Omaha daily bee., 1917-09-08
NEBRASKA
REACH KANSAS
IN HIGH SPIRITS
Reports From Camp Funston
Indicate Good Health and
Cheer Among Quotas
From This State.

Camp Funston, Kan, Sept. l.
Especial Telegram. 1.-The largest
contingent of national army men to
reach here at any one time came at
] o'clock this morning in a special
train which carried the entire quota
of Nebraska. The train carried 409
men, and it drew up at the Funston
station in driving rain, but this did
not seem to dampen the Nebraska
spirit any, for they made just as
much noise while plodding through
the mud surrounding the station as
they did while coming in on the
train.
All the men were taken to one
of the nearby barracks and checked
in by the time they had been assigned
to regiments, given superficial
physical examination and had their
papers examined, it had stopped'rain-
ing and the old Kansas sun burst out
through the clouds, shining just as
proudly and hot as ever. But rain or
wind or sun didn't make any differ
ence. All the Nebraskans felt good.
They were glad to get here. Many of
them had secretly dreaded the trip
and the introduction to Uncle Sans
national army, but when they all got
together the spirit of youth couldn't
be suppressed, and by the time they
reached here they were just lively,
yelling, laughing mass of humanity.
Belongings in Bags.
Some of them carried toothbrush
and bar of soap wrapped in towel,
some had their belongings in a paper
sack, some had little suitcases about
the size of woman's opera bag. One
man carried everything he owned in
burlap bag hanging over his shoul-
ders and he wore diamond stickpin
and diamond ring. A few carried
their regulation suitcases, but the less
they bring with them, the better the
army officers like it, because the men
will be outhtted with army clothing
from the inside to the out and from
the top to the bottom.
With the arrival of the Nebraska
quota there are 1,143 national army
men in camp. About 4,200 are ex-
pected by the end Of the week.
Lincoln, Sept 7.-(Special.) Ne
braska's quota of the draft, 40o men,
reached Fort Riley safely this morn
ing at 7 o'clock, all in good health,
ccording to message received this
forenoon by Governor Neville from
Major 'Clapp, in charge of the quota.
The quota from Arthur county was
unable to reach Lincoln in time to
join the train. The quota, which con-
sists of one man, had to travel forty
miles to make train connection and
arrived just little late. However,
Thurston county had one man too
many and that made up the number
The Arthur county man reached Lin
coin this morning and has gone on
to Fort Riley. .,
Crowder Praises Neville.
Governor Neville has been highly
eomplimented by Provost Marshal
Crowder for his activities in bringing
about successful condition relative
to the draft The following telegram
has been received: y.
Permit me to congratulate you on
the admirable arrangements made by
you for the entrainment and mobili.
zation of the frsr per cent of Ne.
braska's quota on September 5. If
were assured that such complete ar.
rangements could be expected from
every state, | would have no appre.
hension whatever as to. the compile.
ton of the great and novel task oi
mobilization of the national army."