Phoenix tribune., 1919-04-12

OH MdTcn 14tn, 1oZ members OIL the
fighting Buffalo Division returned from
overseas, to be discharged at the
Preside. The men were met at Oak
land pier by about 500 friends and
relatives, who let out one rousing
cheer when the train run into the
station and there was never such ar
affectionate greeting on the pier as
was extended to the boys by their
mothers, fathers and sweethearts and
wives The Mayor of Oakland, ]. i.
Davie, was very conspicuous in ex
tending greetings to the boys After
detraining the boys were fed at the
Red Cross canteen, where the Red
Cross ladies did eevrything possible
to make the boys happy. After.
wards Mayor Davie spoke very feel.
ingly of the bravery of the boys and
how glad he was to be able to extend
them greeting home, as he had bid
them God speed when they departed
1t. j. l.. Kimbrough of Los Angeles
spoke at length of what the boys
had accomplished in France, the hard
ships they underwent and how happy
they were to get home and how he
hoped due appreciation would be
shown them when mustered back into
civil life. Erol Marshall, Rev. Brown
and Mrs. Tilghman, president of the
State Federation of Colored Women's
clubs, made a short and touching ad-
dress.
The boys then took the boat for
San Francisco. where the great vel
come awaited them. The siren on top
of the Ferry Building blew loud and
long as the boat was landing and they
were met in front of the building by
the municipal band, which played pa
triotic airs. Mayor James Rolph, Jr.,
escorted them to the north end of the
building to the Red Cross canteen,
where he gave a welcome address.
touching upon their wonderful record
on the battlefelds of France Mayor
Rolph was attended by several other
city officials. The Mayor not being
satisfied with the greetings thus ex-
tended to the boys hastily called a
comittee together, of which your hum
BILE servant was a member, and ar
ranged more fitting public welcome
home for the boys.
The committee, about twenty in
number, met in the mayors office on
the 18th, presided over by the genial
Edward Rainey, the Mayors secretary,
Mrs. Prentice Cobb Hale, the head of
the Red Cross Canteen service in San
Francisco, Mrs. James Rolph, the
mayors wife and several other white
ladies were present, as well as MI
Ralph Pincus, the theatrical manager,
and other white men.
AS the men of the Buffalo division
were to be discharged the 22nd, it
was necessary to get busy and get
busy fast to arrange fitting program,
which had to be brought off on the
goth at the great Civic Auditorium.
There were 4S more men in the di-
vision arrived on the 10Th in charge
of Lieuts. A. p. Alberga and Journee
White. The entire 4S men were dec
Grated by the French with the Croix
de Guerre, in recognition of the SER
vices before Metz Journee White
alone was of the men who fought for
twenty-one days without relief.
The program at the Civic Auditor
ium was started by the Mayor, and
his wife escorting Litu. Alberga, who
by the way, is native San Francis
can, into the hall and onto the plat
form, followed by the other members
of the committee and speakers. The
mayor gave the address of welcome
in very feeling and touching man.
ner, giving great commendation to the
gallantry and courage of the men un-
der fire. Lieut.. Alberga spoke of the
trip of the men to France, when re-
turning the stand of colors to the
mayor. of how they had defended it
and never allowed it to touch the
ground and had kept it unsullied and
unstained by single defeat when in
action. He also touched lightly but
effectively upon the hardship the men
were likely to find when seeking a
job and hoped the mayor would use
his utmost influence to see that the
men did receive square deal The
noticeable feature about it was that
the mayor did not touch upon it when
he answered the lieutenant. How