The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-26
Parade of Twenty-seventh
Division Wonderful
Spectacle.
llRIAN'S last REVIEW
Estimated That About Two
Million People Saw
It.

NEW YORK, March 26.-Maj-Gen.
John +. Organs Twenty.seventh Di-
vision, composed Of former New York
INSTRUMENTATION two-fisted fight
ess, who broke through the mazes Of
the "fmpregnable" Hindenburg line
last summer in one Of the most gallant
exploits OF the world war-marched
IN triumph up Gag-bedecked Fifth ave-
me yesterday to the tumultuous &C
claim OF millions Of spectators. 1t was
q soulstirring pageant, the like OF
which the metropolis, seasoned to
many brilliant professions on this
Worid-famous thoroughfare, has per-
laps never before witnessed.
Shouts Of triumph went up from
thousands of threats when Sergt. Reid
er Waller, Of the One Hundred and
( Fifth Machine Gun Battalion, wearing
4 Congressional medal Of honor and a
distinguished service cross upon his
breast, stepped to the center Of the
Farch OF freedom" at Twenty-fifth
street and Fifth avenue and, after sa-
hitting the colors of the Allies, drew
Ids trench knife and cut the "Hinden'
burg line, a heavy silken rope stretch
ed from pillar to pillar.
Sergeant Waller, alone and unaided,
saved four men from blazing tank
ana prevented the tank from falling
into the hands of the Germans at the
battle OF Belleau wood.
Cuts "HIndenburs Line"
The severing of the silken rope was
the signal for the start of the process
sion. Beneath the arch Of freedom and
along the route Of march between 20
hyIons from which fluttered the flags
OF the Allies and over captive balloons
tugged at their ropes, carloads OF
clean sand had been thrown, remind
er Of the ancient days when the Greek
and Roman yictors, returning home in
triumph from the wars, passed under
garlands of laurel over earth which
never before had been trod by the foot
Of man"
The troops marched in perfect
weather. The sky was cloudless, the
snn shone, there was scarcely any
ind and the temperature was at 90
degrees with the day becoming even
milder in the afternoon.
When the soldiers reached Fifty
ninth street they saw something which
Reminded them of days in France.
This was the camouflage which gave
the subway excavations the appear
ahce Of gardens Of flowers and young
trees.
Sufging crowds battled with the po'
lice at Madison Square and finally
broke through into the middle of the
avenue, causing the parade to be held
up temporarily. 1t was with Difficult
~ that the paraders went forward at
that point.
Break Police Gordon.
One policeman was trampled by the
crowd and sustained injuries to les
and body,
AT SeYenty-seyenth street crowds
again broke through the police lines
Women carrying babies were knock
ed down and injured and some faint
cd. An emergency hospital was SET
Up here. n
OF the thousands Of persons perched
precafiousiy on window lodges and
roots along the line Of march, two fell
and one was killed. A man fell
through q skylight to the basement Of
esix,story building and was dead when
rescuers reached him. A spectator
fell from q roof, striking man in
the crowd beneath. Neither was seri
opsly injured.
Al German goat, captured by the
New York boys during the taking Of
Mount KENNEL, evoked great amuse
me1t and applause. The animal wore
blanket on which appeared the in
sigma Of the company that made hin
prisoner and the significant name;
eYon Hindenburg."
The doughboys were in light march
ing order They wore their olive col
ored campaign helmets, or tin hats;
gas masks were slung from their shout
ders, light packs and full canteen'
were carried and bayouets were fixed
on their rifles.
Each regiment, carrying the wealth
et-stained guidons and flags that saw
service IN Flanders, marched in hal