New-York tribune., 1919-04-08
Officers and Men of Metro.
politan Division Think
They've Been "Snubbed''
by the War Department
Ask Real Home Welcome
March Up Beflagged Fifth
Avenue Fitting End to Big
Adventure, They Believe
By Wilbur Forrest
NeW York Tribune
S,,,-joJ C,If c.,


Special Cable Scrrics
Copyright. 1919 New York Tribune Inc)
COBLENz, April 7-Though obvi
ously army discipline prevents the Of
ficers and men of the nth Division
from voicing much open discomfort at
the War Departments reluctancy to
encourage divisional parade in New
York City, it can be stated unoficially
that the division. as whole, feels that
the departments attitude is no less
than snub.
The division has looked forward
since the armistice, first, to going home
and, second, to paradng before the
home folks, as the final chapter of its
record, before the division becomes a
memory. Although the plan for any
prospective parade would be left en-
tlrely in the hands of the friends at
home and their appointed committees
it is safe to say that every man in the
nth Division has envisagcd that long
swing up befagged and gltterng Fifth
Avenue rs the appropriate climax TO
months Of hard work
Their Joy fs Dampcned
Now that the time approaches to
lehve behind the monotonous routine
life in the colorless French villages in
which they are bilctcd, the Joy Of
homc-going is somewhat tempered by
the wet blnnkeU attitude in WASH.
Ington.
There is no use denying thnt marked
rivhlry always was manifest between
New York's two divisons-thc National
Guardsmen and the National Army.
American newspapers circulate freely
in the LIE Mans district, and the men
of the 77th read with interest the glo-
rious reception rendered General
Organs division. That New Workers
would prove equally receptive to pa
rade Of New York City's own division
is Il foregonc conclusion herA,
With regard to the deparur IT'S sug-
gestion that only certain units should
be permitted to parade the delicate
question is brought up who shall pa
rade? No division commander desires
to designate what units shall be so
honored. No matter what decision was
made, it would create the same feeling
between the units of the nth that the
War Departments apparent "snub'
has created between New York's two
divisions.
AS Unit or Not at All
While am unable. under the Ameri-
lean military censorship applying to
European correspondents, to quote any
divisional commanders, | may set it
down as fact that the metropolitan
division is unanimous in the feeling
that it should parade as complete
unit or not at all.
The heavy losses in the ranks of the
metropolitan division have caused re-
placements by troops from various
states, who now perhaps are more en-
thusiastic about going straight home
than parading. But the born New
Workers, who are still predominant in
the ranks. have their feelings in the
matter, and very sharp ones they are
too. Their decision is for parade
This only touches the comment which
may be heard in various villages in
the lie Mans area at this writing, and
more especially in the lie Mans rcstau-
rants and cafes, where the officers and
men of the metropolitan division often
exc what pleasure they can out of life
during the weary vigil in France. There