The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-08
HERO IS GREETED
BEHALF NATION
Pershing Deeply Touched by
Sight of Thousands of
Cheering People.
TRUE AMERICAN HOT TIME
Enthusiasm Expressed in Sa-
lutes of Guns and Crash
of Brass Bands.
10y FRANK CHARLTON, !. N. s.
Staff Correspondent

Staff correspondent.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 8.-Gen.
John j. Pershing, commander of
Americas 100000 victorious
crusaders, hero of the world
war, responsible head of the
army that turned the tide of bat
tie at Verdun and St. Mihiel,
came home today in triumph,
after more than two years in
France.
In behalf of a grateful nation,
New York, in holiday dress,
welcomed him with joyous pride
and unrestrained emotion, Civ
ing vent to its enthusiasm by all
the time-honored means that
men have to exalt a chosen per-
sonage and pay just tribute to
distinguished service.
Gen. Pershing stood in simple
human wonderment as his coun-
trymen proclaimed his valor, OBJ
viously deeply touched by the
sight of these hundreds of thou
sands of waving hands and the
discordant sound of laundering
peace guns, shrieking sirens and
madly-cheering people, a true
American "hot time" in con-
trast with the magnificent post
war demonstrations that the
commander of the American ex-
peditionary forces had figured
in when Paris and London cele-
brated victory.
Turns Sober at Times.
A deep red flush on his weather
beaten cheeks bespoke his good
health and blue eyes spanked in his
happiness. He gave himself into the
hands of his legion Of friends in good
humor, and, while every outward evil
dence of the demonstration around
him was significant of reciprocal de-
light nevertheless Gen. PerShing at
times turned sober, drew his military
shoulders to rigid lines and responded
with true sense of the tragedy un-
derlying this gaiety when some tear
stained mother or father pressed for
ward and grasped his hand. A three
days celebrationwhich will come to
an end with a monster parade and
review of the First division began
at dawn this morning when feet OF
boats bearing distinguished person
ages and a flotilla of airplanes went
down the bay to give the first greet
ing to the Homecoming hero.
A police reserve hydroaeroplane
flew over the Leviathan-the trans
port which brought the general back
to his home land-just at daybreak
and dropped a message from Mayor
Hylan extending a formal invitation
to New York City.
The weather was warm. foggy and
humid, but the sun was making
sturdy effort to push through the
clouds. There was sea breeze down
the bay that stiffened the flags on
the ships in the harbor, but in the
city the banners and bunting dropped
from the STATS in limp folds.
Welcome varlously Expressed.
"WeIcome home, Gen. Pershre," was
the electric current that pulsed
through the whole city, II spoke IN
the roaring salutes from the guns down
the bay, In the crash OF brass band
music on harbor craft while the Levla-
than was steaming slowly by the Statue
Of Liberty, and In the cheers and STAG
cato toots Of sirens while the giant
transport was warplng into her pier
~ q
7I2 O'Clock, steaming very slowly
through the thick misty weather. She
slowed down, waiting for the tide, but
was soon under way again. The hrst
welcoming committee TO come up WIN
the Pershing ship was that represent
ing the United States army. 1t was
closely followed by the municipal
steamer Correction bearing Mayor Hy-
land and committee, the committee OF
prominent citizens representing Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary of War
Bakers party There was a tumultous
scene when the Leviathan passed the
Statue of Liberty at twenty minutes TO
eight. The flotilla OF boats that was
escorting the big troop ship then cut
loose with their whistles and sirens in
earnest. causing a deafening din over
the upper bay. Battery Park despite
the earliness of the hour, was CROWDED,
and thousands Of persons employed IN
office buildings overlooking the harbor
and North river got to work ahead OF
time to watch the incoming transport
from the windows.
Happy to Be Home"
At ten minutes of eight the Leviathan
swept by Battery park, turning north
ward into North river on the final leg
OF her long and historic journey from
Brest. ST.
Gen. Pershing, standing on the deck.
proudly erect at the noble picture be-
fore his eyes. showed visible emotion.
II am happy to be home" said he
simply to friends standing at his side
as he looked again at the towering
skyline gaunt and majestic in the gray
mist of the morning, and added:
ut is a glad moment" In the mean
time the whistles on shore had taken
up the serenade. The watercraft bells
were tolled. Those who had equipped
themselves with horns and noise mak-
ing devices Joined in the chorus Cheer
ing rolled along the waterfront. And
as background, deep and booming
and rumbling was the great siren which
had been set up during the war to
warn the city of any attempted German
air raid.
Had All Glory for the Moment.
While New York was the stage for