The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-22
Crowd of 1000, 900 Due to
Watch Gallant Display
of Gold, Scarlet.

By United Press
DETROIT, Sept. 22.-The Amer
lean Legion turned from the routine
affairs of business today for the
gorgeous spectacle of the big pa
rade.
Peace times greatest civilian
army was assembled and ready to
march for hours past the reviewing
stands filled with high public Off
Gals and heads of the legion.
More than $50 bands and drum
corps were to be included in the
gigantic review.
Stands for spectators will seat
10000, but police officials estimated
that more than one million people
probably would view the parade.
The contest for band and drum
corps honors has led as much along
the lines of sartorial perfection as
musical.
Envy of Napoleon
Uniforms that would have been
the envy of Napoleon and the early
century kings, bedecked the mem
bers.
Many of the crack bands and
drum corps carry Wallets and three
and four sets of uniforms to insure
perfect appearance. Glistening,
bright, chromium plated trench
helmets, brass helmets, scarlet
blouses, white blouses, gold braid,
bright blue hats, red hats, hats
styled from the Alpine ChasSeurs,
hats of French overseas type, hats
of the doughboy oversee style-all
mingled to present Kaleidoscope
whirl of color and pageantry.
No Barking Officers
The bugles' blare, rolling, thun-
dering drums; stirring, swinging
marching songs; straight lines of
marching soldier men; gay lines of
happy legionnaires enjoying pa
rades without barking officers; grim
and strict reviewing stands, awhirl
with the maddening, Intoxicating
gaiety of Mardi Gras, yet, bris-
Ting with the crisp military for
nations of bands and marching
units that dot the way.
All downtown Detroit was filled
with the mingled sounds of scores
of bands and drum corps that
marched and countermarched to
drill and practice en- route to the
formation center.
An hour before the parade was
due to pass the reviewing stands at
city hall, all individual movement
practically came to a halt Men,
women and children were wedged
tightly in compact mass all along
the line of march. A hot sun shone
down, making the crowd uncom-
Portable, but no one left.
Press Too Great
Those in the front lines, how
ever, could have left, had they
wished, so great was the press. Of
flee building windows, church steps
and housetops were utilized.
Mounted police and motorcycle
patrols battled with the crowds to
keep them behind the lines. All We
hicular traffic was stopped. Police
said the crowd probably was the
! greatest in the city'S history.
The local population was aug
mented by thousands from out of
the city. Railroad and bus lines
reported packed trains and buses
coming into Detroit all morning.
Tho pr-Ox1rrJfY1r fO,. Mo
along the parade route started
early. Many bought cushions and
blankets and seated themselves on
the curbings.
Police Hold Back Throng
| One elderly gentleman tugged
rocking chair into place, lighted his
pipe and prepared to view the five
hour parade in comfort. Many per-
sons brought lunches and thermoS
bottles.
Finally the head of che column
swung past the city hall, with po-
lice fighting to hold back the cheer
ing spectators.
A platoon of mounted police led
the way, with a company of regu-
lar army troops following. Legion
heads, riding, followed, with Nation
al Commander Ralph T. ONeil
stopping at the reviewing stand,
while o. l.. Bodenhamer, grand
marshal, continued north to a sec
ond stand.
AS the LegionnaireS and their aux
iliaries swung along, twenty seven
planes from Selfridge field swept
overhead, circling back and forth
along the five-mile route.