The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-22
STATE COMMITTEE
 LEAVES THURSDAY
 ID WELCOME HOME RETURNING HEROES
Lieut.. Gov. Miller UnOffi- cially Advised War De- partment Offers the Re- ception Committee a
 Special Boat

AIabama's official reception c0mmit- tee which will be the first to greet the old Fourth Alabama regiment when 1t reaches America's shores after it's ex- ploits overseas, will leave Birmingham for New York on the Birmingham Spe- cial at Q o'clock Thursday morning.; will establish Headquarters at the Wal dorf-Astoria Saturday afternoon, and unless plans are changed at the last moment, will take a boat late Saturday night and greet the returning soldiers in the outer harbOr of New York.
 Lieutenant Governor Nathan l.. Mil Ter, designated as head of the delega- tion by Governor Kilby Saturday night. announced Monday afternoon that he and other members of the delegation who had not already gone would leave Thursday morning. Governor Miller has wired to New York for reservations al the Waldorf-Astoria, but if he should be unsuccessful, headquarters will be maintained at that central point any way.
 DEPARTURES ALREADY NOTED
 "A large number of citizens of Ala bama who are interested in the regi- ment have already gone to New York, ', said Governor Miller. "Others will leave Tuesday and Wednesday and all who do not go before that time are expected to take the train Thursday morning
 Tt was thought at first that special reservation for Pullman accommoda- tions for all representatives of Alabama would be made, but up to this time 1t has not seemed to be feasible, due to the fact that many citizens have already gone while others want 10 carry out their own plans during their stay in New York. Many intend to combine business with pleasure and VIII remain after the official delegation will leave. For this and other reasons 1t has not been deemed advisable to attempt to hold the delegation together during the trip to New York and back
 q would like to emphasize. however, that all citizens of Alabama who will be in New York during the reception should call at Alabama headquarters at the Waldorf-Astoria. We want to make this a big celebration But at this time no one is able to say just what plans will be followed.
 SPECIAL BOAT PROBABLE
 .srhis uncertainty is due first to the fact that we do not known when the boats bringing the Alabama soldiers will reach the port, or whether they wiIs debark on the New York or New Jersey side, and second, to the fact that we do not know what accommoda- tions will be provided. No final plans for the reception will be made until our arrival in New York"
 Unofficial Information received in Birmingham is that the war department will provide a special boat for the use of citiens of Alabama and that this boat will go into the outer harbor to greet the returning soldiers.
 However, it is not known whether the full capacity of the boat will be allotted to this state or whether other states will have an interest in it. If the entire boat is available. 1t is prob able that the entire delegation Of citi- zens of Alabama can be included in the personnel of the passenger list. If oth- CT states have share in the boat, Ala bama's representatives must be limited to those holding commissions from the state governor, 34 in all.
 VISIT TO BARRACKS
 It is improbable that the delegation will be admitted to the barracks for any length of time after the soldiers debark It has been the policy of the war department to hold the soldiers for a short time after their arrival in order that any diseases may be discovered, all equipment checked and arrange ments made to, transport the men to demobilization camps. This investiga- ton and checking process will be ac- complished at Camp Meade, Md. and it is probable that the 167th will move to Camp Meade shortly after its de- barkation. No one can offer guess as to how long the regiment will be at Camp Meade, but it is known that the soldiers of other regiments have been kept there a number of days.
 If . boast is provided for the entire Alabama delegation 1t Is probable the formal reception. which will he short will he given on board the ship as it enters the port. If not the reception