The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-20
Thousands From Oyer Kansas
Are in Topeka Today.
Special With Mission Arrives
This Afternoon at 8.
PARADE ON KANSAS AVENUE
Military Display Was Held for
AcrOss-Sea Friends.
Public Meeting, Reception and
Dinner Part of Program.

1t was a little less than three years
ago TODAY that Kansas newspapers
and Kansas citizens, hearts filled
with pity, were pleading for food
and money for the starving, bleed
ing, homeless Belgians crushed I'M
der the iron fist of the kaiser in his
bloody march to France. Today. ennis
saries from Belgium arrived in To-
peka to say thank you" and express
as best they could the gratitude of
their people for the succor extended
by America and the generous part
played IN the relief work by Kansas
Amid the playing of bands with the
black, yellow and red flags of the
stricken land waving in unison with
the red, white and blue flags of Amer
lea, the Belgium commission, headed
by Baron LUDWIG Moncheur, former
Belgian minister to America, stepped
from a Santa Fe train at o'clock
this afternoon. 1t was day doubly
impressive for the Belgians, a day
when Americans were being called
one by me to fight on French soil to
avenge the murder and depredations
in Belgium and make impossible the
future ruling of an autocracy that
would permit a recurrence of suffer-
gone.
Step in Waiting Autos.
Dressed in uniform, Belgians, diplo-
mats and army officers marched from
three special cars in which they are
touring the country into waiting auto
mobiles. The Third Regiment band
struck up a lively air and marched on
Holiday street from Fifth street to
Fourth street in front of the commits
sion and reception committee.
This band led a number of Topeka
military units and platoon of police
The units included the Reserve bat
terry, supply company, hospital corps,
Co. X, Third infantry Missouri Ma
tional Guard and Battery A, Kansas
National Gard. G. G. Moore was
chief marshal of this division with
Henry McAfee and J. E. Wilson as
aides.
The Second Division.
The reception committe composed
of state and federal officers, members
of both branches of the legislature,
district judges and other prominent
citizens, the governor of Kansas,
Mayor House, city officials, county
officials and others and members of
division which fell in line behind the
first division. Marsha1Ps military
band headed the second division.
The two divisions marched west on
Il SlTeGl 10 hdHSdS avenue, south
on Kansas avenue to Eighth street.
west on Eighth street to Harrison
street, south on Harrison street to
Tenth street, east on Tenth street to
Kansas avenue, north on Kansas ave-
me to Eighth street and east on
Eighth street to Quincy street; thence
to the city auditorium
Flags Decorate Buildings.
Members of the reception commit
tee met at the state house at o'clock
this afternoon where they obtained
automobiles provided by the Chamber
of Commerce. At the state house
those in the parad were greeted by
hundreds of cheering school children
waving the flags of Belgium and
America. On the way up Kansas ave-
nue. the commission was greeted with
cheers and Belgian flags which dec
grated the store fronts.
At the city auditorium the two
bands played until the hundreds who
had turned out to witness the recep-
ton were seated. Then the Rev FIR
McInerney pronounced the invocation
followed by the playing of the ma
ton Belgian hymn. Before entering
the auditorium Baron Moncheur
greeted his sister-in-law, Mrs. Samuel
Jones of Fort Riley. Mrs Jones and
(Confinued on Pare SiYl