The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-18
Company HI and Sanitary Unit
Arrive at ) O'Clock.
PatrOlled "WOrSt Area" In Pitts.
burg Coal District.
WERE FIRED ON BY ShIPERS
Battled Biizzard-Slept in ley
Tents "Without Murmur."
Dismissal at Noon Today After
Splendid Patriotic Record.

Topeka's Company II, Fourth regf-
ment. and the sanitary detachment, X.
n G., returned home from the coal
fields early today.
The train bearing the infantry COM
pany under Capt. John Ashworth. and
the sanitary detachment under Maj.
c. c. Lull of Topeka, arrived from
Pittsburg at o'clock The officers
wired ahead TO the New Cafeteria, SIS
Kansas avenue. to have breakfast
ready for 130 men. The boys re-
manned in the warm coaches on a sid
ing at the Santa Fe depot until ESQ
O'Clock, detrained, marched to the ar
mory on East Seventh street and
stacked arms. They then marched to
the New Cafeteria for their meals
This morning they We're busy check
ing in their equipment at the armory.
They were dismissed about noon to-
day.
The men left Pittsburg Wednesday
night at O'Clock. They broke camp
in the afternoon, as the train was
scheduled 10 arrive at 6 o'clock and
leave at o'clock. But it was an hour
late getting out of Pittsburg and the
trip home required eight hours.
Welcomed by Relatives.
<1iNliD nont VI lnt DOgS
were at the depot to meet them. the
word soon got out that they were in
town and it was not long until sisters,
mothers, wives and sweethearts began
to appear at the armory to welcome
them shome.
Thesmen appeared to be in excellent
spirits 1t was just such enthusiasm
as they showed duringAall their three
weeks service in the mining district
! Captain Ashworth said. The national
guard was on duty during the severest
weather that has gripped Kansas so
far this winter. and they went thru II
without a murmur.
II never saw men in better spirits"
Captain Ashworth declared. when
we broke camp at the state normal
covered with ice. When they were
rolled up they resembled barrel. Yet
never heard a word of complaint.
They were fine"
What was considered the worst area
in the district was assigned to n pla-
toon of Al men under Lieut.. Clif ].
Stratton. These men and officers were
picked for their ability, as there were
large number of foreigners in the
area. The owner of the mine. Captain
Ashworth said, was a ''bolshevist'' and
altho he was allowed within the lines
he was not permitted to speak to any
one. The troops went into the game
! in a businesslike manner and carried
| it thru to perfection.
Snipcrs' Aim Poor.
! No trouble was experienced by the
guards. the captain said, with the ex-
ception of Company b, of Emporia,
and Company c, of Council Grove,
who had sentries fired upon. None
| were injured. however. There were
approximately 1,400 national guards
men and 700 regulars in the field, but
they got along together admirably. In
spite of the bitter weather. Company
( H had only three men in the hospital.
: The total for the Fourth regiment was
twenty-six.
I The men were all paid off before
! leaving Pittsburg by Maj. Carl r.
Whitel. who was also paymaster for
! the Thirty fifth division. He holds
the record of having paid off 700
! troops on January 2, 1919. feat un-
! equaled to that time. The payroll Of
Company H amounted to s284s76.
In the review held before leaving
Pittsburg. the Topeka company car
ried the regimental colors. won at the
national guard encampment at Fort
/ Riley last summer. Ashworths COM
pany was the largest on duty at Pitts
burg The machine gun company
from Lawrence came home with the
Topeka units. where their cars were
uncoupled and hurried on their home
ward wav