The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-08-31
Camp at Palmetto Beach
Officially Opened With
Pretty Exercises.
GRAND MILITARY
PARADE TONIGHT
Camp Now Thoroughly Ex-
ercised and Dress Parade
Each Afternoon.

Camp G. D. Mills, Uniform Rank.
W. o. W., was officially opened at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, and
thereafter followed a number of the
most warmly-spoken welcoming
speeches ever heard, and the re-
sponses in each instance were iuSt
as evident from the heart.
There are men from Florida, Geor-
gia and Alabama on the ground and
things have taken on the appearance
of actual army life, with the excep-
ton of the absence of arms Of any
kind. The only weapon in evidence
is the sword, carried by officers, while
every private" is armed with the
symbol of the order they are parts of,
the axe y
Yesterday Afternoon at 4:30 o'clock
the first dress parade was held, and
all companies, about twenty in num-
Der, were put through the most ex-
acting evolutions on the grounds.
That they did surprisingly godi was
the opinion of all who witnessed the
spectacle, and as this viii a daily
feature, beginning at 4:30 o'clock each
afternoon, it is possible that, the more
it becomes generally known, the larg-
err will be the crowd of spectators.
Very few visitors we're on hand yes
terday, and those WHIP we're there we're
interested in Wooddraft Some MEM
bers of local lodges and ladies were
on the grounds during tie day.
The grounds are open to visitors
at 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon, and
until taps, at 8 o'clock. At A:3o
o'clock each afternoon the dress pa
rade will take place, and every COM
pany on the ground and in the en-
campment will be passed in review,
following drills Of each company.
WOODMEN WELCOMED.
At 4:30 O'Clock YESTERDAY afternoon
quite an impressive ceremony took
place on the grounds when The WISH
tors were officially welcomed to pen-
sacola, and were told that every
thing was theirs for the asking.
At this ceremony the twenty OF
more companies were drawn ep at ct
tention and the colors were raised,
while men barred their heads as the
strains Of "America" we're heard
feelingly by all present. This ma
triotic outburst at an end, Col, G. D,
Mills stepped forward and introduced
Rev. P. H. Holt, of the First Metho-
dist church, who offered an eloquent
invocation, which was heard with
barred heads by the companies drawn
up in array.
Col Mills then, at O'Clock in the
afternoon, stepped forward and an.
nounced the camp officially opened
He was in charge Of the program of
ceremonies which Immediately follow.
ed, and introduced a number OF
speakers.
Mayor Greenhut was first called
upon to voice the city's welcome to
the Woodmen. The mayor stepped
forward, and in a speech feelingly ut
tered, said in a few words, that Pen
sacola was very happy to have the
Woodmen here, and held out the hope
that the visitors were just as glad to
be here as were the people Of the city
to have them.
Col. Mills then asked for a re-
Spouse to the city's welcome from
the chief surgeon, Col. H. A. Elkourie
of Birmingham. Col. Elkourie spoke
happily and freely of the manner in
which the Woodmen had been accord
ed, saying they all appreciated the
Dixie-like welcome they had received.
He said that, of all the places he had
been in, the welcome extended was
never equalled in graciousness or
warmth than that expressed already
by the representatives Of the citizens
Of the city Of Pensacola. He thank
ed the mayor for his welcome and
closed in a happy reference to the
mosquitoes which he said had even
been too cordial in their welcome.
G. e. Dobson, president of the
Chamber Of Commerce, was intro
duced, and he spoke happily at the
pleasure it gave him and PensacoIians
in general at the presence Of the Uni.
form Rank. He said it was real re.