The Washington herald., 1919-09-18
Pershing OOerwheLme,l BY Our
Reception to the First DiUisior

Wa hington's welcome to the First
Division has overwhelmed me-"
These were Gen. Pershing's words to
Maj. Raymond w. Pullman, chief Of
police. as the last lines of regulars
filed by the reviewing stand in front
OF the White House.
The whole reception has been i'm
pressive. and I am more than cheered
at the outcome Of the parade" he
added and the broad smile on the
generals bronzed face testified OF his
approval.
Maj. Hughes, aide to Gen. Porshing,
last night stated that the general was
tired, but happy"
We only showed in an exceed
in-Iy small degree our real apprc-
ciation or what the First did and
the debt of gratitude we owe it
and Gen. Pershing." said Col. Rob-
ert ". Harper. chairman OF the citi-
zens' committee. last night in COM
menting on the success OF the
parade.
Every movement Of Gen. Per-
shinE since he reached this city has
proved cOnclusively in the minds
OF everyone that the right man was
chosen for an exceptionally import
ant duty and the people of the
United States will expect other
great performances by him in the
future. for he is a man who can be
relied upon" he continued.
The staff Of the French Embassy,
from Ambassador Jusserand down,
were among the heartiest psDducers OF
cheers during the parade. Not only
Gen. Pershing and his associated lead
ers. but each unit in the procession re-
ceived louder applause from the
FrenChmen than from any other for
eiGn embassy.
The British showed their apprecia-
tion or the part played in the war by
the Americans with frequent ap
plausp The japanese. with charac-
teristic taciturnity. kept their hands
1T their sides and their faces i'm
mobile except for one short second
while Gen. Pershing was passing
them.
The Victory Arch in Pennsylvania
avenue probably will he left standing
until next Wednesday. Col. Harper,
chairman of the Citizens Reception
Committee. said last night that he
would request Commissioner Brown
low this morning to permit this, in
asmuCh as the Secretaries of State
OF all the States in the Union are
coming to Washington for a meeting
next Tuesday, and he desires to have
the arch standing when they are here.
workmen will begin tearing down
the stands along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. today. Col. Harper said he did
not know exactly how the committee
came out financially, but he thought
it would at least clear expenses.
A touch OF realism was given the
parade by the military telephone sta
tions along the line OF march. There
were six neat booths in charge of
uniformed men of the Signal Corps.
United States army, in command OF
Col. John c. Moore. The stations rem
dered actual signal service to the
authorities In charge OF the parade.
The first station was at 100 Pennsyl-
vania avenue northwest. Others were
at Ninth street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., at the Postoffice Department. at
the south end of the Treasury De-
partment building, in front of Riggs
National Bank on Fifteenth street,
and near the grand stand in front OF
the White House. Capt. John Fl.
Heckart. who was an enlisted man
at the time Of the invasion of Mex
leo, uEer Gen. Pershing, was in
chargSf the central station at Ninth
street and Pennsylvania avenue. The
total detail OF the Signal Corps cleo
trio personnel for this service yes
terday comprised seven officers and
twelve enlisted men.
Great strips of white cloth covered
the front of the G. A. r. building, 14l2
Pennsylvania avenue, decorated with
flags and red, white and blue bunt-
ing. The wide strips bore the legend
in big black letters: Welcome From
the Army and Navy Union. Presi-
dents Own Garrison, No. 104." The
windows of the tall building were
crowded with veterans of the Civil
War and others who served in the
Indian campaigns. the war with
Spain and the Philippine insurrection.
These older soldiers and sailors waved
flags and cheered the younger fighters
who were in at the winning of the
greatest war in history.
1t isn't often that Washington has
a chance to enjoy itself. Therefore,
yesterday everybody made up for lost
time and forgot the high cost of living
for a number of peppy hours.
Seldom have the streets. especially
Pennsylvania avenue, been so crowded.
and wherever there's a crowd, you
know, something happens. A reporter
who strsggied iercely against having
his eyes gouged out by the shoulders
of utter strangers, while other feet