Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1916-06-21
Company M Of First Regiment Maryland National Guard Left
Noon Today to Join the Regiment at Great
Mobilization Camp at Laurel
MARCH TO STATION PRESENTS A STIRRING SCENE
Ovation Given Annapolis Boys Who Have Quickly and Willingly
Answered the President and Country Call to
Along Line of March and the Saion-Naval Acad
emy Band Adds Patriotic Air--Cheers and
Prayers for the Boys.

One hundred and thirty of the finest
young men of Annapolis, members of
Company NJ of the First Regiment
Maryland National Guard, and the Ma
chine Gun Company left promptly at
noon today for Laurel where they will
join their regiment at the great mobil-
ization camp.
Where they will go from there is in
definite at present but every indica-
ton points to their being sent to the
Mexican border very soon, as it un-
derstood that the first regiments ready
to leave will be rushed there to patrol
the border
1t is only once in a decade that the
citizens of Annapolis are privileged to
witness the inspiring sight presented
this morning as the companies march
ed through the streets on their way to
the w, B. & A. station to entrain. All
of the hilarity which was held forth
during the hustle and hustle of getting
ready was dropped when the bugle
sounded the call to fall in at the Arm
ory about IL o'clock.
The men faced the stearn reality
that for a time at least they were
giving up all of the comforts of home
goin ginto something they knew not
what So rapidly has the time passed
since the first order to prepare to leave
was received that little time was given
over to thinking of possibilities. but
when the men had shouldered their
guns and doned their equipment. the
real seriousness of the situation was
forced upon them. The companies
formed in the armory and marched out
on Bladen street. Then headed by Ma
jor Riley and the Naval Academy band,
secured for the occasion through the
efforts of Mayor ]. F. Strange, they
marched about the city to the station,
going around State Circle to Francis
street, down Francis street to Main
street to Church Circle and around
Church Circle to West street, and
from there directly to the station.
Here the companies broke ranks and
were allowed a few minutes to mingle
with the crowd and say the last fare
well to friends and relatives. Fully
four thousand people gathered along
the line of march, and at the station
notwithstanding the fact that practi
cally no notice of the exact time Of
departure had been given, there was a
large crowd.
Of ft.h hrfc MI oil 20,
give their employees the opportunity to
see the boys off. In fact nearly every
business place in the city had one or
more employees in the ranks. The
scene along the line of march was i'm
pressive and many eyes were wet as
the boys passed, and many prayers for
their safe return were offered.
1t was the kind of scene that pulls at
the heart-string of even the strongest
men. Annapolis is mighty proud to-
day of her sons who have so quickly
and willingly answered the call of the
President and the country. 1t was un-
derstood here today that the first regi-
ment to be ready will be sent to the
| border Immediately, and the First Reg
| iment of Maryland, of which Company
| NJ is a part, will be one of the first
| to mobilize and stand ready to go attire
several days drilling at the camp. Re-
cruits have continued to come in rap
idly up until the very time of leaving
The minimum of 65 men was reached
| after the receipt of the first order and
| there were "a in the infantry company
| when it left today.
! One of the last TO recruit was Frank
| Green, an Annapolis boy, who has been
| working in Wilmington, Del, return
/ ing last night to re-enlist for the third
/ time in the company. Green has sery-
ed two full enlistments and had a
medal presented him for expert rife
man. The train which carried the conn.,
| panies to the camD at Laurel was COM