Topeka Taken

If two Capital newshawks had not dug up the story, Topeka, Kans. would have had the shock of its life on Armistice Day. With their secret out, the cavalry at Fort Riley took a new tack, sent the city an ultimatum: "Citizens of Topeka . . . your city is doomed! We will move in and capture it and its people today. . . . Resistance is futile. . . ."

Soon after 9 a.m. six Army planes hedgehopped over the city, blew dead leaves from the trees in yellow showers, strafed the airport. An indignant housewife called police headquarters, complained that a plane had almost hit her chimney. Replied Police Chief Ernest

Kaul: "I can't talk any more; they're taking me to a concentration camp."

From across the Kaw River, artillery began to pound. Eighty armored cars poured across the bridge at 40 m.p.h. Fifth columnists appeared at intersections to direct motorized cavalry and infantrymen in trucks. Governor Payne Ratner was captured at his big white mansion while he was at breakfast. His two sons laughed at the show, but his tiny daughter squalled. Over at the Statehouse the Governor was lined up with other hostages. A noncom grated, "Take off your hats."

From the armored cars and trucks charging through the streets, the soldiers fired at every pedestrian they saw. The only resistance was offered by small boys with cap pistols.

By 11 a.m. the cavalry had Topeka under control. Said Governor Ratner, before he went back to his interrupted breakfast: "We should thank our heavenly father that we have only make-believe blitzkriegs in America today. And we should be eternally grateful to the men who are taking this training so that none will ever reach our shores."

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