The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-08

The welcome given him would have
quickened the pulse of the hero of Ro-
man triumph. Fresh from the capitals OF
allied Europe, where honors had been
heaped upon him, it remained for New
York to show the first American to lead
nm army across the Atlantic that Home
Sweet Home" has a meaning deeper than
Hail to the Chief
No foreign throats could voice the
cheers, no alien hearts could pulse the
greeting that was Pershings here to-
day. There was hint of tears in the
welcome, for those who gave it knew
that not even the plaudits of a grateful
people could Danish from the great sol
dier's mind the memory of his own life's
tragedy.
Dawn barely had broken when the
leviathan loomed through the mists off
Ambrose channel Eghtship, Steaming
slowly through the narrow passageway,
the great ship was greeted by a convoy
of six destroyers, while seaplanes circled
overhead
The forts which guard the harbor
doomed a generals salute, as the ship
that was once the pride of Germany
crept past quarantine and nosed through
the narrows into the harbor under the
shadow of Liberty's statue. While the
guns still echoed, the whistles Of mer-
chant vessels from the sever seas, saucy
tugs, ungainly ferryboats, excursion
craft Of every kind, and the sirens Of fac
tories on shore joined in discordant
salutation.
The shores of Staten Island, Brooklyn,
New Jersey and Manhattan were lined
with thousands whose shouts of greeting
came family across the waters of the
bay to the familiar figure on the bridge.
They made up the vanguard of the vast
army Of weleomers which already had
packed Battery park and oyerflowed into
the streets beyond, waiting patiently
until Pershing had been greeted by Vice
President Marshall and the secretary of
war and was ready to cross the river to
the great city which was eager to pay
him tribute.
The great liner came up to her pier at
s o'clock and as she was being warped
into her berth there was tremendous
volley of cheering from the crowd gath
cred there. General Pershing, smiling in
appreciation, with head barred, bowed re-
peatedly in response. 0nce'he forgot his
dignity in his enthusiasm at returning
home, and waved his cap as he saluted
the happy throng. AT the pier were many
dignitaries Of nation, state and city, and
it was there he was welcomed on behalf
of the nation.
The lst division band Of 100 pieces
on board the ship, the members Of which
had served throughout all the fighting in
which the veteran unit had been en-
gagged, began playing in response to the
welcoming strains from the pier and
Hail, Hail, the Gangs All Here" and
other airs mingled with the cheers. For
three blocks or more back from the river
the jubilation could be heard.
The Leyiathan docked at s:43.
General Pershing stepped ashore at
9:20 o'clock. Waiting for him at the
gangplank was Secretary Baker with
hands outstretched. Behind Mr.. Baker
were Senator Warren of Wyoming Cen
eral Pershing's father-in-law, and Mrs.
NhiltllB WIN w imam VI altEAuUO, lOT-
mer secretary of the treasury.
Back of this little group were General
Peyton c. March, chief of staff, score
of generals and members of the mayors
committee of welcome. After the first
greetings were over, General Pershing
made this statement to the Associated
Press:
'There is not anything of consequence
to say in circumstances like these. 1t is
overwhelming overpowering TO say that
I'm glad to be home is superhuous. /
say it in the name of the brave fellows
who came over and served to the best of
their ability, making our success possi
BILE"
Secretary Baker then welcomed the
commander of the expeditionary
forces in behalf of the United States.