New Britain herald., 1919-04-05
YANKEE DIVISION FIGHTERS
 TROD AMERICAN SOIL AGAIN
$500 Returned Heroes
 Swarm Over Side of Mount Vernon and Take Trains For Camp Devens.
GEN. EDWARDS GIVEN
 HOUSING RECEPTION

HOUSING RECEPTION Almost Before Daylight Former Leader of 26th Division Arrived At Dock to Greet Men Who Fought
 Under Him in France-SoIdiers
 Sent to Camp Dcvens On 10 Special
 Trains
 Boston, April 5.-Fifty-e hun- dred heroes of the Yankee Division swarmed over the side of the Trans port Mount Vernon today and board ed trains for Camp DeVens, the first of which pulled out from Common wealth pier shortly before a. m. It was the first time in 19 months that these men had touched the soil of their homeland, and reveille had found everybody awake and counting the minutes until they could go ashore.
 Almost before daylight Major Gen. Edwards, who had been unable to greet the transport yesterday because Of speaking engagements in Maine. appeared at the dock. As soon as his automobile was sighted by the men Of his former command a shout arose that could be heard a mile away. and as he boarded the ship the men rush ed forward to greet him with hand shakes and cheers. His face beamine ec with pleasure, the general took a po- sition in the open space on the for ward deck and addressed them.
 Edwards Praises Fighters.
 1T have just come back from Maine" said Gen. Edwards, "where I have been telling the parents Of many of you men that you're 200 per cent better than when you went across And then you. went across and are again in the thick of this country The future of the country is in your hands, men, and the country has no fear; have no fear. I am sure you will live up to the aspirations Of your parents and to my expectations of you"
 With the men clustered closely about him, Gen. Edwards told them they should not feel he had lost any of his pride in the Yankee Division because he did not wear the "YD" symbol. The soldiers chuckled when the general explained that he had been able to get around the war de- partment regulation forbidding the appearance of g. sym bol of the uni form of an officer detached from a di- vision, by having the "YD" attached to his pajamas at night.
 Ten Trains Take Troops
 In addition to their arms the men carried their packs, weighing from 50 tc 70 pounds and many of them were laden also with souvenirs from the battlefeIds. It required ten trains with an average of 12 cars each to transport them to camp. The trains went out over the New Haven lines to Walpole Junction. thence to Tram ingham and to Concord Junction where they were turned over to the Boston and Main railroad for the re- mainder of the run to Camp Devens Railroad officials said the trip by this roundabout route would consume three hours.
 FuriOughS in 4S Hours. The baggage brought over by the Mount Vernon had been taken off overnight ana fo1 warded to the camp. Arrancem ents had been completed at Devens to put the men through the
 
 sible so that there was a prospect that several hundred at least would be able to start for their homes on 1 furloughs within 4S hours.
 The dispatch of trains went on ac- cording to schedule, q trainload of troops getting away every 20 min utes, and it was believed that barring unexpected delays tic pier would be cleared by rcon.
 Major Gen. Harry c. Hale, com mander of the division announc ced that he had designated Lieut.. Col Rossy of his staff to act as the divi- sion representative at northeastern department headquarters in this city
 II War Brides Separated.
 Army regulations neCessitated the temporary separation of 1 war brides Who'came over on the Mount Vernon from their soldier husbands. While the men were boarding trains for Camp Devens the brides were taken in charge by customs and immigration ties had been completed were turned over to the Red Cross chaperonage pending the discharge of their hus- bands from service.
 The only Yankee Division soldier to bring a wife home with him was Private Fred F. Bluff of North Read ing. The other newly married men on the Mount Vernon were casuals.
 Edwards Sails Down Bay.
 Major Gen. Edwards went down (Continued on Seventh Pagea