The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-12
VIII Probably Stay All Night
and Parade Tuesday.
They Did Not Reach Kansas
City Until This Afternoon.
PLANS ARE UP IN AIR HERE
Topeka, However, Hopes To
Give Boys Real Welcome.
Red Cross Canteen Ready With
Meal For Heroes.

The 117th ammunition train will
arrive in Topeka over the Union Pa
cific railroad at $50 o'clock this eve
| ming, according to the latest word re-
| ceived in Topeka
The train arrived in Kansas City
at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon for a
five and one-half stop. The unit was
to parade in Kansas City and Rose
dale.
The 117th ammunition train will
parade in Topeka tomorrow morning,
the parade probably starting at $3.50
O'Clock. On arrival in Topeka the
| troops will be fed by the Red Cross
canteen workers, and those Topeka
| men in the organization will probably
be permitted to spend their first
| night at home.
Reports received in Topeka today
from the United Press and the Asso-
ciated Press indicate that the I17th
ammunition train will proceed to
Camp Funston for rehabilitation to-
night. Reports received in Topeka
from Adjutant Baker. of the ammuni-
ton train. indicate that the troops
VIII lay over in Topeka tonight. pa
rade here tomorrow morning, and
proceed, to Funston for demobiliza-
ton about noon.
Guards Called Out.
Companies c and d of the Kansas
State guard are ordered to report at
| the Union Pacific depot at 8 o'clock
this evening to assist in keeping the
station platform free from the curious
public. The platform is to be reserved
for relatives of the boys and sight
seers are to be barred.
Tomorrow the Tuesday team of the
Red Cross canteen under command of
Mrs. w. G.. Dickey, will have charge
of feeding and caring for the wants
of the ammunition train men.
. The Kansas National guard COM
pany is to have charge of the policing
of the state house grounds as has beei.
the custom in the receptions for the
, other troops.
| The reception committee at the
depot will be formed as usual by the
Red Cross canteen workers and other
Red Cross women on duty for the day.
The Wampus Kitties, Captain Tillot-
sons organization of returned soldiers,
will take their usual part in the re-
ception, furnishing the first wildness
of the reception. The squad of re-
turned sailors will mobilize as usual at
the west end of the Union Pacific
depot to take part in the reception and
the parade.
Boys Are Known Here.
Topeka has a particular interest in
the 117th ammunition train. which is
practically an all-kansas unit. The
ammunition train companies were mo-
, bilized in Topeka at the free state fair
| grounds here. They received their
initial training in the big open spaces
in the fair grounds. They paraded in
Topeka at least six times every day for
a period of nearly two weeks.
There are about thirty Topeka men
in the famous organization which was
attached to the Rainbow division.
| ig a fri n "a
sonal friend, of nearly every man in
the organization.
During the entire two weeks mo-
, bilization period in Topeka the men
| of the ammunition train were
messed" at the Masonic temple and
!, at the Chamber of Commerce. The
: business men of the city became ac-
Z quainted with the men-not in the
mere exchange of pleasantries but in
close personal friendship. Topeka
women mothered the boys in their en-
; campment. Topeka girls found new
sweethearts among them.
| There is no doubt that the re-
ception for the ammunition train in
Topeka will be a welcome notable for
its warm -heartedness and for the re-
newal of friendships cemented in the
| breaking of bread together.
5 Were Jacks of All Trades.
Many and varied were the employ
ments and the experiences of the men
of the 111th ammunition train over
seas according to stories told IL To-
) peka at various times and in various
places by Lieut.. Col. Frank i. Travis.
: formerly commander of the unit and
now state superintendent OF insurance.
: Stevedore work was done by the
men in the command. They were
l architects and builders. They were
road constructioI gangs. They were
haulers Ot garbage. They wers am
munition freighters. In fact, they
: were everything that is demanded in
, this mans army"
/, Specialists In All Lines.
Stories told by Travis relate how the
manders when specialists of any line
were desired. Bla -ksmiths, doctors,
lawyers, mechanics machinists, CAR
penters, electricians-in fact, every
; known trade and profession had its
representatives in the ranks of the ann
munition train. The unit was the
: jack ll-trades for the A. L. F. On
: deman1 it could ani did supply any
sort of skilled man.
But all of this work was done just
> after the Rainbow division landed in
: France and while they were still in
the first stages of overseas trading.
s 1t was nearly all done while The unit
was in the port areas.
= But when the division moved up into
e the combat areas. the 117th ammuni-
. ton train began its real functioning.
1t hauled ammunition to the big
| ar1I hn