The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-22
Funston Soldiers Eagerly Pre-
pare for Trip Over There.
Everything at Camp Shows Ac-
tivity of Departure.
DETAILS ARE kept SECRET
But Spirit of Men Is One Thing
Huns Should Know.
Middle West Will Be Well Rep
resented by Them.

Camp Funston, Kan, May 22.-The
Eighty-ninth National army division
under General Wood is experiencing
the thrills and the sensations and the
heart throbs the men have been long
ing for during their long months OF
training Altho it is not permissible
to tell the details, the censor has per-
mitted correspondents to state that
the division is moving. Where they
go, when and how are details that are
not allowed to be discussed-but the
men are and have been busy packing
and saying goodby, and there has
been a hustle and a busy buzz here
every hour of the day and night for
some time.
For eight and a half months the
Eighty-ninth division has been train
ing and preparing and getting ready
for the big job lover there" and now
the boys are notifying their families
join the hosts of Hun holders under
General Pershing. And such an or
ganization of wonderfully fit manhood
has never before said goodby to Kan
sas soil. 1t goes without saying that
such an organization could not say
goodby without making lasting i'm
preston upon all who witness the
spectacle.
Men Ideal Americans
That the men are ready" and that
they are going into this. the greatest
event of their lives, with all the en-
thusiasm, all the determination and
all the fine spirit that Americans hold
ideal leaves the spectator speeches.
in his admiration but thrilled with an
enthusiasm and a patriotism that few
ever before experienced.
A nit rcI cd NV ha nd -.
ing the strains of lover There,c
standards and colors flying, bayonets
glistening! Thousands of canvas clad
legs moving in perfect rhythm. Curt
orders in low voices barely distinguish
able above the crunching of gravel. A
stop for goodby to comrades; more
playing by the band Of jazz music.
ragtime and a finish on the national
anthem. Not a dry eye is left, but
none from sorrow. There's patriotism
about to offer his life for his country
feels no shame in shedding tear at
such a time.
Confusion for few minutes, and
the offering of Kansas, or Missouri,
or Nebraska. South Dakota, Colorado,
Arizona or New Mexico is on it's way.
A colonel, real full-fledged colonel
with eagles on his shoulders, stood at
the head of such a line Stiff and
erect he stood with a cold look in his
eye, frowning while the bands PLAYED
and his thousands of men stood await
ing his command. veteran of for
mer service he was. with a campaien
ribbon spreading wide across his left
breast.
mo talking in line" he announced
when the column halted
Even Colonel Melted,
The colonel Watched the expression
Oh mis- men as they melted under the
national anthem, saw the looks of
warming in the faces of "bunkies, +"
stanoing py' saw his men look toward
them, but never speak, and he melted.
too.
Hold the lines, put talk if you want
to-, he changed his order, and the
dozen or more fathers who knew
somehow to be in camp, rushed into
boys. their liberty bond"
An officer ranking so high it would
practically be manning him to give his
rank. stood back a distance and
| watched.
mo man can ever know or realize.
unless he has seen it with his own
eyes" he soliloquized. Just a few
short months ago they we're clerks
and office men, farmers and mechan-
les Now to look at them! It is past
believing. They're wonderful Thank
God, I am an American and brother
1
And the high officer is not alone in
his thankfulness. Not a man among
the thousands would trade places with
stay-at-home. Each feels his ir1por-
lance, the prime importance of a pri-
vate in canvas leggings, the man who
will execute the order of General Per
shing With such a feeling the seth
| Division goes to do its share.
| West Well Represented.
The middle west may rest assured
it is we'll represented in the American
/ Expeditionary forces and before this
summer closes will hear of the work OF
its sons in barring the door of bar
barism.
| What plans the future holds fol
Camp Funston have not been an
nounced Whether a new division will
! be trained here or replacement
camp established is merely problemat-
ical. But certain it is that the empty
barracks will not be empty long. Fol
| one reason the training space is tor
valuable, and for another reason, they
| are too lonely looking a sight to be
left on the face of the earth. Bleak
staring windows with not a face II
them, long rows of hunks stripped
bare, strings of tables with hundred.
| of empty chairs. tell a story of lone.
someness to soldiers passing by.