Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-20
Hoover, Petain and Pershing
See Pageant-125,0 900
Persons Present.
MANY MINOR MISHAPS
BEFALL SPECTATORS
Senator Swanson Collapses-Seven
Faint in Stands-200
Others Hurt.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

by JOSEPH ,. EDGEh1ON1
sta1 Correspondent OF The Star.
YORKTOWN, Va, october 20
With pageantry and military pomp and
splendcr on a scale seldom, If ever, be-
fore seen in a State which has known
more battles and campaigns than any
other in the Union, Yorktown in length
ening shadows of an October after
noon yesterday completed the celebra-
ton of the 150th anniversary OF the
surrender Of the army Of CORVALLIS
and the realization of American indie
pendence.
With President Hoover. Gen. John
j. Pershing, Marshal Henri Petaln OF
France and leaders in all walks OF
American life in the reviewing stand.
$500 American soldiers staged with the
most painstaking attention to histori-
cal detail the scene of the surrender OF
CORVALLIS to George washington and
the leader of his French allies, Gen.
Count de Rochambeau.
Students Stage Pageant.
The scene was one of rare dig
nifty and impressiveness and was fol-
lowed by a pageant staged by l,200
schools of the Virginia Peninsula, trac-
ing with symbolism and allegory the
development of the Nation which was
born on the battlefield Of Yorktown
$50 years ago yesterday To cap the
climax of day filled with glamour and
color, the President, Gen. Pershing
and Marshal Petain reviewed a parade
of approximately 10000 troops repre-
senting the Army, Navy, Coast Guard,
the French Navy. the American Legion,
National Guard and Centennial Legion
in the most bewildering array of uni
forms imaginable.
Events of the afternoon were Wit
messed by throng which, before the re-
view was concluded, reached an officially
estimated total of between 100, 900 and
$4,000.
The only untoward events to mar the
day were the results of illness fainting
and traffic accidents. Senator Claude
Swanson of Virginia. chairman of the
official luncheon by the commission to
President Hoover at which he was pre-
siding, collapsed and was taken to Old
Point Comfort, 25 miles away, in charge
Of Lieut.. Comdr. George c. Calver.
physician TO the Senate and House, and
was pronounced out of danger. His
collapse was due to overworking on
preparations for the celebration and the
strain Of presiding at its many func-
tons.
Many Suffer Minor Hurts.
Seven spectators tainted or became
i'll In the stands and were cared for by
the Army Medical Corps. 1t is esti-
mated that nearly 200 persons were in
jured by twisting their ankles, splinters.
falls and minor traffic accidents. Two
policemen were hurt in traffic accidents
and one New York National Guardsman
was taken to hospital for an emer-
gency appendicitis operation.
During and after the close Of the
roads leading from Yorktown. which
tied up the traffic arteries until far
into the night. The enormous difficulty
of clearing away the thousands and
thousands of cars made apparent the
wisdom Of the decision of the Presi-
dent to come here by water.
The pageant Of the surrender of
CORVALLIS began early in the afternoon.
after Senator Hiram Bingham. acting
for Senator Swanson. had introduced
Gen. Pershing and Marshal Petain.
Washington Arrives.
It began with the arrival on the sur
render ground of Gen. Washington and
the officers of his staff who reviewed
the French troops and sailors under
Rochambeau as they paraded by and
formed in battalions and regiments
along the surrender lane. flags and PEN
mons waving: the various detachments
recognizable in the colorful uniforms of
the day. As the end of the French COL
umn passed the shrilling of flies and
throbbing of battle flags of the various
State forces appeared in the column,
and the uniform ranged from the buff
and blue of the Continentals to the
coonskins Of the Rangers. The Ameri-
can forces were drawn up facing the
French Army, the two forming a long
lane.
AS they were marshaled in order
music was heard from the British earth
works. and there appeared the head OF
the British column, marching behind a
band which played THE World Turned
at the head of his forces, acting as
deputy for CORVALLIS, who did not APP
pear. In accordance with the facts OF
history, O'Hara. bearing the sword OF
CORVALLIS. offered it to Rochambeau,
mistaking him for Washington, and
then, embarrassed, retrieved his mis-
take. and ran hurriedly across to Wash
ington, who summoned from his staft
Gen. Lincoln to receive the sword. Lin
coin took 1t. returned it to O'Hara and,
led the British column through the lane
VI rTcIlCQ ana AIIleIl CdII OlOOpS, WAlCAC
the British and Hessian troopers laid
down their arms and marched on as
prisoners of war.
End Of Long Struggle.
It was the ending of the seven years
of struggle and the birth of new ma
ton, and Americas modern troops and
officers proved themselves thoroughly
adept in catching the 1mpresSiveness
of so solemn an occasion.
AS the troops marched on the f1eld
there was reproduced on the held
stage the dinner rendered by Washing
ton and Rochambeau to CORVALLIS and
leading officers at Yorktown after the
surrender. This wound up with the
toast by Rochambeau to The United
States of America"
There then began an impressive
pageant depicting the growth Of Amer
lea following Yorktown. The figures
of America, Britannia and France ap-
peared alone on raised pedestals on the
stage. America babe farewell to Eng
land her mother country, and to
France, her ally, and stood there alone
majestically, face toward the future,
free to pursue her destiny" as an indie
pendent nation.
Pioneers Branch Out
From around the stage beneath her
feet there went out in an expanding cir-
Gle the pioneers who developed the new
.n&i1u. sect fhA aYnen tn clear the