The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-03
Columbus Is Eagerly Awaiting
 Arrival of Soldiers
CITY IS WELL DECORATE ID
Feature of the Camp Will Be the Splendid Music To Be Rendered by the United States Army
 and State Bands.

| N~ROO-~-S
 Tomorrow afternoon at o'clock the bat 1 talion from the Seventeenth infantry from ] Chickamauga Park, Ga, will arrive, ac- companed by the Twelfth cavalry band. 1 This will be the first part of the host i which will be in Camp Noel by early l Tuesday morning. Closely following the regulars the Missssippians from all four corners of the state WI arrive on as many special trains and Tuesday noon l Camp Noel win be a city within Itself. It Is definitely assured that 22Oo soldiers l will be encamped on the same spot that the days of last August were so pleasant ly spent and which still finger in mem ory of people over the whole state. Last year there were 15OO Mississippi troops in camp. This year there will be fully 1900, the National Guard having been increased about 300 during the past F months, and the regulars will add 400 more to this body. This is by far the biggest state mobilization ever attempted in the south. l Never in the history of Columbus have the people of this old hospitable place come to the front by both words and deeds in preparing for the soldiers. The experience gained last year by giving the troops the best time they have ever had taught these people that a state encamp- ment, when properly arranged for and well looked after, would be a great bene- i fit to the city. It is an especial benefit just at thls dull season of the year the middle of the summer Last night and all day yesterday decorations were the order of the programme. Nearly every store has draped its interior with profusions of flags, bunting, and all sorts : of emblems containing the red, white and blue. A few of the exteriors were decorated yesterday but the majority preferred to wait until Monday so the l torrents which were threatened yesterday and which came down steadily for sev- eral hours today would not in any way i spoil or wilt
 1 The formal encampment opens on Tues 1 day morning and it is doubtful If there i is a single store that will not dress up in it's best "bib and tucker'' for 1t. Every l trolley pole between the Eks' Home and ] Southern depot will be draped Every ] pole will be illuminated with incandes- cent lights and the prettiest display yet attempted Is the electrical scheme at the
 corner of Main and Market. Over 400 lights are arranged in four loops or arches The will all be flashed on Tues
 day evening and will burn throughout the ten nights Columbus entertains the soldiers
 By far the greatest feature of this
 encampment will be the music. The | Twelfth cavalry band from the United ] States army, sent to Columbus this year through the combined efforts of Col. John P. Mayo and a few enterprising citizens of this city who worked harmoniousIy for the good of the encampment, comes
 as a special favor to Mississippi through the distinguished cabinet officer, Gen. Luke E. Wright of Tennessee. General l Wright has acted nobly towards the state and when he was informed by telegram,
 Cant you send some other regimental
 band if the band we asked for Is fn
 Cuba; we need them and our whole state
 will thank you" This telegram was pro- ductive of desired results and the order
 was issued for the Twelfth cavalry band
 to come here for the entire ten days i, This one favor, while 1t meant not so
 much for the war department means a
 great deal for this encampment for it practically assures success. It also shows
 that General Wright's form of govern ment Is a broad, extended policy and
 that what Mississippi or any other state needs he is willing to grant if possible.
 The Second regiment band from Cor inth, which was at Camp Columbus last 1 year, will arrive tomorrow. This organ ization Is composed of young talent who are employed In different vacations
 around Corinth. They are , splendid : set of musicians and last summer de- lighted many audiences both by their work on the field, their concerts and their work at the pavilion. Of course their work Is not so inspiring or so perfect as the regular army band will be, how ever, and with both bands there will be nothing else lacking in the way of mar tial strains all the time