The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-07
A FAMILY PARTY
All Members of So Infantry
Attend.
Regiment Has Record To Be
Proud OF.
BY SERGT. H. G. DENYVEN.

"A huge family party was held by
the seth Infantry at the Kansas build
ing Wednesday evening and all the
members of the regiment from Colonel
F. ]. Mcconnell. commanding the reg
iment, down TO the last private in the
rear rank were present. A program
of music. novelty numbers and an adj
dress was given.
After the opening musical number.
which was rendered by the 69th In
fantry band under the direction of
Band Leader Isador Cohen, Colonel
Mcconnell delivered a brief. snappy
address. telling of the splendid pro-
gress made by the regiment during it's
brief career of four months and how
favorabiy it compared with other regi-
ments with which the colonel had
been associated.
Just Missed Trip "Over There"
The colonel told the boys of the reg
iment that 1t was not any fault of
theirs they did not get a chance to go
''over" and do their bit in France. and
that the men should always be proud
to have been members of such a splen-
did organization as the 69th Infantry.
He also stated that the 69th missed its
chance to get across by the most mar
row margin, telling of his recent visit
to Camp Mills and how the 8th and
9Th divisions were held up there when
Sth division even being removed from
the ships which they had already
boarded. and remarking that the 10th
was the next one scheduled after the
9Th was on its journey. The colonel
said that it was too bad that the Ger
mans had TUNED yellow" just when
the seth was ready for the fray.
Colonel Mcconnell appeared very
proud OF the record made by the regi-
ment. especially of the fact that only
one person in the entire organization
has ever been tried by a general court
martial. and that person was a con-
scientious objector. who was sentenced
toSlife Imprisonment, but who had his
sentence commuted by Major General
Leonard Wood to rs years. mot one
person." said the colonel, has ever
been tried by a special court martial.
and there have only been comparative
few persons tried by the summary
court and most of those nave been for
cases of A. w. o. L." The colonel said
that any man who would go A. w. o.
L., now exhibited a piece of solid
ivory" for a head, as it would only be
six or eight weeks. in his opinion, be-
fora-the men would be mustered out
Of the service.
The fact that the boys are flor"
their commanding officers was dem
onstrated by the hearty applause
which greeted him when he appeared
on the stage and by the even more
l.earty applause he was given at the
conclusion of his talk. One reason for
this may be gathered from a remark
made by the colonel, which was that
he would always be pleased to meet
any Of the men of the regiment and
know them in civil life.
Program of Entertainment.
After the address the program of
entertainment for the evening started
Proba bly, the most fascinating number
F, y, IT, he ocriv,
concerned was the impersonation of
woman by Corporal Cecil North, a
member of Company II Of the 41st
infantry, who was kindly loaned for
the occasion. Corporal North first ap-
peared as a Red Cross nurse from
.over there" and so real did she look
that every person in the audience lost
their heart to the lady, Corporal
North then donned an ordinary wom-
ans costume and gave a brief. but
brilliant monologue, which was fol
lowed by a Spanish dance in typical
Spanish costume. Eyes popped and
the suspense was intense and then the
corporal removed his wig. The reader
can, imagine the surprise, for every
one was completely fooled up to that
time.
Good Music Feature.
Enough cannot be said for the 69th
infantry band and the splendid music
they rendered. Corporal Palizzi and
his accordion were greeted with the
usual applause. the corporafs music
always draws, and Corporal Steigey
won a host of friends on his cornet
solo. The Jazz orchestra was there
as usual
The last number on the program
was three boxing bouts and the last
appreciated by all the 5000 m, pres
/ ent.
The complete program as arranged
| by Mr.. Pemberton, camp dramatic di-
! rector, follows:
SeIections-69th Inf. Band.
Address-Colonel Mcconnell
Songs-Sergeant Anderson.
Cornet Solo accompanied by Band
| Corp. Steiger. 69th Inf. Band.
| 1.-The Auctioneer." Monologue-
Corp. Ferris, Co. C, 69th Inf.
i Accordion Solo-Corp. Palizzi, 69tf
Inf. Band.
| Character Songs-Palmer and Barr
H. @. Co., 41st Inf.
Female Improvisation and Spanish
Dances-Corp. Cecil North. Co. H
| 41st Inf.
Jazz Band-69th Inf. Band.
Chicago Four Quartet-Sergt. bod
son, Pvts. Lang, wilgus and Clarity
i Boxing-Three Ground bouts.
| ---- -