The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-19
VOLUNTEERS MAY
co TO EXPOSITION
Virginia Troops Invited to Sail
Through Panama Canal to
San Francisco.
REFERRED TO GENERAL SALE
Governor Asked to Designate
Troops TO Take Part in
Military Display.
REFERRED TO GENERAL SALE

Virginia's soldiers are quite likely to
go to San Francisco in 1915, to attend
the great military encampment and
tournament which is to be "a feature
of the Panama Pacific International
Exposition. COMMUNICATING the open
Ing of the Panama Canal. They have
been formally invited by the President.
Governor Mann, tho COMMANDMENTS
chief, with tacit approval. has referred
the proposal to Adju.ant-G General W.
w. Sale. That official is out OF tho
city, and has not had an opportunity
- consider the matter.
The letter of invitation, which
reached the .Adjutant-Gencrals office
yesterday morning, is from Charles &.
Moore, president Of the exposition. 1t
directly asks the Governor of Virginia
TO at once designate the troops to take
part in the military display.
Travel Through CnunI
An attractive suggestion is made by
President Moore In outlining the move
ments of the New York troops Three
thousand OF the members of the Ma
tional Guard of that State will attcnd.
Half of them will travel overland to
San Francisco. while the other half
will make the trip through tho Panama
Canal Returning, the order will be
reversed, so that all the soldiers may
have an opportunity of sailing through
tho great enterprise that Uncle Sam
Will have pushed to completion by that
time.
No doubt, such an arrangement would
be met by approval from the Virginia
Volunteers Half of them would be
glad enough to embark at Norfolk for
a trip through the canal. and the other
half would be more than pleased to
como back that way, saying good by
to the exposition as they pass out OF
the Golden Gate
plnn Military Displny.
The international military tourna-
ment is to be made one of the most at
tractive features of the exposition
Taking part will be regiments Of the
United States Army, detachments of
tho navy and the Marine Corps, the or
Sanized militia of the States and
troops of foreign nations The invita-
ton TO foreign governments has been
presented by Brigadier General Clar-
ence Edwards, and a large attendance
of the soldiers of other lands is al
ready assured.
A camp ground Will be laid off and
fully equipped for the use of visiting
soldiers. The visits will be arranged
for different times, so that all can be
cared for. But If Virginia acts
promptly she can get her choice Of
time.
The National Guard Association,
which held its annual meeting in Nor
folk last December. is expected to have
Its session of 1915 on the exposition
grounds. SO is the Association of Mil
itary Surgeons of the United States.
which has met in Richmond in recent
yeaSs. So is the Association of Span
ish War Veterans. Other military and
semi-military bodies will be on hand
Plenty of Diversion.
There will be competitive events for
the soldiers in drilling and marching
and shooting and camping. There will
be athletic contests and endurance con-
tests for bands. Many things are
planned for the entertainment Of the
visiting militiamen and regulars. They
will, of course, take part in displays
and the countless Darades so necessary
to the pageantry of a great exposition.
The cost must be counted, and that
Will be considered by the military au-
thorities. The year 1915 is one In which
the State encampments are to be held,
rather than the joint manoeuvres,
which come in alternate years. En-
campment at Virginia Beach would
probably have to be abandoned for an
encampment at San Francisco, il the
trip can be arranged. No doubt. the
must raise some money To-
cally to insure their attendance upon
the exposition.