RECEPTION TO FLIERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5303, 23 July 1928, Page 2

RECEPTION TO FLIERS.

HOW CHICAGO DOES IT. THE SIGHT OF A LIFETIME. A very interesting account of the reception to the Gei’inan-Irish flieps of the Atlantic or arrival in, Chicago is contained in a letter to Mr. G. Pa,rr, of Hamilton, from Mr H. R. McKenzie’, ch&’rnian of the Auckland Harbour. Board, yvho is at present in the United' States. “We. were',” he says, “given a ticket each of the Maron’s privileged committee to attend Chicago’s reception to the German,-Irish fliers who flew over from Ireland—and what, a reception it was! There were over 100.000 1 people present, and the decorat’ons were gorgeous. All tlie different colleges had places allotted to them, and all dressed in bright, colours, a ,iid they took hours i,n doing their stunts. Girls were dancing in gay costumes, dressed in bodice,' very short skirts, with ribbons hanging, and bare Airplanes, about twelve altogether, flying singly and i' ll formation, nien singing, women singing. with loud-speakers all around the arena. Girls danced the Blue Danube waltz ; hundreds of Irish girls in costume did the Irish jig; there were athletic displays 'of all sorts, and very good', too. A parade of girls of all different nationalities, then a parade of mounted policemen, trumpet bands;, kettledrum, about ten of all sorts of ba,nd.s, all richly and takingly dreissed 1 , Red Cross nurses; naval men with band, Military, both white and black, boy scouts, gun carriages, Indians with all their wa,r gpar and paint on. Our N.at'iional Anthem was played, and we need not have any doubt about 'America’s feeling for the Brit’sh ; everyone. to man and woman, stood up with hats off—they diid the same every time their flag (the Old Glory) passed. I can as,sure you that all the respect anfli good feeling was very pleasing to both of us. The fliers now arrived, amidst the most enthusiastic and warmest ’of welcomes—all the people wildly cheering. There wfene plenty 'of speakers^—in fact, far too many—all broadcasted over the world'. One of the Germans (responded, and then the Irishman, who impressed one as rather of a retiring nature, gave a very fine cultured speech, full of good sense.

Three thousand singers sang “This is the day of our Lord,” and then wfe went off.”