New-York tribune., 1919-04-08
Mayor 8 Committee Has No
Part in Welcome to Fleet
Because of S'Misahes Made in Past Whole Affair
Is Placed in Hands o{ Seven War Work Organ
izations; No joint Parade of All Crews Is Likely

The Mayors Committee of Welcome
has been completely ignored TO date in
the cnlisting of agencies to receive the
men of the mightiest fleet ever moored
off the city's shores.
Although plans for housing and en-
tertaining the 10000 sailors and
n.arines OF the feet are being rapidly
perfected, officials of the Mayors
committee, when questioned yesterday,
admitted that they were waiting fer
official notice from the Navy Depart
ment before making any arrange
ments."
The parade and review are set for
one week from to-day.
Daniel Ryan, secretary to President
bowling of the Borough of Manhattan.
VINO keeps the newspaper men in
iormed on the activities of the com
m'ttee, said no word of the system of
ISSUING passes TO the men or other de-
talIs have reached the committee.
MAJOR Randolph Coyle, of the United
states Marine Corps, arrived in the
city last Thursday and outlined this
information to The seven war work
organizations, to whom the task of
welcoming the men has been intrusted.
Cause of the Situation
Major Coyle has not communicated
with the Mayors committee.
=, he miscarriage Of tho plans Of the
Mayors committee in the entertain
ment Of the members of the 9th Di.
vision is believed to have caused that
body TO be ignored
theatrical managers who made ar.
rhhHcments TO accommodate 10000
men at sixteen theatres on March
~ threw up their hands when less
than 1000 mon appeared, and thirteen
PERFORMANCES we're called off.
ne same percentage of soldier at.
tendance characterizcd the dinners
prepared on the night of the parade
at the leading hotels end restaurants
of the city.
The following statement was ISSUED
from the ONCE or the executive Officer
in charge of fleet entertainment:
plans now being matured will
proVlde entertainment for every man
IN the fleet during his shore leave.
THESE plans including everything
from places to sleep to theatres, par
ties, dinners, dances and sight
seeing trips.
Realizing that mistakes have been
made IN the past in caring for the
men who returned from overseas
service, it was decided at a meeting
OF the representatives of the seven
organizations, held in the office of
Major Randolph Coyle, U. S. NJ. c.,
that they would unite and thus pro
vide the greatest amount of ser
vice to the sailors with the least
possible loss of effort and accom-
modat tons."
In none of five statements issued b,
the Office of the Executive officer ir
Charge of Fleet Entertainments has
the name of the Mayors Committee OF
Welcome been mentioned.
Mr.. Ryan said he had received ne
information regarding a parade bv the
members of the fleet, but that the com
mittec will act quickly on the recent
or such information, as the Mayor's
Committee would be the logical orrani.
cation to undertake the ARRANGEMENTS
Tor any parade in the city.
Joint Parade Not Probable
At the Offices where the nubl;ci+,
STATS of the seven organizations are
working IN unity to advertise the fleets
reception, 1T was stated that there
probably would not be Joint naradC
! OF the crews Of the entire fleet. Maio1
Coyle announced recently that the