The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-07-06
SOLDIERS GREET
NATION BIRTHDAY
SALUTE OF FoRTY.EIeHT GUNS
AT NOON YESTERDAY.
THOUSANDS AT CELEBRATION
Patriotic Addresses and Band Con
certs. Are Principal Features Of
the Day-Happenings Among
the Oskaloosa Boys.


Des Moines, July 5.--The celebra-
ton of independence day by the $500
Iowa soldiers at Camp Dodge yester-
day was a solemn affair. Aside from
the firing of the national salue of for
ty-eight guns by the artillery at noon,
not an explosion of a firecracker or
any other pyrotechnical continuance
disturbed the camp throughout the
entire day. 1t was a serious occasion
for the boys in khaki and they gave
real significance to observing the one
hundred and fortieth anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration of In
dependence.
None than 5000 persons visited the
camp yesterday. The Inter Urban
borrowed ten coaches from steam
roads to add to the trains they oper-
ated between Des MCines and the
camp grounds. Several thousand Wis.
itors arrived at the samp in autos.
ga Soldiers Families Come.
The families of hundreds of the
boys arrived with big baskets of pro-
visions and they enjoyed picnics in
shaded spots in and around camp.
The storm which deluged Des Moines
was only light sprinkle at Camp
Dodge, not enough to disturb a ball
game between two battery teams
which avs being played in the
morning on the parade ground.
At 11:45 o'clock yesterday morning,
the soldiers lined up at their quar-
tiers at attention while the regiment
al bands played national airs. They
remained at attention until the ma
tional salue was fired-forty-eigh
guns-one for every state in the UNI
ion.
At $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon
the regiments formed at brigade
headquarters for the main program
had built speakers stand especially
for the occasion, which will be used
for assembly in the future,
Under the leadership Of George
Landers, chief musician of the Third
regiment band of Clarinda, the four
Iowa Fegimental bands were consoli.
dated The program opened with
music by the 100-piece band Major
F. C. Nichols of Iowa City, chaplain
of the First regiment, offered prayer,
which was so effective it was applaud
ed by the soldiers.
Music and oratory IntermingIe.
A quartet from the engineering
corps of Iowa City made a hit with
the crowd. The young men were re-
called repeatedly to the platform for
enCOres.
Gen. H. A. Allen introduced the
speakers of the day H. w. Byers of
Des Moines was presented first. He
spoke GRIZZLY.
"To you boys of 1916 belongs the
love, affection and gratitude of
every man, woman and child in
Iowa." said Mr.. Byers. You are
going forth to fight to uphold the
principles for which this great coun-
try stands. | am for peace with
honor. The things we are doing now
are leading up to world peace" The
speaker was repeatedly scheered by
the soldier boys
LATE Young, Sr., followed Mr.. By
ers. He said the United States
should have an army and a navy so
big that this country need not take
back talk from any other country in
the world.
The appearance of the Iowa men
won enthusiastic appliance from the
thousands of people lined up for
more than half mile along the pa
rade ground.
The big event of the day was the
review of the entire Iowa force by
Gen. H. A. Allen and Col. George
Morgan, u. S. A. At 4 o'clock the
regiments and other branches of the
Iowa guard formed on the parade
ground. Each division, with the band
at the head, passed the reviewing
stand. The batteries had only six
guns in the parade, owing to lack Of
horses. The cavalry mrached un
mounted.