The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-05-21
MILITARY J. 1 Al I EVENT | INT
OF THE STATE
Homecoming OF the Remnant Of the
Famous 168th Regiment OF Rain
bow Division a Great Event
EVERY COUNTY is Represented
Relatives and Friends From Every
Section Of the State at Des Moines
to Welcome the Boys


DEs MONIES, May 1.-THE home
coming of the remnant of the famous
168th regiment of the Rainbow divis.
ion was the greatest military event
in the history of the state. This, unit
was composed largely of the old Third
Iowa national guard regiment and up
on it's departure from the state early
in this country's Precipitation OF the
war men were drawn from other units
to make up the completed regiment.
Thus it was that nearly every county
In the state was represented in the
contingent and this accounts for the
, wide spread interest in the home COM
ing of the men. The fact that this d.
vision was thrown into the hardest
fighting sector on the French lines in
tensified the Interest in the brave men
who contributed so much at a decisive
hour in preventing the Germans from
taking Paris The regiment lost heav-
1ly in killed and wounded, more than
half coming Under the casualty list.
The service nag that greeted the boys
as they entered the state at Dubuque,
Davenport and Keokuk on their re-
turn journey Wednesday contained 673
gold stars. In addition to this large
death toll, hundreds of the crippled
and MANNED men are at reclamation
hospitals in various sections OF this
country and some are still in hospi-
tails in France. Among the casuals
are scores of men at Ft. Des Moines
and Camp Dodge hospitals and these
were permitted to view the parade
from automobiles except such as are
mentally incapacitated from shell
shock and other disorders. The home
folks from every town that had a
company in the old national guard
regiment were out in full force Spe-
cial trains began arriving early Thurs
day morning and automobiles by tle
thousand poured into the city from
avery section of the state. The wealth
er was ideal and this made possible
SO. large a use of across country tray-
Ell. It was touching, pathetic yet
happy occasion. The relatives and
friends greeted the men with joyful
acclaim and groups OF soldiers and
members of their families held happy
communion long before the great
crowds assembled. ss
The parade was composed of around
1900 men. The men of this regiment
who had been previously discharged
joined in the delightful welcome and
there were soldiers from Camp Dodge
and wounded from the government
hospitals here who belonged to other
contingents who Joined in the great
event Des Moines never before wit
messed such jam of humanity along
its thoroughfares for so great a dis
tance. Over forty blocks to say moth
ing about the great open mall west OF
the state house was a mass OF human
ity. Near the state house human
flag made up OF girls dressed to give
the, proper color. Dozens of bands
had come from the towns and cities
sround about and the crack regimental
band with it's supplement of bugles al
forded musical contingent never be.
fore witnessed in the city. At each
street intersection reservations were
made for different towns and cities
and policemen and boy scouts kept the
way open for the conquering heroes.
Shout masters were at every available |
vantage point and the shouting and
yelling organized and spontaneous
was deafening along 40 blocks covered
by the marching men, Decorations
were profuse and designs fascinating. |
Artists had painted miniature rain
bows upon the large glass fronts OF
business houses and everywhere were
flags and bunting with greetings to the
1G8th in all kinds of lettering.
z One Of the interesting groups that
greeted the men was the Grand Army
veterans occupying conspicuous
place upon the city libarry lawn. The
Grand Army drum corps thrilled the |
multitude with the stirring music that |
gave inspiration and courage in the |
war of the great rebellion.
From reviewing stand on the state |
capitol grounds. Gov. w. L. Harding
and his staff witnessed the great pa
rade. Col Matt Tinley and his guards |
mounted, led the soldiers in their tri-
Gmphant march through the city 1t
was a great event, a great occasion
and royal welcome.
General Leonard Wood Vi,its Camp
Gen. Leonard Wood was an inter-
ested visitor at Camp Dodge and TT.
Des Moines the past week. He looked
carefully over all the military activ-
tiles at these two posts. He gave it
as his opinion that Fort Des Moines
would be maintained regularly as a
post but that the future OF +
Camp Dodge depended upon the action
of congress in it's endorsement of Sec.
retary of War Bakers plan for the Sc
lection of half million men for the |