The Washington times., 1919-08-21
FIRSTDIVISION
TROOPS WILL
PARADE IND.C.
Celebration Upon Return of
Gen. PerShing to Be Greatest
In Capitals History.

When the First Division. led by
General John ]. Pershing. parades
down Pennsylvania Avenue and
passes in review before President
Wilson in front of the White House
in September, Washington will wit
ness the greatest military spectacle
seen since the days when Grants tat
tered but victorious army marched in
the grand review of 1855.
General Pershing was today offii-
cIally notified by cable from the Ad-
jutant General of the Army of the
decision of the Secretary of War to
have the First American Division
parade in Washington.
The announcement coming yester-
day from the War Department prom
ising that the First Divisions parade
here was assured, and that the pres
ence in Washington of the troops
would be coincident with that of
General Pershing, are predictions that
the nation will seek to honor its vic
tory in a grand review of troops which
typify Americas part in the world
war.
The representative troops will be
the First Division, and the man who
led them, General Pershing. The
Commander-in-Chie who is expected
to arrive in the United States about
September 10, will COM to Washing
ton Immediately and report to the |
Secretary of War that his task is
finished; he is ready for orders. And
before receiving those orders General |
Pershing will accept the thanks Of a |
nation, exemplified in honors now
planned for him by the President and
Congress.
Welcome To BE Fitting.
And those who remember the de-
parture of the First for France a lit |
tie after the declaration of war in
April, 1917, have stated that the ma
tion's welcome will be fitting and
timely. The First embarked in small
detachments for foreign soil when
every movement of troops was veiled
in the greatest and most complete |
secrecy.
The units composing the division
the Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Twenty |
sixth and Twenty-eighth infantry regi- |
ments; the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh |
artillery regiments; the First engi- !
neers and train; the Second field sig |
nal battalion, and the Third, Fourth |
and Fifth ambulance companies and |
field hospital were taken from their |
posts in the United States and rushed |
in troop trains across the continent to |
the ports Of embsrkation.
Slipped Away Quietly.
The soldiers did not know they |
were going. Their friends and fami-
lies did not know they were going, |
and while a nation prepared for a
great struggle this advance guard of
Al Iii Ill
across the ocean. Many did not know |
they were in France until months
later. Careful censorship prevented |
news of what they did reaching this /
country, and alone in a strange land |
they went about preparing the way
for their million comrades to follow.
The division first coupled the Som
merville sector, ten kilometers
southeast of Nancy 1t was quiet"
sector at first. 1t always had been
a comparatively quiet sector until the
Americans came. And then the Ger
mans for the first time learned the
makeup Of Americans, and what they
might expect from the troops to fol
low. Frequent raids and counter
raids were launched and repulsed by
the division. then getting its first taste
II trench warfare and its baptism Of
1Fc, and when the news Of the First's
stay in the sector became known
the allies, the morale of the
French and British began to rise.
Held Other Important Posts.
The division occupied successfully
the AusauvilIe sector. twenty kilome-
ters northwest OF TouI; the Cantigny
front, Ave kilometers west Of Month
didicr: participated in the scissors
operation, fifteen kilometers south
west Of SoisEons; the Saizerais sector;
the battle of st. Mihiel; the Meuse-
Argonne operation in the Cheppy Sec
tor. one kilometer west Of Varennes;
the operation against Mouzon. and the
night south and southwest of Sedan,
the heights bordering the
Meuse on the morning Of November :,
1915
The division began its movement to
Brest and other French ports Of en-
barIlation the 18th Of this month The
first arrivals are expected to dock
at Hoboken on the 27th. As ne units
arrive they will go to Camp Mills
and Camp Merritt, both near New
York. and wait for the arrival Of
the last transports. Then they will
parade in New York. and be brought
to Camp Mills, following the parade
there. for the real homecoming Ce!e-
bration in Washington. After the pa
rade here they will be stationed in
Camp Mills until transportation is
provide taking the various units TO