The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-13
WANT
FULL BATTALION
Movement Begun to Organize
Two Additional Companies
in Richmond.
WOULD ENLARGE ARMoRY
Full Dress Uniforms to BE
Bought-Horses Probability
OF Near Future.

Work has been actively begun by
leading spirits in the Richmond ho"'-
zers to organize two additional pat
teries of field artillery in Richmond, SO
that a battalion Of this branch OF the
service may be formed in this CITY.
In forty-eight hours of intermittent
work, one officer secured the signatures
of thirty-one men who agree to oe-
come members of the second battery.
while those in charge Of the canvass
for a. third command report Sood
progress already made.
This action would restore the HOWL.
GERS to the old wartime footing or
three batteries. and would give to Ricn-
mond another military unit. when
would give this city nation wide prom
inence.
Wanted by Government.
For some time past the wax De
partment has been urging the iorha-
ton of battalions OF field artiliers a'
points where batteries exist. II can
be done without great cost. Inc sam
equipment of guns can DC usso Io
ali batteries. since but one can dr'ii
at -, time in any event. The govern
meut stands ready to furnish service
uniforms. revolvers and all othe'
equipment Of artillerymen-
The desirability Of battalions was
also Immersed on the officers who at
tended the school for artliier! eo,'
manders at Fort Riley the past sum-
VIZ This helped to give the impetus
70 the movement which has now taken
tangible form.
Make II q Regiment.
The organization OF a battahoh IN
Richmond would leave the batteries
at Norfolk and Portsmouth on the out
side. The natural result would De the
formation of new battery III inc
two cities, SO as to make secono
battalion there. 1t is thought TINS
could be easily done-if In no othef
way, by using the best OF the person.
mel that formerly made up the coas'
artillery. With six batteries. regi-
ment of field artillery would be rne
result in Virginia, with a colonel and
the advantages Of such an organlZa-
ton.
CAPTAIN w M. Myers, commander OF
the Howitzers. Is taking no personal
mart in the movement. other ofhcers
having the matter in charge. But there
would seem to be no doubt that In the
event a battalion is realized. no ochei
name than his will be considered iol
the office Of major.
New Armory and Horses.
What Captain Myers is more inter
ested in than anything else at pres
ent is enlargement OF the armor! no"
in use on Eighth Street. This would
hot
| lied. Plans have been in existence
for some time. involving the use o.
/ rho now vacant lot between the ar
| morv and gymnasium. These contem
| Mate the extension of the drill hal
across the lot, to level with TN
| second floor OF the gymnasium. and al
/ fordinc ST. cient floor space for bat
| talon parade. The third floor wouit
! also have to be extended to permi
battalion headquarters and omcerS
| quarters for the three hattalions-
The ground floor, aside from tina
now used for housing the guns. cais
| sons and wagons. would be devoted u
a riding hall At each side would b.
| stalls for the horses.
| There comes another story II
! believed by all that within a shor
| time congress VIII pass a "A'A ~.
| purchase Of horses for use by artllier.
OF the organized militia. The measur
] Endorsed by the National Guard Asso
| citation contemplates that sixteen AM
mails at first should be bought for eac'
battery. This would give battalion
enough horses for drill purposes, an
[ would permit repeated Saturday excur
( sions into the country, which hav
/ already been tried here on smai
scale and found to be highly salts
factory. Hired horses can never b
broken in to artillery work. BY reaso'
I of constant changes.
Dsstinctive Dress.
| The tale is not yet told The How
/ tiers plan also to have new fuh ores
uniforms. A sample is already at tn
armory. It has a coat OF gray, wit
red trimmings. gray trousers with re
stripes. black hats with red plumes
The effect is both striking and becom
ing.
To sum ii all Up. the battalion o
| Richmond Howitzers. 400 strong. .
the most distinguished Uniforms to b
4 found. hopes to march down PennSyl
vania Avenue on March 4. 1913. TO hei
represent Richmond and Virginia a
the inauguration OF Woodrow Wilson
All these things arc part of the ambi
fious program. the carrying out o
which has already been begun In
men in this command seldom fail