The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-19
Don't Hold Them Back" +"
General Tells Police, of
CroWd-"I'm Not ISo-
lating Myself"
CROWD CHEERS TO ECHO
Busy Day for Commander in
Chief American Expedition
ary Forces-Luncheon at
Patten-Speech at
Tabernacle
Tabernacle

mander- in chief of the American ex.
pedltionary forces and leader of the
american troops to victory, to Chat
tanooga.
AS the general came out with the
mayors committee and entered the
waiting automobile, policemen hello
back the crowd that pressed to see
Gen. Pershing. Immediately the vic.
torious leader cried: Don't keep
them back; I'm not isoIating myself
on this trip. Let them come up and
SnakC nands with me-" The crowd
let out re" unding vel; for Per-
shIng, and pressed forward to shake
him by the hand.
Among the first to greet the gen
eral, after the mayors committee had
given him the official greeting of the
city OF Chattanooga and its various
civic interests, was a former soldier
of the First division. That's the
best division in France in every
thtng," the general heartily declared.
When an old, gray-haired veteran
of the Civil war shook Gen. Per-
shing's hand, the latter seemed deeply
touched. Il have always said that
you who fought in the Civil war,
whether you Wore the blue or wore
tne gray, were the bravest and most
pau iollC men OF all.
This is not the generals first visit
TO Chattanooga; he was here during
the Spanish American war, in 1898,
at Chickamauga, and told a News
reporter that he remembered keenly
the condition of the camp at that
time. II certainly am glad to be here
again; 1t is a wonderful city," he
added.
Emerges With Smile,
The model American soldier stepped
from his private car at the Terminal
station this morning with his char
acteristic smile on his face. But that
look of determination that has made
him today the worlds greatest gen.
eral was there. The four bright,
shining stars on each of his shoul-
ders represented the goal he has
reached during his military life. All
during the day there will be floating
from the automobile that is to take
the commander-in- chief from place
to place a red flag with four white
stars on a crimson field, correspond
ing with those on the distinguished
visitors shoulder.
Stresses Educational Need.
Gen. Pershing, in his talk at the
luncheon at the Hotel Patten, stressed
the necessity of education to counter
act the red propaganda which is be-
ing spread about the nation. He said
that the percentage of illiteracy
which had been disclosed by the SOL
diers in the war was a disgrace to
atne American nation and should GER
'tainly be corrected.
The general paid a high tribute to
the fighting prowess of the Tennes-
see troops, declaring that with their
home training, traditions and history
nothing else could have been eX-
pected from them save that they
would accomplish any task put up to
them.
The American Legion appeared to
the general as one of the factors
which would operate materially to re-
duce class hatred and disorder in the
United States He laid this upon the
gr md that the experiences, trials
and victories which rich and poor
alike had undergone side by side in
the army of the United States could
not but help give each an under
standing of the others point Of view
and desire to work out a plan fair
to all.
America or any other nation will
soon fall in decay" declared the gen.
eraI, IF left in the hands of an ig- |
norant class of people, He said this |
by way of emphasizing the necessity !
for education.
The general urged that each COM |
munity take the responsibility of or |
ganization instead of depending too |
much on outside aid. He illustrated |
the il portanCe of organization by |
pointing out what il meant to the |
American army and the other armies |
of the allied forces during the recent |
war.
Gen. John Joseph Pershing, the |
big chief" is of military stature, |
str7ight as an arrow, and when he |
walks he does so with a rapidity that |
challenges any one to keep up with .
him.
The general and his party arrived |
IN Chattanooga a few minutes after
midnight Wednesday, and the two
cars carrying them were sidetracked
at the Terminal station. Promptly /
at $3.50 o'clock the general greeted !,
members of the general entertain
ment committee and walked with
them to the special cars waiting in
front of the station.
In the crowd that waited TO shake
"the chiefs" hand were many ex-
service men. Some told him the last
time they saw him was in mud about
knee deep and others named some
special review at which they first
saw the commandcr-i n-chicf
Gen. Pershing didn't say merely.
I'm pleased to meet you," but when
he saw any signs that led him TO be-
lieve the young man with whom he
was shaking hands was formerly in
the service he asked him what regi-
meut he was with overseas. and
showed a personal interest in each
and every one of them.
One pretty young girl went for
ward and inquired. May / shake
your hand >"
why. certainly" he said. I'm al
ways glad to shake hands with the
good looking girls"
The general won all hearts in the
crowd that waited outside the station
to view him, when be requested the
officials to do away with formalities and
let al come mp and shake his hand.
"Hurr0h for Cen FershinE." they
cried That's the kind of man be- u.s."
said someone tlse. 1T led everyone 20
IT, conclusion that Cen IcrshiuE.
while he is a hero that every American
looks up 90. al the same time is merely
human and just John Joseph FershirE.
II was with q broad inquisitve smile
that ". L. Roush, a local telegraph