Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-09
FIFTH NEBRASKA
NOW AT FORT CROOK
Soldiers Return from Mexican
Border-To Be Mustered
Out of Service.
COL. PAUL is TO RESIGN

The Fifth Nebraska regiment re-
turned yesterday to be mustered
out OF the federal service, just seven
months to a day from the time il
left Lincoln July 9 for border scrv-
ice. The soldiers arrived OH two
troop trains, the first reaching Fort
Crook at $50 this morning and the
other entering the post shortly after
9 o'clock. The regiment comprised
597 men and fifty officers.
Before noon all the equipment had
been unloaded and all preparations
completed for keeping the soldiers
al the fort until they are mustered
out.
The regiment left Llano Grande
Sunday afternoon at 1880, Stops al
Houston and Kansas City were made
on the way up. Although the home
coming took much longer time thar
the down trip, the soldiers say they
had a much more enjoyable time. All
soldiers had tourist sleepers and the
officers Pullman sleepers.
Little Excitement.
With the exception of small FIRE in
one of the stock cars shortly after
the first troop train left Llano Grande
the homeward trip was without any
excitement.
Just how long the Fifth will be re-
CURED to remain at the fort before
being mustered out is uncertain. ac-
cording to Captain James w. Ever
ington, senior mastering out officer
Captain Everington said that he had
not received any orders from Wash
ington to delay mastering out owing
to the break with Germany. He said
that mastering out would start imme-
diately and unless further orders were
received the soldiers would in all
probabilities be allowed to go to their
homes by the next fifteen or twenty
days. Captain l.. r. James, Captain
c. +. King of the medical corps and
First Lieutenant r, R. Hartley OF the
Twentieth United States infantry, all
of the regular United States army
have been detailed and arc now al
Fort Crook TO aid i'll the muster out
work.
No Orders to Delay.
When asked if he had received or
ders from the War department to de-
lay the mastering out of the regiment
Colonel II. J. Paul, commanding Of
hccr, said as far as he knew none had
ever been issued and that he had not
received any.
I'VE completed most Of our paper
Hork' while still on the border and
can complete all the remaining work
in about five more days. There GER
tainly must be mistake somewhere
for ! have no orders that we are to
be held at Fort Crook for an indeh-
mite time due to recent break with
Germany"
Colonel Paul to Resign.
Colonel Paul said that he intended
to resign as soon as the present crisis
with Germany is over. II have been
in the service good many years and
believe that | should step down and
give another man chance" Colonel
Paul was reelected commanding Of
hcer shortly before his regiment was
ordered home. The election took
place January %.
Not man of the Fifth regiment
returned to Nebraska sick and none
was left behind in hospitals. The Fifth
regiment is said to be the only or
ganization on the border that never
lost a man through death. Letters in
possession of Colonel Paul from high
army officers and officials give credit
to the regiment as one of the most
efficient and well-drilled on the entire
border.
The record of the Fifth was also
exceptionally high in craftsmanship
All State Troops Back.
With the arrival of the Fifth regi.
ment all OF the Nebraska troops arc
now home from the oorder, with the
exception of the hospital detachment
Twelve companies, the signal corps
company OF Fremont and the sani-
tary detachment comprises the or
ganizations that arrived at Fort
Crook. The companies and the towns
they are from are; A, Lincoln; B. Ne
braska City; c, Beatrice; D. Auburn;
Z, North Platte; F, Wymore; G, Has
tings; II, Lincoln; !, Ord X, Blue
hill; l., Gothenburg and M, Grand
Island.