New-York tribune., 1919-07-19
Singing as They Trudge
in Binding Rain, Vet
Grams of Five Years.
Fighting Hold Parade
Patriarch of 20 in Line
President Tells Them Their
Work in Russia Is One
Of Worlds Greatest Feats

WASHINGTON, July 1S.--Lashed and
soaked by a driving rainstorm thou
sand Czecho-Slovak veterans of the
World War, invalided home from fight
ing in Siberia, paraded up Pennsyl-
vania Avenue late to-day and were re-
viewed by President Wilson in front
of the White House.
The President expressed the hope
that the veterans might keep in mind
as they returned to their home land
that the laws of God, the laws of man
and the laws of nature require sys-
tcmatic order and cool counsel for
their proper application and develop
ment and for the welfare and happi-
ness Of the human race.
The parade was the largest process
sion of foreign fighting troops the
most picturesque. All veterans of five
of seventy, with stopped shoulders and
venerable beard, while the youngest
were only lads.
Have Crossed the Pacific
The veterans, who came across the
Pacific on their way homeward, and who
will sail from Newport News Sunday
d,
to-day on special trains and were
quartered at Camp Meigs.
Late in the afternoon they were
taken in motor buses to the Capitol,
where the procession up Pennsylvania
Avepue to the White House started,
just as the rain began to fall. 1t
drenched the soldiers.
But when the Marine Band was not
playing the veterans were singing their
native songs as they marched along
with swinging strides, apparently un-
mindful, after five years of hardships
on the battlefelds, Of the clouds of
water that played over them.
Praises Veterans Service
With the President on the portico
as the soldiers marched by were
Charles Pergler, Czecho-S Slovak Com
missioner to the United States; Colonel
Hurdan, military attache, and several
American army officers and officials
the portico the President descended
the steps and smillngly waved his hand
to the men in each vehicle as it
passed. After the column had passed
by the reviewing officials, it turned
about and the veterans lined before
the President.
1T gives me great pleasure" said the
President, in addressing the military
representatives of the new nation, "to
have this opportunity to review this
detachment of your valiant army and
to extend to you, its officers and the
brave men associated with you, a most
cordial welcome. Though we have been
far away, we have watched your ac-
tlons and have been moved by admira-
ton OF the services you have rendered
under the most adverse circumstances.
Calamity Fought Despotism
Having been subjected to an alien
control, you were fired by a love Of
your former independence and for the
institutions Of your native land, and
gallantly aligned yourselves with
those who fought in opposition to all
despotism, and military autocracy.
cat the moment when adversity came
to the armies with which you were
fighting, and when darkness and dis
couragement cast shadow upon your
cause, you declined to be daunted by
circumstances and retained your gal
liant hope, your steadfastness in pur-
pose, your unshaken belief in high
ideals, your valor of mind, of body
and of heart have evoked the adm!ra-
tion Of the world.
in the midst of dsorganized peo-
pie and subject to influences when
worked for ruin, you silently
maintained order within your ranks,
and by your example, helped those
with whom you came in contact, to re-
establish their lives. I cannot say
too much in praise of the dcmeanor
Of your brave army in those trying
circumstances.
Army's Retreat Brilliant
"Futurc generations will haDDily
record the influence for good which
you were privileged to exercise upon
large part of the population of the
world, and will accord you the place
which you have so courageously won.
There is, perhaps, nowhere recorded a
more brilliant record than the with
drawal OF your forces in opposition to
the armies of Germany and Austria,
through a population at first hostile;
the march of your armies for thou
sands of miles across great stretches of
Siberia, all the while keeping in mind
the necessity for order and organiza-
ton.
"You are returning now to your ma
tive land, which is to-day, we all re-
joice to say, again a free and inde-
pendent country. May you Contribute
to her life that standard which you SO
conspicuously manifested through all
your trying experiences in Russia and
Siberia, and may you keep in mind
after your return, as you have kept in
mind hitherto, that the laws of God,
the laws Of man, the laws Of nature,
require systematic order and cool
counsel for their proper application
and development and for the welfare
and happiness Of the human race"