Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1917 — PENS GIVEN TO SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

PENS GIVEN TO SOLDIERS

FAREWELL AT MOROCCO CONCLUDED WITH A FRIED CHICKEN BANQUET? Morocco gave a fine farewell to its soldier boys, volunteer and conscript, Thursday evening, and fiftyseven members of Company M, with Captain Lieutenant Watson and including Lt. Col. Healey and Major Tuteur, shared in the splendid hospitality of that patriotic community. There was a large crowd present and the soldiers were the center of attraction. The Morocco band gave a fine concert, there was .a program of short addresses given by W. D. Martin, Dr. Recher and Rev. Rankin. The addresses sparkled with loyalty and were liberally cheered and the boys who are soon to leave here for duty in France, came in sot a just lot of praise. Lieutenant Watson, who was placed in command of the company by Captain Garland, then gave an exhibition drill of the part of the company present, conducting them through various evolutions and having a squad give the rifle physical drill and the bayonet exercise. The soldiers were cheered by the large crowd. The Morocco members of Company M, six in number, were then called to the speaker’s stand, as also were a dozen young men of that town who had been conscripted, and each was presented with a foWitain pen. Then all were marched to the dining room of the fine new M. E. church and given a fried chicken banquet. The occasion was a pleasant one and will long be remembered. This was the forerunner of two other banquet events. One takes place at the Christian church this evening, when the various churches give a banquet, and the other at Goodland Saturday evening when all will be tendered a farewell. A large crowd is expected to follow the soldiers to Goodland.