The Washington times., 1921-11-02

human spectacle Derore me,
pair of strong arms sent me sail
ing down the aisle, where i
landed in a waiting chair as a
lusty cheer ended with that old
familiar "O-H-I-O."
is Aces There.
/ was happy to be among my
own and there / stuck. But
when the greatest parade of its
kind, in the history of America,
assembled yesterday afternoon,
sentiment was superseded by
duty and / was proud to walk
at the head of a delegation of
fighting aviators, many Of whom
had battled with me over there.
We didn't start out so strong
numerically, but as we marched,
our numbers Increased until at
the end there were some fifteen
American aces, and a total of
more than three hundred avia-
tors in the ranks. This loyalty
and devotion of the. fighting air
men is the happiest incident Of
the week to me.
When General PeEshing was pre-
- sented to the convention the zero
hour had been reached for the
doughboy and his ginger.
General PershinE has always
been a favorite with the men, but
when he prefaced his set speech
with this classic sqntence, To-day
/ am an ordinary bpddy of the rear
rank" that bunch from every cor
ner of the United States stood up
and howled with joy.
Before the cheering subsided the
cardboard sign of the Missouri
delegation was carried high and
swiftly to the speakers platform.
One native son, a red-faced
corporal, wanted to be Shown"
and the general welcomed the
symbolic incident with a reassur-
ing smile. That vrns the signal for
a general moven1ent toward the
platform. Lincoln, Nebr., claims
to be General Pershing's home
post, and Immediately the banner
of the Cornhuskers was lifted to
the speakers stand. Texas, where
his punitive expedition endeared
him along the border, followed
with its banner, and then came
Pennsylvania.
With four delegations claiming
his allegiance, The general was up
against it, but did nobly.
In welcoming Marshal Foch and
other guests he tactfully added
that as a product of Laclede, where
he had spent his boyhood days, he
took added pleasure in welcom-
ing the marshal to Missouri" The
four State banners still stood be-
side him on the platform, but it
seemed Missouri had gained a
point.
Cheering Is Thunderous.
1t was now time for Marshal
Foch. AS he advanced to the
edge of the platform it seemed
the building would collapse with
the cheering; it must have been
heard in his native country.
Badges and banners, swagger
sticks and pennants went flying
through the air as the Marshal
stood motionless and awed at
the demonstration he had in
spired.
Marshal Foch was very quickly
the only spectator left as all
others present were swept into
the increasing tumult. From the
left Of the hall doughboy
started for the platform bearing
aloft the sign Of France. No
sooner had he planted it at the
MarshaFs left side than General
Pershing, imbued with the spirit
of the hour, lifted the sign of
Missouri and placed it squarely
at the MarshaPs elbow. He had
not forgotten little old Laclede
and like any other American
boy he stood by his native State
in a pinch. A smile of satisfac-
tion and relief covered his face
and the convention greeted his
patriotic prank with another
outbrlrst as Marshal Foch was
finally permitted to proceed-