Evening star., 1945-09-10

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lin Washington. $
Hours before the four -engined
plane glided to a landing at the
airport, the city had taken on a
holiday air.
At the Memorial Bridge, two fire
engines had extended their ladders
to form a great inverted v from
which Was suspended . large Ameri-
can flag and Welcome
Along Constitution avenue, post
ers bearing pictures Of Gen. VAIN
wright and welcome, Skinny" were
affixed to lampposts. Small flags
f1uttered from other lampposts.
Large flags waved atop Government
buildings. Other flags moved along
on street cars and taxicabs.
After his departure from the
Monument Grounds. Gen. VAIN
wright's schedule for the day was
as follows:
2:30 p.m.-Arrives at the Capitol
for visits to the House and Senate
in that order.
3:15 pm.-Leaves Capitol for the
WnlJe dOuSe.
$3.50 pm.-Arrives at the White
House for greeting by President
Truman.
$50 pm.-Leaves White House
for the Pentagon and a press con-
ference.
New York Welcome Thursday.
Gen. Beebe's wife and 17-year-
old son, John McRae Beebe, as well
as Mrs. T. B. Dooley, mother of
Col. Dooley, and DR.. M. S. Minton,
Col. Dooley's brother r-in-iaw, ar
rived at National Airport yester-
day afternoon to await the return
of their loved ones.
All members of the party, includ-
ing the Wainwrights. will make
their Washington headquarters at
the Shoreham Hotel.
Gen. Wainwright plans to remain
here tomorrow and Wednesday for
a much-needed rest before going on
to New York for another welcome
celebration.
Half a million San Franciscans
cheered Gen. Wainwright wildly yes
terday as he led and then reviewed
a parade which lasted three hours
The general had difficulty smiling
his appreciation as he tried to ignore
an abscessed tooth.
Deeply Affected by Welcome.
II never dreamed my return home
would be like this" he said. THE
sight Of these shouting, clapping
men, women and children who lined
both sides of Market street affected
me more than words can say. !
only wish my wife could have been
here to experience it with me"
The San Francisco parade was
Skinny" Wainwright's show from
start to finish. He rode in an open
flag bedecked car flanked by his son
his chief of staff on Bataan and
Corregidor, Brig. Gen. Lewis c.
Beebe, Maj. Gen. H. c. Pratt, chief
of the western defense command
Rear Admiral Carleton Wright of
the 18th Naval District and Mayor
Roger Lapham.
AS he reached the reviewing stand
in front of the city hall. fight
of P-38s and Super Forts roared
overhead.
For rs minutes, the general stood
on the stand, watching combat and
service troops, wounded veterans in
trucks, and veteran organizations
But the strain of his 40 months i'm
prisonment became apparent. He
watched the remainder of the pa
rade from the mayors office where
reception had been arranged to
meet friends.
His hand shook as he slipped a
cup of coffee, but he laughed that
of. He felt fine" except for that
tooth and was only little weak
because he had gone without lunch.
| He wore the fourth star which
grateful country had given him,
but his trim summer uniform hung
loosely But his color had improved
since his rescue. Gen. Beebe said.
The parade, In which 10000
marched, gave the public view for
the first time of some of the ma
chinery which smoothed the way to
the japanese surrender. There were
giant earth-moving machines, am
phibious trucks and tanks. And
there were columns of soldiers, sail
ors, Marines, WAVES, WACS
SPARS and women Marines. There
were 18 bands and veterans organi-
/ cations, labor unions and fraternal
orders.
But there was one group which
brought poignant moment Of
silence, then a wild burst of cheers
That was the II bus loads oi
wounded veterans from Lettermar
General Hospital. AS they passed
the brass-laden reviewing stands
the generals and the admirals them
; selves led the applause for those who
paid for the victory.