The Topeka state journal., 1919-04-30
ENGINEERS IN
A BIC PARADE
HERE TONIGHT
First Contingent of Returning
Heroes in Topeka.
Twelve Hundred Men of 10th
VIII Arrive at O'clock.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION PLANS
Already Kansas Avenue Is
AbIaze With Decorations.
Everything Ready for Hot Time
in Old Town Tonight.
First Contingent of Returning
Heroes in Topeka.
Twelve Hundred Men of 10th
VIII Arrive at z O'clock.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION PLANS
Already Kansas Avenue Is
AbIaze With Decorations.
Everything Ready for Hot Time
in Old Town Tonight.

Topeka is on edge today. Topeka
is patiently awaiting the hour tonight
when Topeka's own war worn sons
will parade on Kansas avenue.
Topeka is waiting with outstretched
hands of welcome for the first sight of
the column of marching men-the
column of veterans. the boys who
but q short two years ago were just
boys but who now are veterans of the
blood.est struggle the world has
known.
At o'clock tonight-or there
abouts-Topeka will give her first
boy howdy" to an organized unit
coming home from the battles in
France.
Reports from Kansas City today in
dicate that the three sections of the
troop train which is hurrying the men
to Topeka and to Camp Funston for
discharge will leave the Missouri city
on time Indications are that the
trains will arrive in Topeka on time.
The first section is due in at o'clock
and the last section twenty minutes
later. The parade is expected to move
within thirty minutes of the time the
first section arrives in the city.
The first sight which will meet the
eyes of the men in the 10th engineers
as their trains sweep around the curve
just east of the Union Pacific depot
will be the group of fathers and moth
ers and wives of the men. Ii is GER
tain that the anxious eyes of both
taA relatives and the soldiers will
rapidly single out the one person
most desired to be seen. And that
applies both ways.
Relatives at Train.
1t is planned that the entire recep-
tton committee of the city on the plat
form at the sta ton tonight will be the
relatives of the men. No other person
will be allowed near the platform.
Gordon of guards is to be thrown about
the depot and grounds early this eve
ming and not one single person will be
allowed on the platform who is not
armed with pass signed by r. r.
Bger. chairman of the committee on
arrangements
The reception line for the city at
large will extend from the south end
Of the Melan bridge to Tenth street.
In this territory no automobiles will
be allowed on Kansas avenue and pc
deStrians and spectators must stay
within the lines drawn twelve feet
from the curb on either side of the
street.
Line of Parade
At the depot-or rather on Kansas
avenue between the Union Pacific
tracks and the Melan bridge-a re-
Ception committee of a special nature
is to be formed and drawn up on
either side of the street. In this line
will be the Red Cross workers and
the members of the canteen service in
uniform. hundreds of returned soldiers
and sailors in uniform and the MEM
bers of the Military Sisterhood. As
the parade of returning men in the
10th engineers moves south between
these lines the first welcome of the
city Will be extended. As the last
rank of engineers passes the units
stationed nearest the tracks, these
units will fall into line and march
south behind the returning heroes.
Route of Parade.
The parade will move south on Kan
sas avenue to Tenth street. west on
Tenth street to jackson street. and
north on Jackson street to Eighth
street. As soon as the head of the
column reaches Eighth and jackson
street the column will halt, and await
orders to return to the depot An eff
fort is to be made to cause Colonel
Stayton to permit the men of Com
pany to he marched into a special
arena on the state house grounds
where the relatives of the men in that
company should have chance to
see and converse with the boys
City Puts on Decorations.
In planning the decorations of the
city which are to play prominent
part in the welcome for the returning
soldiers-not only for the 10th engi-
neers but for the men in the other
units of the 35th division and the men
Of the seth division-Topeka has done
herself most especially proud
Two triumphal arches have been
erected. one at the north end of the
Melau bridge and one in front of the
state journal building al the corner of
Eighth and Kansas avenues. These
arches were erected by the members
Of the Carpenters and Joiners Union
OF America. local No 1445-alI of the
work Of these men being done without
pay and solely thru a desire to help
the city put on its gladdest attire for
the welcome of the soldiers. Incident
ally "A eoodly share of the work of
erecting the arches was done in driz-
cling rain.
Use War Drive Statues
The big statue of the Red Cross
mother which has played a prominent
part in several war drives in Topeka
forms one of the features of the street
decoration at Seventh and Kansas ave-
nue.. A Sixth and Kansas avenue a
salvation Army assie may be seen
armed with pan OF doughnuts
The trolley poles of the city rail-
way company, the ones which form a