New-York tribune., 1919-09-11
Fifth Aue. for Us, -
SoyPersh Oavn

They had paraded through the Place
de IA Concorde in Paris, Oxford Street
in London and the thoroughfares of
little villages on the Rhine. But, by
goly.' exclaimed one of them as yes
terdays parade reached Washington.
Square. Fifth Avenue beats 'em ALL
They were "Pershing's Own" other
wise known as the Composite Regiment,
which was organized out Of the pick of
the talest, broadest-shouldored. widest
chested soldiers from the whole Amer
ican Expeditionary Force. AS they
swung down the avenue, at the head Of
me parade. their 3.212 stalwart frames
and bronzed faces formed a background
betting the figure Of General Perish
irg, who preceded them on horseback.
They were the Generals official escort.
The record Of the war was written in
their faces and in their precise bear
ing.
Wound Chevrons Thick
Everywhere, from rooftops, Office
windows, reviewing stands and side
walks, the geometric mannuvring, the
Ngld s-to-thefront appearance of
rese men, who formed a unit apart
rom the lst Division, evoked un-
stinted applause. 1t did not take a
nllltary critic to discern from the sea-
aed attitude of these marchers that
g.. Of them had seen the thickest of
The fighting in France. If further scru-
tiny had been necessary it would have
nown that many Of them wore more
nan one wound chevron.
The regiment, which is composed of
;lOl prvates and 1O1 officers, and is
commanded by Colonel Conrad S. Bah
mck, was created by General Pershing
Europe to give Europeans an idea Of
WAT America can do in the way of g
rack military unit. Paraded before
tie President of France in Paris on
July last, and later before the Prince
O. Wales and the British military
authorities in London, the regiment re-
csyed universal praise. But, accord
ing to the men, it was not until yes
lsfday's march that they realized fully
'ae thrlll of unbounded applause.
rev Of those who looked on knew
o' the drilling and preparation the
regiment had undergone for it's Fifth
avenue debut. The spectators noted
mat the men carried their heads erect,
.neir oayonets always at an unvary-
lhgy rigid slant, that they stepped in
uniSon-to be exact, 1870 PAGES to the
mihute-and that their uniforms, from
me toes Of their polished shoes to the
..Ops OF their vanished helmets, were
immaculate
c but 1t was known only to those at
.alhp mills, where the regiment is
MAlallered, pending its departure for
"ashihgton, that it took exactly 500
pY9hds OF charcoal to press the blouses
sp s5u coats and crease the trousers O.,
lershng's Own" The charcoal was
S SAen aboard the transport at Bresr,
ns'touted to the companies and used
~ IN heating flatrons on the way
livery pair of trousers was given a
mease s.t with an edge that would do
gsult to razor blade. Each man
.5 .S0 was furnished can of shoe pol
~s wa, ana the rough old army footgear
vss s gwen such a rubbing as it never
rusx ,ni.ended to have. Then there were
-anV'ies of shellac. which was
Ssusnea over steel helmets TO give
,m sick russet hue Neatness of
nss;vs'ahce is as essential in the com
sSste sSsI regiments code &C discipline as
.'euehce .Sr to an order and a lost but
bnn.ss Is as much of a breach as a lost
A'.'ie Woman Wrecks Discipline
sva, Is not supposed that discipline is
the W., W De forgotten by members of
yss, eglment. But it was forgotten
nSs1iuay nsS before the eyes of ten thou
mink company was halted near Thirty
sH'oa sSor.SS Street t little woman in black
and deu ner way from the sidewalk
ner III dehnance of half a dozen police
wedcaai iq The regimcntal commanders,
sbcbe0 her way in between the ranks
Ton p Here stlfily standing at atten-
,,er, Nlght up to the tallest and most
vail. SSoldier in the line the woman
l lin t'1a Iad and threw her arms around
/ NV "IsocSing his helmet aside.
tgee;H 10Y. she said, and kissed him.
liar ~ental 81 .tl discipline went to smash so
1sOmssSs that boy was concerned. The
/ '''' was his mother.