Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-09
Pershing Never Too Busy to
Stop and Shake Hands Of
Young Americans Who Cheer
Him on Tour of City.
FORT OMAHA INSPECTION
is STRICTLY MILITARY
General Favors Military
Training Only as an Eco
nomic Measure, He Explains
At Banquet at Omaha Club.

Gen. John J. Pershing brought his
visit in Omaha to close last night
at the Omaha club, where he told a
representative company of business
men that he does not want to be un-
derstood as urging compulsory mill
tary training, but he recommends
this training from an economic
standpoint, for the nation in the
larger sense and for the individual
in making him more appreciative OF
his responsibilities as citizen.
After informal chats with some of
the guests at banquet which was
given by members of the club in his
honor, the general and his staff were
escorted to special train on which
he departed at 1890 for Leaven-
worth. Kan, where he will spend
today, proceeding to Kansas City
for a visit Saturday.
The ranking officer Of the United
States army, who led the Yanks to
victory overseas, was given a GENT
inc western welcome here yester-
day, added interest being expressed
because the general considers Ne
braska as his adopted state. He
was pleased with his visit and those
who met him and heard him speak
sounded the praises Of the country's
first soldier.
Carries Out Program.
Miss Mae Pershing and Mrs. D,
Il 7 ,cta 1f
general, and Warren. his 12-year old
son, returned to their home at 7:45
D.. m. with Mrs. S. r. McKelvie,
after enjoying the day, with the gen
eral part of the time and with a
committee Of women for few
hours.
After greeting Pilot Walter J.
Smith at the -Sar-Ben field on
the occasion of the receipt of the
first aerial mail in Omaha. the gen
eral continued his busy round Of
engagements scheduled and not
scheduled for the afternoon. He did
not negative any proposition sug
gested by the local committee. He
went from the Army and Navy club
to Hotel kontenelle to speak briefly
to gathering of women's club dele
gates and then went to the rooms
Of Gould Dietz in the hotel to meet
and greet the board Of directors Of
the Knights of Ak-Sar- The
general intends to be member of
Ak Sar-Ben this year.
While attending reception at the
home of J. H. Millard the general
Welded to the clamorings of crowd
of boys and girls who gathered at
the front door. He asked the kid
dies inside and shook every little
hand with real delight His love
for children and their love for him
was manifested frequently during
the day, in Omaha and in Council
Bluffs.
Appropriate Decorations.
The banquet room of the Omaha
club was appropriately decorated for
the occasion On a wall behind the
speakers table had been hung a
signal corps standard and all Ameri-
can flag carried overseas by the
40Sth telegraph battalion, an organi-
zation which had been recruited
from the employees of the Nebraska
Telephone company. These flags
are permanent decorations of the
local telephone offices.
One of the articles on the menu
served at the club was 10 pounds OF
sweetbreads which had been re-
ceived yesterday by the first aerial
mail from Chicago. The generals
table was decorated by large favor,
depicting events in his life. This or
nament was constructed by Oscar
Kuenne and P. Tognetti and was
made entirely of sugar. Nearly 200
attended the banquet.
Makes Brief Speech.
F. H. Gaines introduced the guest
of honor as Gen. John ]. Pershing
of Nebraska, of the United States
and of the world" adding: "We
have with US the man who won the
CONTINUED on Page Five, Column one.)