The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-28

not possess that valued requisite. He
left the regiment shortly before it
sailed. and later went to France, hav-
ing been promoted to colonel.
Sent Back to United States.
Major Jennings took the regiment
overseas, and upon arrival there,
Lieut.. Col. Roy F. Waring, who had
preceded the regiment to France with
the advance school detachment, as
sumed command at Anglers. Colonel
Waring, who had organized the Sec
ond battalion at Pittsburg, was KAN
SaS man, who was connected with the
Fraternal Aid Union at Lawrence. He
was a West Point graduate, but had
left the service some years before. He
was very popular with the regiment.
and at the Second corps artillery
school in April and May had made an
excellent record. Influence was
brought to bear against him, however,
on the grounds of alleged indiscretion,
and he was forced to return to the
United States, against the will of his
officers and men.
After the brief and routine COM
mand of Colonel Klemm at the school
of fire at Coetquidan, Lieut.. Col.
James Wilson, of the regular army,
showed up, and during the six weeks
he was boss, the entire unit was in
a state of uproar. Just before leaving
checked over the payrolls, and turned
over the money to Captain Mills to
pay the men.
Two Months Without Pay.
"Give that money back" ordered the
colonel, with a roaring tone, Il don't
want this regiment to be drunk on the
troop train for the next ten days"
On account of this pleasant act of
the colonel, who, incidentally, never
ia IN wv 10 he iI-Gf ~ n
month, the men went more than two
months without a franc of pay to buy
necessities. Wilson wouldn't trust his
men. who in return. didn't trust him,
and a feeling of cordial hatred was
soon mutual. On the Vosges noun
tain front, Colonel Wilson literally
used his operations officer as an err
rand boy. and corporal as an ad-
jutant. Affairs were at a breaking
point when General Berry arrived one
day, and canned" the colonel on the
spot, placing Major Thurston on the
job.
Slept on Feather Beds.
On the way to st. Mihiel and the
Argonne, Thurston, always riding
ahead in a closed limousine and sleep
ing on feather beds nearly every night.
assumed such an arbitrary attitude
toward his men as to be almost I'M
bearable. This writer feels he. can
u
vouched for by 100 per cent of the
personnel. On one occasion when the
regiment. weary after a nights hike in
the rain, drew up in some woods at
dawn for few hours rest, Thurston
drove up and began "bawling out" his
men.
IT don't give blankety-blank about
the men of the regiment" he declared
in the presence of more than twenty
five Battery A gunners, its the horses
am looking after"
Most Unpopular c. o.
Thurston was in command in the
Argonne. He was. technically, an ef-
sonality had compared with his knowl-
edge of mathematics, he would have
been prime success.
Major T. H. Jennings, of New Lon
don. Conn. who had been in a Paris
hospital for several weeks, again took
command after the Argonne. as. he
was senior to Thurston. He was in
charge of the 13oth when the regi-
ment moved into position on the Yer
dun front on October Is. Jennings. if
anything, was more disliked than
Thurston. The boys never will forget
an act of his on a troop train speed
ing to the Atlantic coast just before
the regiment sailed. Because some of
the men were merrily chatting with
pretty girls at the stations in Indiana
ana ONO, MAJOR Jennings OTueTeo
all the windows closed at all stops.
despite the sitting heat. In some
places the cars would stand in the
yards for hours. and the men could
get no ventilation, while the major
promenaded up and down the track
with a cigarette in his mouth.
Luck Comes to Them.
About November 1. Thurston was
promoted to lieutenant colonel, and
few days later Col. Hugh S. Brown.
regular army officer who had risen
from the rank of private, was as
signed to the regiment. 1t was che
most fortunate thing that ever hap
pened to the 130th. Brown was a
broad-minded officer. who always
looked after the interests of his men
before he thought of his own COM
fort During his regime, the esprit