
and shouted greetings to the soldiers.
Reunions Were Numerous
Down in the square mounted men
and patrolmen from the Camden force
kept order, but in a good natured fash
ion that was in harmony with the spirit
of the day. A good many people got
through the lines and passed down the
ranks of troops, looking for loved ones.
There were many reunions. Women
who unexpectedly met son or brother,
.,weetheart or husband were not
ashamed to clasp and kiss them in
front of officers and men.
At the last moment. when the bands
struck up and the men came to atten-
tion in readiness for the order which
threw them into column and started
the parade, the thousands of people in
the square reluctantly moved back to let
the soldiers through.
~ From the moment the head of the
parade passed under the arch with its
motto. "Heroes All-Welcome Home
lit was real triumph. The streets
were decorated overhead with flags !;
flags were waved in the hands of thou
sands who crowded the sidewalks and
out over the curbs into the street.
Girls had fillets of red, white and blue
ribbon tied round their foreheads.
As the men marched greetings were
shouted to them from the crowd, as
spectators recognized Jim or Bill in
spite of tan and tin hat. Even few
spectators here and there broke through
the lines and for glad moment marched
step for step beside some grinning lad
recognized in the ranks
Red Keystones, with the red stripe
upder them that marks the demobilized
soldier, were seen frequently in the well
coming crowds. Boys who will march
in Philadelphia's parade, Thursday,
were in Camden today to greet their
Jersey friends just back from the war.
The Fifty third Pioneer Regiment,
which, like the 114th, served through
some OF the bitterest moments of tde
war, building bridges and clearing roads
for ambulances and guns. fought side
l. Al -