The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-08
THRONC MEETS
GEN. PERSHING
ON TR|UMPHAL
RETURN HOME
American Commander in
Chief Lands in New York
Today After Long Service
in France.
RECEIVED BY BAKER
(By Associated Press)

NEW YORK, Sept. S-Pershing Is
home again! Standing on the bridge
of the huge Leviathan. itself symbolic
Of victory over Germany, the COM
mander of the greatest host ever
gathered under the Stars and Stripes
came slowly up the bay today, world
famed and hailed as conquering hero
should be-
Sad of face, stern and impassive, a
splendid figure of a soldier, he might
have been thinking. as the familiar
landmarks Of New York came into
view, 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 were to follow.
Then he was only a major general
He came back todav with four go
on his shoulders-the fourth man
since Washington to wear JueIn ILL.,.
the American flag. The welcome
given him would have quickened the
pulse of the hero of Roman tri-
umph.
leviathan Docks Early
Dawn barely had broken when the
Leviathan loomed through the mists
off Ambrose channel lightship. Steam
ing slowly through the narrow pas
sage way, the great steamship was
greeted by convoy of six destroyers
while seaplanes circled overhead
The forts which guard the harbor
doomed generals salute as the ship
which once was the pride of Germany
crept past quarantine and nosed
through the Narrows into the harbor
under the shadow of the Statue of
Liberty. While the guns still echoed,
the whistles OF chant vessels from
tories on shore joined in a discordant
salutation
The shores of Staten Island, Brook
| lyn, New Jersey and Manhattan were
lined with thousands. They made up
the vanguard of the vast army of well
corners which already had packed Bat
terry park and overflowed into the
streets beyond.
The great liner came up to her pier
at o'clock and as she was being
warped into her berth there was a
tremendous volley of cheering from
the crowd assembled there. General
Pershing, smiling in appreciation.
with head barred, bowed repeatedly in
response. Once he forgot his dignity
in his enthusiasm at returning home
and waved his cap as he saluted the
happy throng.
Digntares at Pier.
AT the pier were many dignitaies
Of nation, state and city, and 1t was
there he was welcomed on behalf of
the nation.
| The first divisions band of 100
pieces on board the ship, the members
or which had served throughout all
the fighting in which the veteran unit
had been engaged, began playing in
response to the welcoming strains
from the pier and Hail, Hail, the
Gagn's All Here" and other airs
mingled with the cheers.
The Leviathan docked at S43.
General Pershing stepped ashore at
9:20 o'clock. Waiting for him at the
end of the gangplank was Secretary
Baker, with hands outstretched. Be-
/ hind Mr.. Baker were Senator Warren,
OF Wyoming, General Pershings
| father-in-law, and Mrs. Warren, with
| William G. McAdoo, former secretary
of the treasury. Back of this little
group were General Peyton c. March,
chief of staff, score of generals and
members of the mayors committee of
welcome.
After the first greetings were over,
General Pershing made the following
statement to The Associated Press:
There isn't anything of conse-
quence to say in circumstances like
these. 1t is overwhelming, overpower-
ing. To say that l am glad to be
home is superfluous. / accept this in
the name Of the brave fellows who
came over and served to the best OF
their ability. making our success
possible"
Baker Praises Deeds
In welcoming General Pershing. Sec
retary Baker said in part:
About two and a half years ago,
by the presidents direction, | had the
honor of designating you to lead the
armies of the United States in France.
Today you return, your mission &C
complished, with victory written on
} the banners of the greatest army the
nation has ever had and with the
priceless foundations of liberty and
freedom saved for us and for the
world as the result of our participation
in the world war
The task entrusted to you required
: all the imagination, all the energy.
and all the genius Of great comma nd
er. From the first you had the com
plete confidence of the president and
the secretary of war. This confidence
remained mistaken TO the end.
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 sacredly kept. Wherever there
is a soldier or a friend of soldier
) there is a lover of liberty; wherever
there is a heart which rejoices at the
, deliverance of mankind from its hour
q of peril you and your great army are
= remembered and loved. You return
= not only to American soil but to the
! heart of the country.
Q Message From Wilson.
. The president has directed me tc
read to you this message:
CONTINUED on page 13)