Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-23
NEW ORLEANS READY
TO WElCOME LEGION
Crescent cky Wnl Entertain
$50, 1000 During Convention.
October IS TO 20.
ny Associated Prsss to Every Evening.

ny Associated Pres 70 Every Evening.
New Orleans, La. Aug. 23.-'Ths
Crescent City" 10 preparing 70 enter
tain tho largest Gathering IN its history
whom l5O, ,00O members OF the American
Legion and other visitors como to the
legioo's national CONVENTION here, 90
tobcr 1870
With the tentative acceptance Of The
convention invitation by president
Harding and General Pershing, and the
definite acceptance Of Major General
John A. Leieunc, commandant Of the
United States Marine Corps, Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor, and Kcnesaw
Maountain IAndia, commissioner Of
baseball, the Legion meeting will assume
national importance. Convention officials
also expect to entertain famous mar
shA Of France and other World War
notAblcs. Prominent among the dis
tinguishcd guests will be twenty-five
wearers Of the Congressional medal of
honor, the highest award for bravery
made by the United States.
In preparation for the visit of the
Thousands Of former service men, the
convention committee has prepared nm
elaborate program Of entertainment.
Convention sessions will be held only
in the mornings, enabling delegates and
visitors to participate in the festivities
the remainder OF the day.
The first American Legion national
Olympic meet will he held at the conven
ton. Legion athletes from every state
will compete for national championships
in track and field events, aquatic sports
amateur boxing and wrestling, golf anc
tennis. There also will bc . nationa
Workmanship contest and a tournament
of professional boxers. A decision bout
between Bob Martin, who won tn,
heavyweight championship at the tour.
nament staged by A. T.. +. fighters after
the armsticc, and Captain Roper
heavyweight champion Of the service
men who remained in America, will bt
one of the leading features of the boxing
card. The Legion bantanweight cham
pionship will be settled when Johnny
Buff and Pal Moore meet in the conven-
don ring.
Ranking with the athletic meet viii b
q naval show in the port OF New Orlean,
and on Lake Ponchartrain. Dread
naughts, cruisers, submarines and sub
chxsers from all the great naval power.
. are to he on exhibition. Legion nationa
officers are now making arrangements
for ships to come from England, France
Italy and "A number Of South American
countries In addition there will be d
ilotilla of yachts and small pleasure
crafts on Lake Ponchartrain.
The United States navy will send q
number Of scaplanes from Pensacola
Fla. On ono Of the convention night,
theee planes will fly over the business
district dropping flares and lights IL
imitation of the bombing raids made b,
the Germans over the American trenches
and billets.
Memories Of days in France will b
revived by q number OF New Orleans so
cicties, which Will combine in tn,
presentation Of French carnival night
stores will be labeled with French sign
and the picturesque gArb of Brittany
Normandy and other French provinces
will be mingled with the khaki, blue ant
green Of the veterans, downtown street.
viii be illuminated by $4,000 clectri,
bulbs and win be decorated with flag
OF allied powers. State seals and Legiol
banners and emblems. Doughboy il
search of former comrades vii. meet i
impromptu reunions under divisions
insignia flags 10 he hung over tn
streets.
Fifty thousand marchers and on
hundred bands Arc expected TO partic
pate in the convention parade. Th
tceionnaires will march by States in th
order Of membership increase dunn
the last year.