Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-08-30
SOLDIERS In
PARADE YESTERDAY
Iowa Troops Will Probably be Sent
Into Camp Friday at State
Fair Grounds

Iowa's first regiment ordered to
the firing line in France passed in re.
view before more than $4,000 people
at the state fair grounds yesterday
afternoon in one of the most impress.
sive military demonstration ever
staged in the state.
The Third Iowa regiment-per.
haps more correctly to be designated
as the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth
United States Infantry, formed at the
camp at the east end of the grounds
and marched through tunnel to the
field.
There the regiment, in platoon
formation, passed before the review
ing stand, where Colonel Bennett
Governor Harding, and a number OF
officers from Camp Dodge were sta
toned.
The review was a spectacle not
easily forgotten. The platoons broke
into double quick after passing the
reviewing stand, and reformed in
squad front. When the full 1000
men were on the track the entire
half mile was filled with troops, and
it required full fifteen minutes for
the regiment to pass the grandstand.
March in Fine Style
From the grandstand, the khaki
lines appeared bronzed by the sun,
and there was business like grim
ness in the way the platoons swept
forward which BODIED no good for the
kaiser.
Most Of Official Iowa was in the
grandstand as the troops went by,
Senator Albert B. Cummins occu-
pied the governors box, and a ma
jority of the members of the state
legislature were present, yesterday
being state day.
For once the attachments of troops
designated to police the grounds met
with failure when they attempted
to keep the crowd in its seats, As
the regiment moved down the track
the audience rose en- masse. and
greeted Colonel Bennett and his men
with volume Of good old American
cheers. The cheering subsidized as the
review continued. and the crowd was
almost silent as the last of the Iowa
boys marched out of the paddock
on their way to France.
First by the 168th
The review was the first to be given
by the newly reorganized force, and
probably will be the last before the
boys land on foreign soil.
The companies were increased $50
to $50 men but ten days ago since
that time have had no opportunity
for more than squad drill. This, In
addition to the fact that perhaps rs
per cent of the men are new men,
many raw recruits, made the splendid
success yesterday especially pleasing
to the regiments commander.
81 was impressed today more than
ever before by the honor which has
been bestowed upon me by being plac-
ed in command of such a splendid
body OF men, Colonel Bennett said
Last night a surprise visit from
Gov. w. L. Harding was paid to the
camp. The governor was received by
Colonel Bennett and his staff, and q
hand concert in his honor closed a
day long to be remembered by Iowa's
first troops to Fance.
May Leave Tomorrow
Col. E. r. Bennett in command of
the regiment received word yester-
day that he expected orders from
the department for his regiment to
move Tomorrow or not later than
Saturday.
Ten special trains of eighty Pull
man cars will be used to carry the
boys to Mineola. Their camp on the
hills of the fair grounds are hourly
crowded with visitors, mostly rela-
tives of the enlisted men. The men
are in high spirits. and that they will
be heard from with credit to them
selves and the state was the universal