Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-08
General Pershlng Home;
Is Given Noisy Welcome
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was there he vas welcomed in behalf
of the nation.
1 pieces on board the ship, the MEM
bers of which had served throughout
all the fighting In which the veteran
unit was engaged, began playing in
response to the welcoming strains
from the pier and Hail. Hail, the
Gangs All Here" and other airs.
mingled with the cheers. For three
blocks or more the jubilation could
be heard. The Leviathan locked at
8:4S.
General Pershing stepped ashore
at 900 o'clock, waiting for him at
the end of the gangplank was Secre-
tary Baker. Senator Warren of wy
oming. General Pershing's father-in-
law and Mrs. Warren, and William
, were General Marsh, chief Of staff;
score Of generals and members of the
mayors committee of welcome.
General Pershing made this state
ment to the American Press:
There isn't anything Of conse-
quence to say in circumstances Ike
these. 1t Is overwhelming; overpow-
ering. To say that I'm glad to be
home Is superf1uous. I accept this in
the name of the brave fellows who
came owe and served to he best OF
their ability making our success pos
stble.".
After the informal greetings were
over Secretary Baker welcomed n
commander of the e~xpedftionary
forces in behalf of the United States.
After expressing his own gratitude
for the services of General Pershing.
he read a letter of President Wilson
telling of his regret in not being able
to join In the reception and paying
tribute to the returned soldier as com
mander In chief or the army and
navy.
In welcoming General Pershing,
Secretary Baker said:
About two and a half years ago
by the Presidents direction 1 had
the honor of designating o to lead
the armies of the United States in
France. Today you return with VIC
tory written on the tanners of the
greatest army the nation has ever had
and with the priceless foundation OF
liberty and freedom saved for us and
for the world as the result of our par
ticipation in the world war.
Il bid You welcome, gratefully on
behalf of the country you have served
and on behalf of the people whose
sons you have led. The confidence
with which we sent you away you
have faithfully kept. Wherever there
Is O soldier or a friend of a soldier,
there is a lover of liberty. Wherever
there is~hearts which reJoices at the
deliverance of mankind from the
hour of peril you and your great army
are remembered and loved. You re-
urn not only to American soil, but
to the heart of tht country.
THE President has directed me to
read to you this message:
".'My Dear General Pershing:
a. I@11cNl chat nannnf
greet you in person. 1t would give
me the greatest pleasure to grasp
your hand and say to you what Is In
my heart and In the hearts OF all
true Americans as we hail your return
to the homeland you have served so
CALAMITY, Notwithstanding my phys
zeal absence, may I not, as your COM
mander in chief, and as spokesman of
our fellow countrymen. bid you an
effectionate and enthusiastic well
come-a welcome warmed with the
ardor of genuine affection and admf-
ration. You have served the country
with fine devotion, and admirable ef-
ficiency, in a war memorable as the
worlds triumphant protest against
Injustice and as a v~indication of lib
erty-a liberty of peoples and of ma
tons.
" We are proud Of you and of he
men you commanded. No finer army
ever set their strength and uncon.
querable spirit against the FORCES OF
wrong. Their glory Is the glory OF the
nation and it is with a thrill of pro-
found pride thai we greet you as
their leader and commander. You
have Just come from across the sea
and from the care of the men or ma
ton who made the achievement OF
our arms on land possible and VINO SO
CALAMITY assisted to clear the seas OF
their lurking peril. Our hearts go
out to them. too.
I" 1T is delightful to see you home
again, we'll and fit for the fatigue you
must endure before we are done with
our welcome. 1 will not speak now
of our associations on the other side
of the sea. 1t will De delightful on
many occasions to speak their praise.
I can speak now only of our per-
sonal joy that o are at home again.
and that we have the opportunity to
make you feel the warmth of our ar
fectionate welcome"
AS General Pershing was escorted
to the upper deck of the pier a guard
of honor from the First DIVISION
stood at present arms" while a large
detail of officers saluted. Along the
whole length of the pier there were
a double line of soldiers and welfare
workers who had seen service In
France AS the commander ap-
proached there was a fanfare Of
trumpets.
secretary Baker, who acted as
of ceremonies, escorted Gener-
al Pershing to a platform where ne
welcomed him in behalf of the ma
ton. Al the close of his address Mr..
Baker handed to General Pershing
his permanent commission as a full
general in the Americas army. The
commander bowed his acknowledge
ment and then leaning over the plat
form handed the scroll to his son.
q rren to display all a small boys
delight in the proceedings.
Gazing proudly upon the soldiers