Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-23
OTTAWA'S OWN BACK ON
AMERICAN SOIL; IN
PORT LAST NIGHT
GET MESSAGES HERE
TELEGRAMS SWAMP LOCAL OF
FICES ANNOUNCING SAFE AR
RIVAL IN U. s. OF CiTY'S FIGHT.
ING UNiT--lN ILLINOIS NEXT
WEEK.

Only a few more days will elapse
before Ottawa throws ont its arms to
receive back in.o the fold the return
ing fighting sons, whose glories on
the European battlehelds are now en-
blazoned in burning letters upon the
pages of history. With twCnty-ona
long months separating them from
home, Company {, with a record for
valor and bravery second TO none, is
again back on American soil
me landing was effected late Thurs
day after the Leviathon. which car.
ried the l29th infantry from Brest
had been held outside the port OF
New York the greater part OF day
because of dense fog which made
movement in the harbor exceedingly
precarious for the large transport By
rishtfall, however. every last man OF
the I29th was deharked and started
Immediately for Camp Merritt where
they will have their first and last
experience in the delousing mills. The
delousery worked overtime getting
rid OF the coolies. and according to
word from the New Jersey canton
ment none of the l29th had much
chance to sleep All other units Of
the Prairie Division, which landed
Yesterday. were sent to Camp Mills,
where they will be held until the or
ganization is reunited and entrained
for Illinois and home.
Totay Ottawa was stormed with
messages announcing the homecom-
ing Of the city's own. Immediately
the machinery was primed for the big
reception and welcome which IS
planned for Company c on its arrival
in Ottawa. No slips are going to be
permitted, according to Dr.. w. F.
Weese, in charge of the Homecoming
who has announced committee will
be sent to Chicago to get in touch
with the outfit, and il necessary, VIII
Yolldw them to Camp Grant, where ar
rangements will be made for getting
the boys out of the service all al
once and entrained for Ottawa With
bers OF the organization who We're
invalided home will be sent either to
Rockford or Chicago to join their
comrades and take part in the tri'
umphal entry into Ottawa on the day
selected for arrival here.
The first official news that the boys
had landed and We're en- route to Camp
Merritt was received here at o'clock
by Mrs. Mollie l.awess Of 1924 North
Sale street in a message from her
brother, who is resident of New
York. He had seen the boys marcn
through the streets just after they
landed and learned that they were en-
route to Camp Merritt. News of their
safe arrival spread quickly through
Company c family circles and was
welcomed with great Joy by fathers
and mothers who knew that they boys
would land safely, but still were anx
iously waiting for the news.
A short time later messages began
coming in from the boys themselves
but the majority of the boys did not
nave an opportunity 10 wire until thls
morning. Mothers went wild with JOY
when they received their message, and
the last message received caused al
most as much excitement and JOY as
did the first one.
Many reservations in Chicago hotels
have already been made by Ottawans
who. fearing that something might
happen that the boys would arrive
ahead of schedule, are going to the
city on Tuesday to wait until after
they have seen the Ottawa braves
Other Ottawans are planning to take
the first train out of town on Wed
nesday morning and come back dur
ing the wee small hours of the night
Sneak Through Dense Fog.
New York, May 23.-Through
dense bank of fog the transports
Leviathan and Imperator and thu
cruiser Charleston crept into port yes
terday with 5.466 more members o
the Prairie Division.
Two famous former units of thu
SCort;ruod an poya polumu Al