The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-22
All the Soldier Boys Look Fat,
Healthy and Fine.
They Arrived From Ft. Riley
at Gals This Afternoon.
BIG WELCOME TO HEROES
Banquet Tonight for All at
Chamber of Commerce.
Train to Fair Grounds Imme-
diateIy Upon It's Arrival.

Topeka's army came home today
with not a wounded man, not soldier
hoy who isn't in better health than
when he left. and. last but not least.
lust in time for Christmas with the
folks at home. Battery A and the
hospital corps arrived at the Union
Pacific depot at 2:15 o'clock and the
train was Immediately switched to the
Santa F.e tracks.
The railroad refused to switch the
passenger cars to the fair grounds So
the bows Jumped from the train, had
an opportunity to kiss their folks be-
fore falling in line and marching to
the fair grounds via Kansas avenue.
Topeka" the bull dog given to the
battery bv the d. a. r.. headed the
PROCESSION. The cars containing the
continent were switched into the fair
grounds and were hurriedly unloaded
10y the lads upon their arrival A large
crowd greeted the boys at the depot.
The lads are to be entertained by
the Chamber of Commerce tonight IN
its new quarters at Seventh ana
Quincy streets. There were thirty-tWo
head of horses to be unloaded. bedded
and prepared for the night Heavy
guns and caissOns had to be unloaded
and stored Tents, saddles. personal
balonefngs and a hundred and one
short hours in order to get cleaned
and dressed for the banquet at the
Cha arnher of Commerce tonight They
will march in body from the fair
grounds, TO the Chamber of Commerce.
Boys Look Fat and Fine.
II was a sight for loving eyes
those soldier boys who had been on
the border since summer. Many left
Topeka with saIlow faces. stopped
shoulders and the hundred and one
other things incidental to the life of
a young man in the city
4 farmer boy hasn't a thing on the
Battery \ boys from the standpoint
of perfect health. broad shoulders.
round cheeks and glowing spirits. Not
"a one who left Topeka is on the sick
list
Few batteries or companies have
had the opportunity for real military
training that fell to Battery AS lot.
The battery upon its arrival at Eagle
Pass was made a part of the Third
Field artillery. Active service was
the order from morning until night
Real military men supervised their
work and Battery a comes home with
a consciousness of getting everything
that was coming to it in the way of
active field service and commenda-
tion from military men who had
watched the Transformation of the
raw Topeka boys into trained soldiers
Greetings at Fair Grounds.
Many fathers and mothers were
standing at the Union Pacific depot
platform to catch a sight of the lads
as they went by on the train After
the train had passed the parents
jumped into street cars and gave them
the real greeting at the fair grounds.
The lads will arrive at the Cham
ber of Commerce at $50 o'clock
where they will be met by a receiving
line including Governor and Mrs. Cap
per. Mayor and Mrs. House, Gen. and
Mrs. g. J. Martin. Mr.. and Mrs. D. r.
Hite, Justice and Mrs. Slas Porter
and Col. and Mrs. J. f w. Hughes.
At o'clock a banquet will be served
and music furnished by the Santa Fe
Apprentice orchestra.
At 7;30 o'clock the doors will be
thrown open to the public. Governor
Capper will deliver an address of well
come and one of the commissioned
officers viii respond. Mayor Jay f.
House also will deliver an address to
be responded to by another commits
stoned officer. Then Maj \. NJ. Har-
vey will speak. followed by the feature
address of the evening by Capt. ]. G..
Waters.
soldier Took Ill.
J. Robins. a recruit who joined Bat
terry 4 at Fort Riley. was taken i'll at
the Union Pacific depot. 1t was neces-
sary TO carry him from the train. An
ambulance was called and the recruit
was taken to a hospital. Nothing was
known about the lad by the boys of
Battery A.