Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-13

Washington Receives
Conmander-in-Chief
WeInnnsd by virs President, Soc.
szsssr, Gsn. MARCH and Designation
Of Msn Distinguishes in Public
and Prixate Life

Washington, Sept. 12-Gsneral
Perzhing arrived IN the National Cap
Ital at a.sD P. NJ. tpdRy ID notify the
government, fnrmally and IN persnn
that his task Rs -chief
at the American Expsditinnary Forces
IN Europe had been succesEfuIly cnn-
Guided. EA was welcomed by Vice
President Marshall. speaking for
President Wilson, Secretary Baker,
General March. and a delegation OF
men distinguished N public nr pri-
vate life.
When General Pershing stepped
from his special train he was crested
by Secretary Baker ana General
March. WIN escorted him I'd the pres
,ienr's waIrinE-rnDm. where vice
President Marshall welcomed him.
SAYING:
You are not only welcome 70 the
Capital CRY of your own republic. but
you are welcome back ~ the land
uf your nativity Your commander
in-chief bids me IN his bel1nit and
n behRlf of the American paDpie u
greet you.
1t in q glad duty % be made
quA1ely performed, fur human ex-
precision has not yet found t.1e way
70 Voice IN language the deeper and
inner sentiments az nur natures. Per-
haps You can gain some slight CON-
ceptinn Of the real joy with which
we hail yuur home coming when
tell YOU that you OCCUPY the most
unique position ever guaranteed ID d
man N arms in ali me worlds his
1urv.
Cnnumbered and unrsmembered
cOnuuerurs have returned from
foreign lands bearing, chained To
their chariot wheels. the wrirniug
human evidence Of conquest and su-
premacy over alien peDpie. To YOU
II has been vsnchsafed 70 lead the
greatest expedftinnHry force of al
time through psrils of SER periis II
Land. ana perils of air. 10 the ul-
innate accomplishment NJ your cuun-
rry's purpose and your hearts desire.
Ton cume rather in Weakness ana
humility Of spirit, SAYING 10 the great
American that as the Nazarlne died
70 make men Holy. Sc their SONS have
died ID make men free.
You. their surviving commander.
come back ID us with no evidence Of
loot and conquest, but with the TT
umphs of the soul anu spirit of uher-
~ and law, To assure us that the
cause IN which they have died was
a sacred cause, that the motives
wfsich moved them did mt pRsE
away with their expiring breath; and
the pride ann glory Of this nuw sue
cessfully terminated contest is the
pride and glory Of a republic whose
sons were willing 10 die for the COM
mon good Of our common humanity
In the name Of my cnunrrymen
and my President. salute you Hail
tine patriot. farewell 10 the conquer
or, ana. ve1 again. haiT"
General Psrsfing answered IN a
-raice that halted with emotion:
Il thank You for TINS welcome.
winch fills me with great emotion.
the President has shown has been a
strength and has given me courage
10 do IN a better way all that my
country would have me do"
Al The conclusion Of General Per-
shIng's reply, he entered an aufe-
mobile with Vice President Marshall
and started for his hotel
In the great cUncpurse Of the union
station. for Just such occasions. were
grouped thousands who waited long
for the American commander ID ap-
uear Along the platform from his
train rpws of gIri war workers in
Fed. White or Blue robes. lined his
path and as he moved toward the re-
f.efriun --,oYn a great shout aImust