New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
5000 Troops From
Many States Home
On Four Vessels
Two 9TH Officers Praise
New York Men: Deco
rated FIiers Tell of Ex-
ploits: Wounded Arrive

Nearly 5000 troops OF the American
overseas force returned yesterday or
four transports arriving at New York
The Siboney brought 3152, Of whom
1887 were sick or wounded Aboard
the Great Northern were 2,643. on the
cruiser Frederick ! ,547 and on La Lor-
raine 500.
Two invalided officers of the nth
Division came home on the Sibonev.
One of them was Captain NJ. G. r.
Whelpley, formerly an accountant with
The firm of Harris. Forbes Co, Pine
and William Streets His family now
resides in Westiield, \. j.
Captain Whelpley was in command
OF the Headquarters Company, 3o5th
field Artillery. when the division Went
to France last May Later he was on
the staff of Brigadier General Evan NJ.
Johnson He served on the Baccarat
sector in Lorraine then with the forces
that helped push the Germans back
from the Nesle to the Aisne and took
part in the final Allied offensive. be-
ginning September 26 in the Argonne.
which ended with his unit within an
hours march of Sedan when the armis-
tice was declared.
Officer Convalescent
About this time Captain Whelplsy
contracted trench fever, developing
lleurisy and then typhoid pneumonia.
He is now convalescent.
He spoke in the highest praise vf
General Evan NJ. Johnson, o. Brooklyn,
declaring the entire 77th Division re-
rretted his reassig gnment 70 the army
of occupation.
Major General Frederick S. Strong
commanded the troops on the Siboncy.
He was in charge of the 4Cth Division
which went to France some seven
months ago. 1t reached the front lines
only few days before the armistce
General Strong, whose home is in Kal-
amazoo, Mich, is q regular army of
ticer
Brigader General William. O. Joha-
son. brigade commander III the 40th
division, and Colonel +. H. Farnum,
chief OF staff, accompanied General
Strong
Second Lieutenant II. L. Cunning
ham was the other officer of the 77th
Division aboard He WAS replace
ment officer, his home being in Somer-
vile, Mass.
Riverdale Officer Gasscd
Another local man on the Sibonev
was Lieutenant John Outwater. Of Sol
West 259th Street, Rivcrdale He was
attached to the 309th Infantry. 18th
Division. At St Mihicl on September
II he was gassed and received O shrap-
mel wound in the leg.
Among the aviators on the trans
port was Lieutenant Eugene Scroggie.
of Des Moines. lie was q member Of
the 93th Aero Squadron with Captain
Eddie Rickenbackcr. An enemy plane
brought Scroggie's machine down Oc-
tober 3, woundIng him. He was taken
prisoner and confined in German
hospital at Stenay till November 20.
Massachusetts. Tennessee and Ind
ana troops make up the bulk of the
Frederick's complement In addition
there are five officers and l65 enlisted
men Of the 95'h Aero Squadron, in
command of Lieutenant A. NJ. joyce.
This was tho unit to which Lieutenant
Quentin Roosevelt was attached
Lieutenant Roosevelt was killed,
guess. because 'e was a little too
brave said Private David Edwards
of Scranton. who was present july II
when Roosevelt started on his last
fight.
He WAS chatting and laughing with
some other officers while we were tun-
ing up his engine" said Edu "He
wore glasses, but | think there was
nothing to that story that he was near
sighted"
Private Home Decorated
Private Andrew J. Van Dusen. wear
ing the Croix de Guerre and the Dis
Ingulshed Service Cross, Of Bedford.
Ind. was on the Frederick He was
decorated for attacking single handed
an enemy machine gun nest. After be
ing wounded in the ankle he killed
three Germans, took two prisoners and
put the machine gun out Of commits
SION.
Lieutenant Colonel Dallas S. Towns
end, New York lawyer, whose home
is at l51 West Ninety-fourth Street.
was on the Great Northern. He went
overseas as a major in command Of the
I'd Battalion, 3i9th Field Artillery
Captain George Rrokaw Comntor
also local lawyer, of go West ll5tb
Street. was likewise on the Great
Northern.