Happier Days

During Juan Peron's heyday. Argentina's July 9 Independence Day parade in Buenos Aires was little more than a muscle-flexing display of military power marching to the monotonous tune of The Peronista Boys. Last year there was no parade at all; instead, a crowd of angry Roman Catholics marched through the streets shouting anti-Peron slogans and chanting hymns to show their disapproval of the government's feud with the church. Against so dark a background, last week's celebration stood out like a beam of sunlight.

Under bright, balmy skies the holiday-minded crowds gathered early along the broad Avenida San Martin. They packed the balconies of apartment houses, perched on tree branches and jammed the temporary bleachers. Then President Pedro Aramburu, wearing his blue-and-white sash of office, arrived from the National Cathedral, climbed the steps of the reviewing stand, saluted during the national anthem, and the parade began.

For 2 1/2 hours the crowds applauded as 13,000 army, navy, and air force troops marched past, some singing their regimental songs, others marching to a wide variety of snappy military marches, including the new Liberty March, written during the anti-Peron campaign. Despite the fact that there were no fascinating new weapons on display, most of the crowd stayed to the very end. Said one approving spectator : "Those are free men parading--and they mean to stay that way." When President Aramburu stepped down from the stand and got into his car, a cheering crowd broke through police lines and surrounded him, enthusiastically slowing his progress for several blocks.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.