The "258's" were first. Leading them were four men, a white American, a black American, a Russian and a Chinese, representative of the cosmopoHtan throng that was to follow.
The National Army men, marching in regiments and under their own district banners, formed a long line. According to the estimate of the official recorder in the stand, there were 10,000 civilians in line.
Every one of the 10,000 saluted with his flag as he came even with the reviewing stand. General Barry and the crowd on the stand returned it with smiles and applause. Women jumped on chairs and waved flags. Pandemonium reigned until the last man had passed. Never was there such a demonstration of favor in the city's history, in the belief of many observers.
Following the National Army men came a tank with a banner on its sides, containing just one word: "Enlist. "
Then 6,000 Chicago members of the Illinois National Guard fell in, preceded by the Naval Training Station band. At this time 1 4,700 men had marched past the reviewing stand.
Three regiments of guardsmen were in line — the Second, Seventh and Eighth Infantry.
Following the guardsmen came 2,000 or more aliens and foreign- born citizens above the age limit for the National Army. They were there because they wished the people to know that the foreign born are w^ith the United States in her hour of need.
Every flag of America's allies was carried in the ranks of the aliens. Boy Scouts carried banners desiejiating the nationalities of the men they preceded.
Cheers greeted the foreign born, as they had the student officers, the policemen and firemen, the jackies and the National Guardsmen. There was not a break in the ranks of the spectators until the last man had passed.
Arrangements for the parade, well perfected beforehand, were car- ried out without a hitch. Although the crush of spectators was great, the police had control over the crow^d at all times.
Committees in charge of the parade expressed great satisfaction at the demonstration. Chicago is the first city so to honor its men called for service in the National Army, and it is probable that the example w^ill be followed by other cities.
Immediately after the parade, General Barry wrote the following letter to Colonel Nicholson:
I cannot speak in too high praise of the magnificent appearance made by the Training Camp men in this morning's parade. The impres- sion they made on everybody who w^as fortunate enough to w^itness the parade w^ill be lasting and should convince all of the necessity for, and the great benefits to be derived from, universal service and training. Chi- cago never saw^ a more magnificent body of intellectually, morally and physically perfect young American manhood than they saw today in the Training Camp Regiment, including the Training Camp men w^ho mag- nificently handled the selected men. I congratulate them and you and all the instructors at the Camp for the wonderful results attained in the past three months.
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