New-York tribune., 1919-03-26

Slgnal TOT delayed rush on the part
of those in the back and the police
had moro trouble on their hands.
Just before the first OF the long line
of automobiles bearing wounded SOL
diers hove into sight Grover Whalen's S
machine made its way through the
crowd. The Mayors secretary Jumped
out and took up the task of directing
the police.
Crowd Chokes Avenue
He directed the work of the police
the necessity for order The parade
was on the way, he told them, and if
there we're not room enough for it 80
pass it would have to be stopped
That is just what happened. The
crowds had become SO confused and
the streets were so overrun that there
was not room for even pedestrian to
pass. Mounted patrolmen began what
turned out to be three-hour battle
with the mob that had swarmed into
the square. Patrolman Robert Bolson, of
SIP Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn. attached
to the Delaney Street station, was
trampled upon, had his right ankle
sprained and was removed in patrol
wagon.
According to plans the entire west
side of Broadway from Twenty-third to
Twenty-tifth Streets and the east side
of Fifth Avenue in front of the Altar
of Liberty and for fifty feet to either
side were to be kept clear of spectators.
This was to afford opportunity for the
proper staging of the ceremonies there
and to give the Allied officers grouped
on the altar a chance to witness the
parade.
No one, however, had the foresight
TO rope OFF the prescribed area, and the
result was that fully 10000 persons
broke through the police lines. Con-
sequently at IL O'Clock, when the
head of the parade should have been
past the Public Library, it was being
held up at Madison Square
Automobiles finally forced a passage.
The drivers were instructed to drive
right IN on the spectators, each sue
ceedlng machine going in a little
further. This method of making room
was the idea of a petty naval officer
who had stepped in to lend a helping
hand.
The autos past. the crowd again over
leading the line of marchers, was
made. Much effort produced an alley
wide enough for the passage of five
men abreast, and so the first of the
marchers passed under the Victory
Arch
But the people lining the sidewalks
up as far as Thiryt-sixth Street, eager
to see the front ranks first, again
began pushing. The parade moved
slowly along this section.
Troops Forced Into Squads
While the khaki-clad men were sup
posed to march up Fifth Avenue in
battalion formation, they were COM
PEELED, from time to time, in the tramp
between Madison Square and Thirty
sixth Street, to form into squads, to
get by the crowds in the street. Even
then they had hard time of it, for
IN some instances there was but five
foot lane.
Above Thirty-siXth Street the crowds
were more orderly and the police had
little difficulty in retaining a semb- /
lance "curb" line. There were one
or two outbreaks near the end of the
line of march, but these were quickly
quelled. 1t was after the last line
OF marchers had passed the individual |
groups of spectators that the crowds /
became unruly again.
The first of the vanguard Of civilian
reviewers, estimated by the police to
be 100000 strong, began to put in
an appearance at various points along
ouo INC SHoICly De1Ore O'Clock IN /
the morning.
When the police lines in Madison
Avenue finally were dispensed with,
shortly after 10 o'clock. there was a
mad scramble to Fifth Avenue. In the
rush the mob tried to work their way
INTO the grandstand adjoining the
park, but the police. aided by reserves
acting as ushers, held them.
At the uptown section the crowds
overpowered the police and swarmed
into the middle of Fifth Avenue. Dep
uty Police Commissioner Leahy and
Inspector John DAILY took six police
automobiles and, forming flying
wedge, gradually forced the throng
behind the established lines.
In the rush to get out of the path
way OF the autos women, some with
oabies in their arms, were knocked
lown. No serious injuries resulted, !