Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-10
Review
Continued From First Page.)

the 7th Division standing at east in
the blistering heat. Some OF the
soldiers had taken off their hot steel
helmets. Others had pushed them
back and let their heads droop for
ward, like tired horses after a days
work in the field.
They had been there since before
noon, and we wondered what they
thought and felt. A review is a STIR
ring and memorable sight for the
onlooker-to the man who marches
it has a different meaning.
We milled around in the little
spaces allotted to us and talked of
other reviews. The sun beat down
numerically. The wide boards OF
the grandstand were too hot for
comfort.
Stretcher cases were wheeled onto
the field. They lay inert, their arms
and legs in braces. thick. white
bandages covering them from fin
gertip to toe.
We mopped our faces and wrung
out our handkerchiefs. We stared
off down the soldier-lined road at
every sound and then at last there
was furry.
A two-star car drove hurriedly
onto the field and we saw Maj. Gen.
Archibald v. Arnold, commanding
general OF the 7th, join his staff
and march of across the parade
ground. The band, far down to our
left, played the salute to the colors
and then all was quiet again.
Strained Silence.
We looked at our watches. 1t was
almost 3 o'clock. We stared at the
soldiers across the field. Finally q
tall, thin young man in a maroon
bathrobe stood up, far up on the
grandStand, shaded his eyes and
looked down the long driveway. He
shook his head.
A moment later two motor cycles
sputtered onto the field. Then two
more and two more until at least
a dozen had wheeled in and parked
quickly in the space reserved for
them.
Slowly and carefully, rolling over
the bumps in the road, came a black
glistening car with top down. There
wasn't a sound from the men lined
up along the driveway. There wasn't
a cheer or the clap of an applaudine
hand. Only disquieting quiet.
1t was as If this vast crowd had
entered into an agreement, into q
tacit agreement. No one was sup
posed to know who was in that black
car, and not soul among the thou
sands there revealed that he did
know. The silence was so strained il
hurt.
The car moved easily upon the
ramp and came to a gentle stop. II
was then we could see clearly. We
could see, in the back seat, clothed in
a light summer suit, wearing q
much-battered panama hat, his
tired, friendly face turned toward
the soldiers across the field, the
President of the United States.
OSh' NAdchhthuT WIFI frcSlOcnt.
The MPs shouted to us to sit
down, and no one ignores an MF
with a pistol on one hip and q
carbine slung over his shoulder. We
sat down, but not before we had
recognized the handsome man with
the finely chiseled figures who was
sitting next to the President.
We recognized the gold-braided
garrison cap; the faultlessly- tailored
uniform, the rows of beautiful rib.
bons. We recognized Gen. Douglas
Macarthur.
More cars moved onto the. flelc
and from one stepped the com.
handing general of the Pacific
Ocean area, 1t. Gen. Robert C
Richardson, jr. He walked quickly
up the ramp and took up position
on the Presidents right. A cavalry
officer, he wore riding boots of deer
mahogany polished until they shone
like mirrors.
The troops had come stifay tt
attention. The 7th Division Band
at a signal from some one near the
ramp, broke the trembling quie1
with Hail to the Chief" Stat
officers scurried to their chairs or
the platforms and just made it ir
time to stand at attention as ''Tht
Star Spangled Banner" was played
A microphone was handed to tn.
President, and in his familiar voic,
he told the sweating soldiers h.
wanted them to feel that he brought
them a personal message from ever,
member Of their families. He tolc
the 7th Division he was proud O,
them and Of their record, and tha'
he was glad to be able to be will
them here.
Tenseness Begins to Ebb.
This was all he said, and ono,
more a disquieting silence fell ovel
the steaming brown field. The KHAKI
lines opposite us began to move. tn,