Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-01-02
SOLDIER LADS
BACK HOME FROM
BORDER SERVICE
Hupdreds Of Parents, Sweet
hearts and Friends Welcome
Fourth Regiment Upon Its
Arrival Home Sunday
CITY DADS ARE ON HAND
Mayor and City Commissioners
Extend Hand of Greeting
to Khaki Clad Youths
TEN DAYS TO MUSTER OUT

Nldu 10 DC DdCk, Sldu " nav
gone"
That was the feeling of the 900
clcar-eyed, tanned, healthy-looking
khaki-clad figures and the ffty-two
officers comprising the Fourth Nc
braska regiment as it detrained at
Fort Crook Sunday afternoon after
doing border duty since July E, 1915.
Friends, sweethearts, parents and
onlookers were there by the hundreds
to greet the returning soldiers. Mayor
Dahlman and the city council were
also on hand to welcome back to
Nebraska the young men who had SO
loyalty joined their country's colors.
The Postoffice band did not put in
an appearance, owing to the uncer-
tainty OF the time of arrival OF the
troops. This uncertainty was also
responsible for a large number Of
persons staying away. As it was, the
hundreds OF parents, sweethearts and
friends came to the post and waited
several hours for the arrival of the
soldiers.
The first detachment, comprising
companies A, B, c and D of Omaha
and Z, F, G and H OF Wayne, Blair,
Stanton and Madison, respectively,
arrived at the post at 2:30 The men
started to detrain Immediately and
took possession of the warm bar
racks that awaited them, The sec
ond detachment, made up of COM
panics |, Gordon; X, Osceola and
Seward; M, York; Supply company,
Wisner; Sanitary detachment Lin
coin, and the Headquarters and Ma
chine company detachments, arrived
in half an hour, but could not ~
train until the first section had un-
loaded.
Dinner Is on Time.
By 6 o'clock everything had been
unloaded and the cooks had prepared
warm meals for the soldiers. For the
field officers provision had been made
to house and feed them in the Of
hcers row across from the soldier
barracks.
While the soldiers unloaded' their
paraphernalia and otherwise put their
barracks in condition for the evening.
friends. sweethearts and parents cir
culated among the guardsmen, renew
ing acquaintance and making merry
over their return.
A few mothers sobbed softly as
they embraced their soldier boys,
while it was not uncommon to see
sweethearts kiss their, returning
heroes. .t ....M
Sleepers for All.
On the return from Llano Grande
the soldiers declare that they had
much more enjoyable trip than going
to the border. Although the trains
moved slower, the equipment was
much better, each having sleeper.
The first detachment consisted Of
twenty-five cars, all of which were
sieepers with the exception OF four
freight cars. The second section
was made up, OF twentyseven cars,
all sleepers except seven baggage
cars.
The troops left Texas Wednesday
evening at about 7:30. On the way
up they paraded at Houston, Tex,
Little Rock. Ark, Coffeyville, Kan,
and Wagner, Okla. This was more
for exercise than exhibition.
The men, as they swung off the
cars, presented a far more healthy
appearance than when they left, All
were bronzed and showed the ef-
fects of six months of outdoor life.
Only two were left behind in Texas
because OF sickness.
The manner in which they set
about the task of unloading the cars.
and the discipline of the men showed
more than anything the evolution
which they had gone through. They
presented the aspect of regulars in
every sense of the word.
While the men all seemed anxious
to get back to Nebraska, none of
them seemed sorry that they had en-
listed They all were of the opinion
that the experience had done them
good but would not care to repeat
it unless actual warfare broke out,
Ten Days to Muster Out.
Just how long it will take to muster
out the men is a question the an
swer to which none of the officers
seems to know definitely. Colonel
George A. Eberly, commanding Of
fcer, said that he thought it would
be at least ten days and possibly
much longer time.
Four United States army officers
are now at Fort Crook to aid ip
mastering the men out. They ate
Captains Bates, James, King and lr-
vington.
The work OF mastering out the SOL
ders is in fact not mastering out
in the true meaning of the term.
Strictly speaking it is a>release from
federal duty, the officers and men go
ing back to the National Guard for
the term of their enlistment.
The first work in the process is
the making out Of the muster rolls.
This has already been accomplished
by the officers OF each of the COM
panies. This will be followed by
physical examination in which all
physical as well as mental defcctss
will be noted. This is done so as to
protect the government in case any
of the officers or men afterwards
apply. for pensions.
Next will follow the real musterml
ing out. This consists OF the count
ing of the property. Everything is