The Washington times., 1919-09-13

General Pershing won the hearts
of the Washington crowds which met
him yesterday at the Union Station
by his "doughboy smile" He didn't
. 'ook the part of a conQuering hero.
come back to receive the plaudits OF
a nation. Rather, he resembled one
OF his own soldiers, downright happy.
and mighty glad to get home.
A typical Washington crowd well
coined General Pershing TO the Cap
itan yesterday. It wasn't a wildly
cheering crowd. There was nothing
tremendous" about the welcome it
gave the Commander-in Chief. II was
a big crowd, a throng which nearly
filled the concourse in Union Station,
and Overhowed into the streets out
side. There were hundreds in the
plaza and along North Capitol street
while on the north side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue a crowd lined the curb
stone from the Peace Monument to
Fifteenth street, and from Fifteenth
street to the Shoreham Hotel. There
was plenty of enthusiasm, plenty Of
expectation, but little cheering.
Washington doesn't express it's feel
ings in cheers.
ThrOngs Gather Early.
arrival of the train yesterday. the
throngs which later filled the Union
Station had begun to gather.
Inside the station, the eastern END
OF the concourse was roped off and
800 young women from the War De-
partment and nearly as many little
children from the Fairgrounds, all
of them carrying flowers and the
children bearing flags representing
the States of the Union, were formed
into a long aisle from the gate to
the Presidential reception room.
Not long after Secretary of war
Baker, followed by the Vice Presi-
dent, a few Senators, and Genera.
March arrived in the reception room.
the blast of whistles on locomotives
in the terminal yards gave the sig
nal of General Pershing's arrival in
the city. General March and a few
officers met him at the train. anG
accompanied him up the stairway
into the concoUrse.
rs the commander-in-chief entered
the gateway and began his walk
through the aisle of pretty girls. a
band stationed near the entrance q
he concourse broke into a MARTA
air, near the crowds began cheering.
and General Pershing. his hand heI,
rigidly to his cap in the salute, pas
ed down an avenue of flowers.
He was pelted with blossoms, am
when he reached the children. tn,
general stopped, stopped, and pickle,
a little one up in his arms. and kiss
ed her. while the crowd really brok'
in:o it's one thunderous applause
That was Washington's first s!Sa
Of the General.
CerretaFy Of War RaEar and IN.
Vice President shook hands viii
the general, and Mr.. Marshall mad
a short speech of welcome on behai
If the President. Through the speech
he general stood rigidly at attention
."oking Mr.. Marshall squarely in IN
eye.
Appreciates Conscience.
The commander -in-chief spok'
rather slowly. and chose his word.
carefully in his reply TO the Vic
Presidents welcome. His vOic.
seemed TO tremble slightly as
spoke OF the confidence the President.
tho Congress, and the nation had dis
played I'm him from beginning TO last
and which, he said, had permitted hin
10 carry out his task and accomplish
his work as he thought it should b,
done.
when he finished his short speech
the crowd began cheering again
while the reception committee anC
members of Congress crowded around
General PershiRg to shake his hand
Congressman Champ Clark was thcr,
at the head OF a delegation from Mis-,
souri, One of the members kept urg
ing the Congressman TO get up there
and let US shake his hand" Finally.