Evening journal., 1919-07-10
OFFICERS TRIED
MONTHS TO GET
PIONEERS HOME
CONTINUED From pnro nnsA


port by June ij so that the entire reg
lment could come nome at one time bu
inns promise was not kept. lie does mol
known what work the men OF these
companies are now engaged i'm or just
where they are located. The three
companies had been engaged in con
struction work on On Pershng Stadium
ana al ColOombes where barracks were
buiit Tor the a. Y. +. athletes. This
work had been completed two weeks
before Colonel Reed left Brest on June
~. Why they were held in Paris or
near Paris no one seems 10 know.
There are about 200 men I'm each OF
these three companies and Of this num-
Der probably - in each company are
Delawareans. Most Of the officers are
also from this State. They arc under
Major w. +. Lank Of Milford.
Colonel Reed today denied a report
! that has been circulated in Whining
ton Tor several days 20 the effect that
one OF the companies is being retained
in France because the men had conlls-
Gated carload OF cOgnac. lie laughed
when told OF this report He said he
/ had heard such a report and that in
| fact a woman called him by telephone
last night and inquired as TO the truth
OF it.
lie then explained that there IS prac-
| tically no truth 10 such a report.
Colonel Reed stated that what hap
pened was as follows: The train on
which one OF the companies was 20
ing into Paris was stopped for a short
time in the freight yard lust outside
the city. 4 car in which there was
cOgnac had been broken open, evident
ly by some Frenchmen.
Some OF the Pioneers learning Of
the cognac being in a nearby car, went
there and took several bottles back 10
their train. The railroad authorities
on learning Of the car being broken
into telegraphed ahead and the train
carrying the 59th boys was searched
and some OF the cOgnac found. \ claim
was put in by the railroad and resti-
tuition was made by the United States
Army. That is all there was 10 10 and
nothing further came Of 10 as FAR as
know said Colonel Reed.
The commander OF .he Pioneers said /
he had heard through friends that re-
ports had been circulated in Whining |
ton % alleged dissatisfaction in the I
regiment but HAT he knew nothing T.
NJ any dissens.on and had paid no at T.
tention 10 the rumors as he considered /
them absurd.
Some OF the alleged dissatisfaction /
is said 10 be based on the belief Of |
some OF the men that Colonel Reed /
kept them in France longer than was /
necessary and that hc did not make .
much OF an effort 10 get them home .
early after the arm.slice was signed /
This is also denied by Colonel Reed.
who stated Today that he was Just as
anxious 20 get home as any one else
In the regiment Tie stated that he.
Ellison. Major Bush
and Captain Van SEWER. The personnel
officers. did evcryth.z they could from
the time the arnistice was signed 10
get the reg mcnt back 90 Delaware.
~ 60 the report That some OF the
boys on being mustered out and re-
turning 90 this city had stated they
would refuse to march behind Colonel
Reed in a porade. The Colonel said ne
Iad never heard such a report until
Yesterday
Tho miv-up OF Tuesday which made
Q impossible 10 hold IRE parade in
reed. he said when lle work Of mus
ering the boys oul and paying them
lm was started Tuesday morning 70 Z
progressed rapidly for a time. About !
lfty OF the men were paid on in ten .
minutes. 70 was thought that II this
peed was maintained the men would
M be free 60 return 10 Wilmington a
ometime during The afternoon. Some :
{. D. O.. IA g.. HHan
cnant- Colonel Ellison. Major Mckay J
nd Major Parks and told them they
would like 10 come TO Wilmington i'm 5
special train TO enter the parade. BY! ,
oing this they would avoid changing !
ars in Philadelphia and going from {
he Camden ferries TO Broad street sld- rc
ion. 10 was then that plans were I
made for the special 10 leave Camp Dix 9
9 I O'Clock and The reception commit {
&c in this city was so notified. y
shortly after this. Colonel Reed says.
he work OF mastering out started 10 %
az. The officers in charge OF The "
work. took two hours OF 40 noon and 10 {
rogressed slowly when resumed in y
ne afternoon. BY I o'clock only Y
bout 200 OF the men and none Of the n
Ulcers had been mustered out. II "
len was necessary 10 call or The plan n
,r the special. In the meantime The d
zen who were mustered ont and paid n
n did not wait around camp but d
,ok the first ira rs out they could "
et. This made it impossible 90 carry 81
NO any plans for a parade. d
Colonel Reed explained that while :
le regiment was stationed at Bres
nj word had been received that the >
,ople in Delaware were arranging a
ceptiOn, ne and Lieut.-Coloncl FL
son had circulated among The boys y
Id asked them how many would par =
,ipate in a parade. The Pioneers q
ere opposed TO the idea OF a parade,
they wanted TO get home as quickly Il
possible and the parade and cere, g
Onies did not appeal TO them. Lieu
Ellison had then eX
aimed the situation in Delaware and G.
tinted out that it was due 10 the p
ople Of the state that they should q
IN out upon their arrival home, and
was then agreed TO parade. q,
Colonel Reed explains that he OF "
urse had no control over the men b
ter they were mustered out and 10 d
rs then entirely optional with them n
lcthcr they naraded or not. G,
When lhc Pioneers were rebuilding
ii~oads. putting In water systems and III
ing other similar work as an cngi- a:
cring OUTFIT back of The line before ia
An Unfailing Way q
To Danish Hairo