MILLIONS WELCOME
U. S. ARMADA HOME
Passes Daniels and Baker in Review
Amid Guns’ Roar—Admiral and
Two Rear Admirals Join in New
York Parade—Headed by Navy’s
Chief—Marines Just Back From
Overseas Lead Column of 10,000
Men Past Public Library, Where
They Are Reviewed by Daniels and
Mayo.
New Y’ork, Dec. 26.—Riding at an
chor in the Hudson tonight were 21
superdreadnoughts, di’eadnoughts and
ships of the line, which, with cruisers,
destroyers and a host of smaller craft,
made the mightiest American armada
ever assembled. Ten of the floating
fortresses steamed into the harbor to
day after eighteen months’ service
overseas with Beatty’s grand fleet.
The others are the flower of the north
Atlantic fleet. Grim guardians of a
great nation, they symbolized that the
United States has become the second
naval power of the world.
In the teeth of a northwester, in the
chill of a driving snowstorm, millions
waited hours until the ten battleships
of the home coming armada appeared.
This was New York’s and the nation’s
tribute to the ships, far more eloquent
than the greatest din of whistles, bells
and human voices.
The vocal welcome came later, when
the rugged weather-beaten tars who
manned the ships, debarked and, with
Secretary Daniels and Admiral Mayo
at their head, marched down Fifth Av
enue in the country’s first great vic
tory parade.
Leading civilians in the cheering
were wounded soldiers returned from
France. With the memory of their
own first voyage still fresh in their
minds, they paid unstinted tribute to
brothers in arms who had guarded
them across the Atlantic.
Passing in review before the Secre
tary of the Navy, off the Statue of
Liberty, the home-coming ships
loomed suddenly out of the mist and
as rapidly disappeared. They seemed
almost like phantom craft, grim, gray,
majestic in their silent might. But as
they dropped anchor the skies cleared
and they stood revealed in holiday at
tire, ablaze from stem to stern with
multi-colored pennants. To many of
those who lined the shores this flash
of sunshine symbolized the light of
peace which awaited the fleet after
the gloom of war from, which it had
emerged.
In inspecting the vessels, the May
flower made a run of nearly ten miles
before she finally dropped anchor at
the berth she had left in the morning.
Immediately she was surrounded by a
fleet of gigs, bearing admirals, vice
admirals, rear admirals and captains
to pay their respects to Secretary
Daniels and Vice Admiral A. W.
Grant, of the home fleet, who arrang
ed the day’s program.
A touching scene was enacted in
the main salon of the Mayflower,
where Mr. Daniels welcomed his
guests. Among those invited to wit
ness the review from the presidential
yacht were the wives of naval officers
home at last after eighteen months’
service in foreign waters. If the offi
cers devoted no more time than courte
sy demanded to paying their respects
to the Secretary before greeting their
wives, Mr. Daniels showed no dispo
sition to chide them.
The reception ended, Mr. Daniels
and Admiral Mayo landed, entered a
machine and drove to the head of the
long column of sailors forming on
Broadway. Rear Admiral Rodman led
the line on foot.
With a detachment of marines at its
head, the column moved down Broad
way to Fifty-ninth street, crossed to
Fifth Avenue and then swung down
that historic thoroughfare. At the
public library Mr. Daniels and Admi
ral Mayo left the line to take the.*,
places with the other members of the
Mayflower’s party, who had preceded
them to the reviewing stand.
Following the marines were platoon
after platoon of sailors from each of
the ten ships which came home today.
Each contingent carried the ship’s
flag at its head and each received
round after round of applause.
Fully 10,000 men were in line, and
in many instances dogs taken aboard
in England as mascots, scampered
along with their shipmates, galy
decorated with American and British
fhiS-s After the parade, the me* im
mediate! v embarked for their ships,
the’-' ’•e<'eive shore liberty.
CEDRIC BROUGHT MANY BACK.
Arrived in New York December 23rd.
Among the Soldiers on Board Was
Major Goff, a Princeton Man, Who
Lost a Leg in France.
The United States transport Cedric
arrived in New Y'ork from Liverpool
Monday of last week, carrying Ameri
can troops, says a press dispatch.
Aboard the Cedric were 65 officers,
2168 enlisted men, four nurses and
seven civilians. The troops comprise
Winchester Casual Companies Nos.
1062 (colored), 1065, 1066 and 1067;
Liverpool Casual Companies, # Nos.
1002 (colored), 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006
and 1007; the 332d Aero Squadron and
14 officers and 424 men sick and
wounded. Of the latter, 74 are bedrid
den cases, two mental and two tuber
cular.
The majority of the wounded men
aboard were from the 27th (New York
National Guard) and the 30th (“Wild
cat”) Divisions, and the reports of
the soldiers were that these divisions
also were soon coming home.
The Cedric was followed into port
by the transport George Washington,
the ship that conveyed President Wil
son to France, also bringing home
American troops.
The George Washington, which left
Brest December 15, had 331 officers
and 3461 men.
The sick included 33 men suffering
from mumps. There were no deaths
on the voyage across.
More tales of heroism, sacrifice and
German treachery were told by the
wounded soldiers who returned on the
Cedric. A copy of the Stars and
Stripes, the American Expeditionary
Force paper, displayed by one trooper,
contained the information that the
76th Division will be the first division
to return as a unit to America. This
organization, composed of troops from
New England and New York, was de
clared to be at St. Nazaire awaiting
the arrival of a transport.
Two “bunkies” wounded in action
together—Private Taylor Williams, of
Lynchburg, Va., and Private Major
Goff, of Princeton, N. C.—of the 119th
Infantry, were on the Cedric. “I’m
lucky—I’ve only lost one leg,” said
Goff; “I might have been wounded so
I coldn’t eat.”
“Not so lucky as I am,” declared
Williams, who, shot in the chin, shoul
der and neck, must partake of liquid
food until he has undergone another
operation; “I might have been wound
ed so I couldn’t walk.”
These doughboys were struck by the
same shrapnel shell.
REV. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN DEAD
Was Noted Evangelist and Presbyte
rian Moderator.
The Rev. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman,
noted as an evangelist, died in New
York on Christmas Day. He was op
erated on a few days ago. Since May,
1917, he had been moderator of the
General Assembly of the Presbyte
rian Church in the United States.
Dr. Chapman was born in Rich
mond, Ind., on June 17, 1859, and was
educated at Lake Forest University
and at the Lane Theological Seminary.
He was ordained into the Presbyteri
an ministry jn 1882. He occupied pas
torates at Albany, Philadelphia and
New York and conducted evangelistic
work in all parts of the country. Since
1903 he had 'been executive secretary
of the. General Assembly’s committee
on evangelistic work for the Presby
terian Church and representative-at
large for the Presbyterian evangelis
tic committee.
Lieut. Lee Back From Texas.
Lieutenant J. Ira Lee, of the Four
Oaks section, was in town last week.
Lieutenant Lee enrolled for the sec
ond officers’ training camp at Fort
Oglethorpe in August, 1917. Three
months later he received his commis
s:on as Lieutenant of Cavalry and was
stationed at various camps as instruc
tor until the armistice was signed. At
the time the war stopped he was at
Camp Stanley, San Antonio, Texas.
He was mustfered out just before
Christmas and returned home. Like
nary other soldier boys who spend
several months in training he was
anxious to go across and get in th<»
big fight, and considered himself
very unlucky because they did not
get a trip to Europe.
Humanity has won its suit (in
America) so that Liberty will never
more be without an asylum.—La
fayette.
_
WILSON’S SPEECH
AT LONDON BANQUET
Now We Are to Prove Whether We
Understand What “Right and Jus
tice” Mean—Then Have Courage to
Act Our Understanding—We Will
Have the High Privilege to Apply
the Moral Judgment of the World.
President and Mrs. Wilson attended ,
a Banquet in Buckingham Palace in
London Friday night. The Associated
Press in a dispatch to the daily papers
says:
“No more regal setting ever had
been arranged in Buckingham Palace
than that which greeted President and
Mrs. Wilson when they were escorted
into the banquet hall for the prece
dent-breaking state dinner.”
The King of England delivered an
address of welcome to which Mr. Wil
son replied as follows:
“I am deeply complimented by the
gracious words which you have utter
ed. The welcome which you have giv
en me and Mrs Wilson has been so
warm, so natural, so evidently from
the heart, that we have been more
than pleased. WTe have been touched
by it and I believe that I correctly in
terpret the welcome as embodying not
only your own generous spirit toward
us personally but also as expressing
for yourself and the great nation over
which you preside that same feeling
for my people, for the people of the
United States.
“For you and I, sir—I temporarily—
embody the spirit of two great na
tions, and whatever strength I have,
and whatever authority I possess it
only so long and so far as I express
the spirit and purpose of the AmcScan
people. ™
“Every influence that the Ameri
can people have over the affairs of the
world is measured by their sympathy
with the aspirations of free men
everywhere.
“America does love freedom, and I
believe that she loves freedom, un
selfishly. But if she does not she
will not and cannot help the influence
to which she justly aspires.
“I have had the privilege, sir, of
conferring with the leaders of your
own government and with the spokes
men of the governments of France
and of Italy, and I am glad to say that
I have the same conceptions that they
have of the significance and scope of
the duty on which we have met.
“We have used great words; all, of
us have used the great words ‘right*
and ‘justice’ and now we are to prove
whether or not we understand these
words, and how they are to be applied
to the particular settlement which
must conclude this war.
“And we must not only understand
them, but we must have the courage
to act upon our understanding.
“Yet, after I have uttered the word
‘courage’ it comes into my mind that
it would take more courage to resist
the great moral tide now running in
the world than to yield to it, than to
obey it.
Great Tide in the Hearts of Men.
“There is a great tide running in the
hearts of men. The hearts of men
have never beaten so singularly in
unison before. Men nave never before
been so conscious of their brother
hood. Men have never before real
ized how little difference there was
between right and justice in one lati
tude and in another, under one sov
ereignty and under another.
“And it will be our high privilege,
I believe, sir, not only to apply the
moral judgment of the world to the
particular settlements which we shall
attempt, but also to organize the
moral force of the world to preserve
these settlements, to steady the forces
of mankind and to make the right and
the justice to which great nations like
our own have devoted themselves, the
predominant and controlling force of
the world.
“There is something inspiring in
knowing that this is the errand that
we have come on. Nothing less than
this would have justified me in leav
ing the important tasks which fall
upon me on the other side of the sea
—nothing but the consciousness that
nothing else compares with it in
dignity and importance.
“Therefore it is more delightful to
find myself in the companv of a body
of men united in ideal and purpose
and to feel that I am privileged to
unite my thoughts with yours in car
rying forward these standards which
we are so proud to hold so high and tn
defend.
“May I not, sir, w'th a feeling of
The President Received by the Kings
at Buckingham Palace—Royal Wel
come Given Great American Leader
in Britain’s Capital — President
Makes Brief Talk.
The great moment of President
Wilson’s first day in England was
when he stood with the king and queen
and Mrs. Wilson in the balcony of
Buckingham Palace facing a multitude
which stretched down the Mall to the
admiralty, half a mile distant, and
overflowed St. James’ park on one side
and Green park on the other, says a
London dispatch dated December 26.
Only a corporal’s guard could hear
the President’s brief speech, but the
people, who had demanded that he
show himself, gave him a greeting
more clamorous than any other guest
of the nation has commanded within
the memory of the oldest Londoners.
The day’s events constitute a trib
ute to the President and the United
States, which will be historic. The
official ceremonials—a reception by
the Dover Corporation and the navy,
the welcome at the station by the
royal family and the chief officials of
the empire, and the state progress
through the heart of London—were
colored with touches of medieval pa
geantry, even to the crimscn-coated
beef-eaters from the Tower, bearing
halberds, which the British people
cherish. That the central figure of
the royal procession in quaint state
carriages, attended by a military es
cort and household officials, should be
a civilian wearing a black coat and
silk hat, gave a flavor of novelty to
the scene.
As soon as President Wilson and his
party entered Buckingham palace the
crowds outside, including several hun
dred soldiers in the pXlace yard be
gan cheering. Then chme shouts of
“We want Wilson! We Vant Wilson!”
In response the President and Mrs.
Wilson, together with King George
and Queen Mary soon appeared on the
second floor balcony. Their appear
ance was the signal for renewed cheer
ing and the crowd, especially the
wounded men began calling for a
speech.
President Wilson laughed and
waved his hand, indicating that he
would rather not speak. Mrs. Wilson
waved a small Union Jack. The crowd,
however, insisted on a speech, so the
President waved the chorus of voices
to silence and then addressed himself
especially to the wounded soldiers.
“I do not want to make a speech,”
he said, but I do want to tell you how
much I honor you men who have been
wounded in this fight for freedom and
to thank you all for the welcome you
have so generously given me. I hope
each and every one of you will come
through safely to enjoy the fruits of
victory for which you so courageously
fought.”
Mrs. Wilson received a round of
cheers when she appeared on the bal
cony and during the first few min
utes of the demonstration she waved
the small Union Jack which she car
ried in her hand at the wounded.
As soon as the President’s speech
was concluded the party re-entered
the palace, where King George receiv
ed a large group of American news
paper correspondents, including those
who preceded President Wilson to
France on the steamer Oriziba.
Preaching at Oliver’s Grove.
Mr. J. A. Tiner was in town one
day last week and asked us to state
that there will be preaching at Oli
ver’s Grove the first Sunday in Jan
uary by the pastor, Rev. W. D. Stancil.
On account of the influenza there has
been no service held at Oliver’s Grove
since the first of October.
Bestowal of the permanent rank of
general on John J. Pershing, com
mander of the American forces in
France ;Peyton C. March, chief of
staff, and Tasker H. Bliss, military
representaive at the Supreme War
Council, and a permanent rank of
lieutenant general on Hunter Liggett
and Robert L. Bullard, commanding
the first and second armies, has been
asked by Secretary Baker in a letter
to Chairman Pent, of the House Mil
itary Comir'ttee.
profound si i - ty ir 1 friendship and
sympathy, iro oce your health ■. nd
the health c* the (Viern rnd the nros
ne 'ity of Cre t Britain'”’
CIRCLE ENTERTA
Mr. J. N. Cobb Host to
Ladies of Smith
I UjdKF
jjgftjyil Young
hlW.
Another innovation was added to
the already enviable record of the
Circle on last Thursday evening when
Mr. J. N. Cobb delightfully enter
tained at a banquet given in the spa
cious dining hall of the Smithfield
hotel.
The young ladies were given a cor
dial welcome at the parlor by Mr.
Cobb and Miss Ava Myatt.
The guests were ushered to the din
ing hall, immaculately arranged and
decorated with vari-eolored appropri
ate Cristmas ornaments and illumi
nations, which made each heart pres
ent have a yearning that only such
charming surroundings precipitate.
Each seat was enigmatically designa
ted by place cards bearing handpaint
ed lecorations.
The pleasure of the event was great
ly enriched by the presence of some
of its original members whom matri
mony had caused to deviate from the
rerim of the social influence of the
Circle.
All participated in several courses
Vvdich were immensely enjoyed, and
after a short social which followed ex
tended their appreciation to Mr. Cobb.
Those present were: Mr. and Mrs.
H. G. Gray, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Ward,
Mrs. W. E. Coltrane, of Dunn, N. C.,
Misses Ava Myatt, lone Abell and
Annie Peacock.
About Casualties.
Among the list of men wounded in
action published in the Charlotte ‘ Ob
server, we note the names of Messrs.
James A. Edens, of Selma, N. C.; John
P. Ryals, of Benson, N. C., and B. E.
Blackman, of Four Oaks, N. C. From
time to time during the fall letters
have come to various families in the
county bringing news of the misfor
tune to a son. Later on several weeks
the name would appear among the
casualty lists in The Herald or some
other paper. The publication of the
news so much later than the time re
ceived by such families is due to the
fact that it was impossible for the of
ficials of the American Expeditionary
Forces in France to check up and
make an authentic report immediately.
In many instances letters from the
wounded boys were received by their
families long before their names ap
peared in the casualty lists. All glory
to the boys who have been wounded
and have fallen for freedom!
Colored Boy Shot in His Face.
About 8:30 o’clock Sunday night,
December 29, at the home of John Jud
kins, colored, who lives on Mr. S. V.
Smith’ farms near the Smithfield and
Clayton road, an eight-year-old boy
in fun fired a thirty-two caliber pistol
at Fred Tomlinson, an eighteen-year
old son of Dug Tomlinson. The ball
went through his nose and lodged in
the right side of his face. The pistol
belonged to Joseph Judkins, an older
brother of the boy who did the shoot
ing.
Cotton Review.
New York, Dec. 29.—Cotton scored
important gains this week in the fact
of the holiday feeling in the early ses
sions and in spite of the reactionary
tendency that appeared toward the
end. At the highest levels active
months in the contract market were
175 to 211 points over the close of the
preceding week, January going to
30.01. Last prices showed net gains
of 27 points, middling at one time be
ing quoted at 31.25 and closing at 31
cents.
Investment buying, based on the
strength of the spot situation and the
discount on futures as compared with
spots was the main motive power for
Ihe advance. Buying of the more dis
tant positions was stimulated by the
further discount on the distant
months. The announcement of the re
moval of cotton trade restrictions af
ter the February allotments was one
of the important influences of the
week, while rumors of easier ocean
fright rates to come in January
helped values on the close. Buying
was mainly done, however, on signs
o* a g~ow;ng spot demand and the con
tinued firmness of holderd.
This week *he opening of Liverpool
will probably have an important bear
ing on the trend of nriees in the
American markets on the first session.
The mr "k'-t will be closed Wednes
d ly.
PRESIDENT WILSON
IN GUILD HALL
Visit to British Capital Passed With
out Jarring Note—He Receives and
Speaks to Various Delegations—
Dines at Premier’s Residence With
Members of Cabinet—Given Great
Welcome in Guild Hall and Lunch
eon in Mansion House in London.
London, Dec. 28.—President Wilson
made his last public appearance in
London today. Officials of the city of
London presented him with an address
of welcome in the ancient Guild Hall,
where other famous Americans, in
cluding General Grant and former
President Roosevelt, have been receiv
ed. Afterward he was guest at a
luncheon in the Egyptian hall of Man
sion house, where hover the ghosts of
decades and of civic oratory and where
many Americans have partaken of
the famed aldermanic turtle soup.
The drive from Buckingham pal
ace and return was witnessed by im
mense crowds. There was plenty of
enthusiasm abroad but it hardly
reached the same volume as that
which attended the President’s en
try into London on Thursday.
The President’s two speeches, that
at Guild hall, a formal oration having
as its text that the world is eager for
a lasting peace of justice and right,
and that at the Mansion House, of
mellower tone, were not disappoint
ing to Londoner. That is saying
much, as the President’s prestige as
an orator had awakened high expecta
tions
It was clear that his auditors, em
bracing the worlds of officialdom,
finance and business, whatever their
political mind, were single minded in
their interests in the President’s
words.
The same may be said of the greater
audience throughout the country. No
public utterances in Great Britain,
apar- from those of English states
men which were landmarks in the
progress of the war, have commanded
such prominence in the newspapers.
The phrase from the President’s
speech at the state banquet at Buck
ingham palace—“There is a great tide
running in the hearts of men”—had
already gripped the headlines of the
papers and pervaded their editorial
columns.
Dines With War Cabinet.
President Wilson concluded a stren
uous Hay of entertainment with a din
ner at the prime minister’s residence
tonight, at which were gathered the
members of the war cabinet and other
government and dominion officials.
The dinner was served in the big
oak panelled dining room in which the
President lunched with the premier
yesterday. The table decorations con
sisted of poinsettias, chrysanthemums,
lilies of the valley, and sprigs of
holly.
The dinner was purely informal.
Mr. Lloyd George was seated at one
end of the table, with President Wil
son on his right and Premier Borden
of Canada, on his left. At the oppo
site end of the table sat Andrew Bonar
Law, chancellor of the exchequer, with
Premier Hughes, of Australia, on one
side and Premier Botha, of South
Africa, on the other.—Associated
Press.
Death Claims Little Katie Worrell.
On last Tuesday night near 6
o’clock, the death angel visited the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Worrell
and took their little girl, Katie.
A tender and patient little child she
was, her gentle manners endearing her
to all. She had been sick about a year
with some trouble and was getting
along very fine seemingly when the in
fluenza seized her in its clutches, con
tracting it from the family, who had
it. It soon developed into pneumonia
and the little child could not with
stand the severe attack of this compli
cation. She was buried Wednesday
afternoon by the side of her brother,
Elmer, in the Creech cemetery near
Pine Level.
The sympathy of the entire neigh
borhood is tendered the bereaved ones.
“Though she is gone, our precious
darling,
Never more will she return,
But will sleep a peaceful slumber
Till the resurrection morn.”
M. B. E.
When a woman says she is trying to
find herself heayen pity the man who j
joins her in the search.—Los Angeles
Times.