Evening star., 1924-09-12
Crowds Line Gay|y Decorat.
ed Avenue to Witness First
Test Mobilization in Ma
tionaI Capital.
1000 LOCAL GUARDSMEN
PARTICIPATE IN MARCH
Gathering of Soldiers, Sailors, Ma
rines and Civilians Unique in
Avenues History-Chief Execu-
tive Sees Event From Reviewing
Stand at Zero Milestone.

Lustcring thirty thousand soldiers
sailors and citizens dedicated to
serve their country in time of need
Washington's first Defense day pa
rade passed proudly up Pennsyl-
vania avenue today to pass in review
before the President OF the United
States, his cabinet, the general OF the
armies of the United States and high
officials of the Government.
Bands playing martial airs anc
colors waving gayly in the breeze
the long column, led by a squadron
of mounted policemen, left Peace
Monument at ? o'clock and started
on its march, which will end at the
Ellipse later this afternoon, where
Secretary Weeks and Gen. Pershing
will speak.
World Flyers Take Part.
Conspicuous among those in the
van of the parade, which it is esti-
~ated will take an hour and a half
to pass given point. were the six
world flrers, seated in automobiles
which bore signs proclaiming the
Around the World Flyers" They
drew cheers from the spectators along
the curb.
Half an hour before they joined the
parade they had given Washington its
first view of their famous trio of
planes. Rising in flight formation
from Boiling Field at 1:1S o'clock, the
flyers sailed gracefully over the Cap
itol dome at 5000 feet, passing above
the heads of thousands of the march
ers waiting below to begin their pa
,rade.
Circling the Capitol they headed
up the Avenue. Previous announce
ment had given those below an idea
of when to expect them. and the low,
steady drone of their powerful
motors was the signal for an outpour-
ing of employees from office and Gov
ernment buildings all over town
Craning their necks. they got their
first view of the planes. There were
four in the flight formation, one OF
this planes bearing an official pho
tographer from Boiling Field.
Sailing far overhead, the flyers cut
across the Mall from the White
House and passed over Arlington
Cemetery, dropping three wreaths on
the graves of those sleeping there
The ceremony was a tribute to the
Unknown Soldier, shared by all OF
the thousands who lie with him on
the slopes of wooded Arlington.
Flight Over City Signal.
From the cemetery the flyers passed
back over Washington and descend
ed to a larIG:1s at Boiling Field
Jumping from their planes they
turned them over to the mechanics
who pushed them to the hangers
the flyers themselves taking auto
mobiles which rushed them to the
nj fty,rr 20
Peace Monument
The flyers over the city seemed to be
the signal for the outpouring of great
crowd which lined the thoroughfare to
hail the marchers as they passed on the
way to the reviewing stand behind the
White House on the Ellipse. An hour
before the start of the parade a busy
squad of policemen, clearing the line of
march of automobiles parked there, was
the only sign of preparations. But with
the appearance of the flyers the depart
ments began emptying thousands of
clerks upon the streets, who lined the
curbstones.
When the head of the parade started
up Pennsylvania avenue, more than
10000 persons had congregated on both
sides OF the historic thoroughfare to
witness Washington's contribution tc
the Nations great peacetime military
deep along the entire route of the pro.
cession, the throng was considered by
the police as the most orderly it has
ever handled.
Half Women and Children.
There were no taunt ropes to keeI
the spectators within bounds, and but
very few made an effort to go beyond
the curbstoneS while the parade wa!
passing. Larger and more enthusi
astic crowds have cheered other mill
tary bodies as they passed along tn,
Avenue, but none has been more
orderly.
More than one-half of the $4,000
spectators were women and children.
The President, accompanied by Mrs
Coolidge, left the White House en-.
trance at 2:20, took their seats in g
White House automobile and were
carried to their places in the review.
ing stand directly behind the Exec.
utive. Mansion. There they joined
Gen. Pershing, Secretary Weeks and
others in the reviewing stand.
Thousands Await Orders.
Massed about the streets which lii
within the shadow Of the Capito
dome, their formation centering OF
Peace Monument, the thousands wht
were to march gathered at 1870 O'Clock
Inns aiCtTHOOH duQ awaited tue COINIUdNC
which started them of at o'clock. II
was a picturesque gathering, unique
among those who have come together
for parades &iong Pennsylvania avenue
Some wore the uniform of soldier
Or sailor, others the everyday garb O
q plain citizen. Some carried flag
and bunting, others the accoutre
ments Of the fighting man. But tn,
majority carried nothing-they sym
bolized the man in the street." com,
to offer himself to his country in tim,
of need. Now and then an unsheathet
saber or the polished steel of riff,
barrel caught and reflected a thou.
sandfold the flashes from q brigh,
sun shining in dome of blue above
At the time the parade started any
body's guess of the numerical
strength was good. But 1t was satt
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