Evening star., 1961-04-14

Cheering Throngs Give Gogorin
Triumphant Welcome to Moscow
Continued From First Page


ings. buses and StreetcarS.
Mr.. Khrushchev arrived from
q Black Sea vacation a few
minutes before the hero of the
hour flew in with an honor
escort of Soviet fighter planes.
Waiting with the Soviet dig
nitaries were Maj. Gagarin's
wife, chic in a fur-collared coat
and a fashionable spring hat.
His mother wore a wooden
shawl over her head.
Maj. Gagarin walked alone
down the plane ramp, wearing
his majors uniform. At his
appearance the crowd roared.
He strode smartly up to Mr..
Khrushchev and saluted,
But the ebullient Premier
was not ready to stand on
ceremony. He wrapped his
arms around Maj. Gagarin and
kissed him squarely on the
mouth. He kissed him twice
more and finally let him go.
Ready for New Orders"
The band broke into the ma
tional anthem.
With Mr.. Khrushchev BEAM
ing beside him, Mai. Gagarin
stood at attention on the air
port platform.
The anthem over, the pilot
strode toward his family. He
embraced his wife, Valentino,
and kissed her.
Top government and party
leaders and hundreds of others
pressed up. thrust bouquets at
Maj. Gagarin and tried to shake
his hand, The major and his
wife chung to one another. Fin
ally, Mrs. Gagarin released him.
He smiled broadly for the
first time and told Mr.. Khru-
shchev:
II am ready to fulfill any
new orders"
Mr.. KhruShchev finally man.
aged to get Mai. Gagarin out
of the throng to a free space
on the platform to receive the
congratulations of all the top
Soviet leaders.
The astronaut and Mr.. Khru-
shchev left the platform and
moved toward the diplomatic
corps. All Ambassadors shook
his hand and congratulated
him. s
Mr.. Khrushchev stood behind
him. bareheaded, glowing with
fatherly pride. 1t became evi-
dent Maj. Gagarin is not quite
as tall as Mr.. Khrushchev.
Peasants Line Highway
Maj. Gagarin and his wife
and Mr.. Khrushchev climbed |
into a flower -decked open car
for the 20-rnile trip into Mos
COW. Motorcycle outriders
escorted them.
% Z
Mai. Gagarin's father and
mother. rode behind in an
other car.
Peasants and workers.
thronged the route as the shiny
cars headed for the capital |
along the broad concrete high
way that connects the airport |
with Moscow's southern sub
urbS.
Militiamen and soldiers lined
the highway.
MuscoviteS roared an almost
hysterical welcome as the cav
alcade entered the city. The
wide streets in the suburbs
were jammed. People hung out
Of windows and blew kisses.
Mrs. Gagarin Joined in wav-
ing back at the people. Her
hat was light blue and her fur
collar blond. Her rimless
glasses gave her a slightly aca-
demSc look. Many in the crowd
waved flowers.
The cheering grew louder as
the parade of cars neared Red
Square.
Speaker With POise
An hour and a half after he
had landed at Vnukovo Air
port. Maj. Gagarin and his mo-
torcade arrived in the square,
the show case for Soviet cele-
brations. Atop the Lenin-Stalin
tomb, the most honored spot
in all the Soviet Union, Mr.. |
Khrushchev and Maj. Gagarin
stood with members of the rul-
ing Presidium, waving to the
cheering throngs.
Maj. Gagarin spoke first as
the crowds subsided into ex-
pectant silence. He spoke with
out notes. His manner was
paised and his speech was
short.
The astronaut expressed
gratitude to the party, the gov
ernment, and Mr.. Khrushchev
"for trusting me, a simple So
Wet pilot, with the flight to
q outer space"
while in outer space" he
said. Il was thinking about our
party, about our homeland"
Maj. Gagarin praised Soviet
scientists and technicians who
designed his space ship, and
said:
Il am confident that my
friends - flyers, cosmonauts -
are ready to make a flight
around our planet at any time"
Maj. Gagarin said.
"One can say with confidence
that we shall fly on longer