Evening star., 1933-07-20
Congratulated by Roosevelt
After Stirring Music An
nounCes Arrival.
10000 AT BOILING FIELD
HAIL ITALIAN FLYERS
Noise of Throng browns Out
Speeches-Police Called to
Clear Path.

astic receptions which has been given
a foreign hero in the National Capital,
Gen. Italo Balbo and a group of 10 Of
the senior officers who accompanied
him on his flight to the United States,
received the official welcome Of the
Nation at the White House early this
afternoon.
Balbo and his officers after a flight
from New York and a tumultouS well
come at Boiling Field, were driven
through cheering crowds to the May
flower Hotel, where they changed into
fresh, white uniforms with broad blue
sashes, for their reception at the White
House.
The bearded Italian leader and the
group of senior officers upon whom
nave rested responsibility for the most
ambitious and highly successful massed
airplane flight in aviation history, were
cheered by crowd of several thousand
spectators as they were driven into
the White House grounds.
As they entered the White House the
f1ourishes and ruffles prescribed as the
salute for an officer of Balbo's rank
were sounded by service band, fol-
lowed by stirring march as the 1tal-
ians marched in to be received and con-
graduated by the President, whose
luncheon guests they were.
Balbo and his officers we're received
by four cabinet officers and the heads of
the military and aviation services. CIVIC
and business leaders and nearly 10000
residents of the Capital in bOisterous
welcome at Boiling Field.
An enthusiastic crowd, largely COM
posed of Italian-American residents of
the Capital, at times got out of hand
and policemen and soldiers were called
upon by main strength to clear a way
for the visiting flyers.
Few Hear Speeches.
Owing to the enthusiasm Of the
crowd, the formality of the welcome at
the flying field vas partially disrup.ed
A half dozen welcoming speeches were
made, but few in the crowd heard d
word of them. They had come to see
Balbo and his men. and not TO near
speeches, and they cheered and clapped
their hands throughout most of the 30
minute period Of Balbos stay at the
field
Distinguished guests, visiting flyers,
photographers, broadcasters and others
of the official party became badly en-
tangled in the pushing throng
Balbo and his pilots made the flight
from New York to Washington in a
fleet of Army. Navy and Marine trans
port planes, which flew over the city
in formation and then landed in quick
succession at Boiling Field, beginning
at 1925 am, five minutes ahead OF
schedule
Given l9-Gun Salute.
Baibo and Gen Aldo Pellegrini, his
second in command, flew the first ship
and remained in their seats until all
the planes had landed, and the Italian
pilots had gathered in a group on the
field
Balbo then stepped out into a solid
circle of photographers and reporters,
and stood at salute while 10 guns were
discharged in his honor. He was
greeted by Col. Barton K. Yount. COM
mandant of Boiling Field. The two
shook hands repeatedly for the benefit
of the photographers, Balbo grinning
cheerfullv at each request for a pose.
white uniformed pilots, left the line of
parked transport planes and headed for
the official receiving stand. on which
the Nations leaders waited to greet
him, the scarlet-uniformed Armv Band
played four flourishes and four ruffles
as tribute to Balbo's rank as cabinet
officer and then swung into the italian
national anthem. As Balbo and his
men snapped to salute, hundreds of arms
throughout the tense crowd were raised
in the Fascist salute. and there were
cries of Viva Italia" and viva
Balbo!"
Greets Harold Gatty.
Balbo and Pellegrini, accompanied by
the Italian Ambassador, Augusta Rosso,
and his air attache Lieut.. Col. Paolo
Sbernadori. were escorted to the re-
viewing stand while the rest of the
pilots were taken to roped enclosure
alongside where they were taken in
charge by an equal number of Army
and Navy aviators in service and white
duck uniforms.
Balbo was introduced to more than
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