Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-08
ARMY'S HEAD
PAID TRIBUTE
AT new YORK
Memorable Scenes Take
Place as Nation Greets
Commander.

| New York, Sept. 8. - General
John J. Pershing is home again.
Standing on the bridge Of the
huge Leviathan, itself symbolic of
victory over Germany. the com
mander OF the greatest force ever
| gathered under the stars and
| stripes came slowly up the bay to-
day. world-famed and hailed as a
conquering hero should be.
Sad faced, stern and impressive,
the commander-in-chi OF Ameri-
cas- forces in France during the
war might have been thinking OF
the day q months ago when he
slipped secretly out OF the harbor
on his way to France to prepare
the way for the hosts that we're 10
follow.
Wears Four Stars.
Then he was only a major gem
| eral. He came back today with
! four stars on his shoulders-the
fourth man in American history
TO be given the rank Of full gen
| eral.
The welcome given him would
| have quickened the pulse OF the
hero OF a Roman triumph. Fresh
from the capitals of allied Europe,
where honors had been heaped
upon him. it remained for New
York to show the first American
to lead an army across the Allan
tic that Home, Sweet Home" has
a meaning deeper than Hail TO
the Chief"
This Was American.
No foreign throats could voice
the cheers, no alien hearts could
pulse the greeting that was Gen
eral Pershing's here today.
| Dawn barely had broken when
! the Leviathan loomed through the
mists off Ambrose channel light
ship. Steaming slowly through
The Narrows passageway, the great
steamship was greeted by a con-
voy of six destroyers while sea-
! planes circled overhead. The forts
which guard the harbor doomed a
generals salute as the ship which
once was the prize OF Germans
mercantile feet pushed through
the harbor and into the landing
slip under the shadow OF the statue
of liberty.
: While the guns still echoed, the
whistles of merchant vessels from
the seven seas, sturdy tugs. gaily
decorated, ferryboats, excursion
craft of every kind, and the sirens
of factories on shore Joined in a
discordant salutation.
The shores of Staten island,
Brooklyn, New Jersey and Manhat-
tan were lined with thousands
whose shots OF greeting came
family across the waters OF the
bay to the familiar figure on the
bridge. They made up the van
guard of the vast army of Weicom-
ers who had already packed Bat
terry park and overflowed into the
streets beyond waiting patiently
until General Pershing had been
greeted by Vice President Mar
shall and the secretary of war and
was ready to cross the river to the
great city that was eager TO greet
him.
Waves His Cap.
The great liner came 10 her pier
at o'clock, and as she was being
warped into her berth there was
from the crowd Assem- bled there.
General Pershing smiled in appre-
citation. and with head bowed. re-
sponded He forgo' his dignity in
his enthusiasm at returning and
waved his cap as he saluted the
happy throng.
At the pier were many dignitar-
les of nation, state and city and
it was there he was welcomed on
behalf Jf the nation.
The 1st divisions band of 100
pieces on board the ship began
playing in response to the welcom-
ing strains from the pier and Hail.
Hail. the Gangs All Here" and
other pieces mingled with the
cheers.
The Leviathan docked at SAB
a. m.
Greeted by Hylan.
The welcome OF the city began
while the Leviathan was still far
down the bay. A message from
Mayor Hylan said to General Per-
shing
"The citizens of New York
thank God for your safe return
and as the mayor Of the city l wish
to extend TO you the greetings Of a
grateful people"
General Pershing stepped ashore
at 9.2O o'clock. Waiting for him
at the end of the gangplank was
Secretary Baker with hands out
stretched. Behind Mr.. Baker were
Senator Warren Of Wyoming, Cen
eraI Pershing's father-in-iaw, and
Mrs. Warren. with William G. Nc
Adoo, former secretary Of the treas
ury. Back of this little group we're
General Peyton c. March, chief OF
staff, a score Of generals and mem
bers Of the mayors committee Of
welcome.
Thinks Of His Men.