Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-21
DISTRICT TROOPS,
over 1000 STRONG,
ASSEMBLE IN CAMP
Continued from First Page.)

it was known that all over the coun-
try thousands and thousands more OF
such men were ready to start 1or the
border on the receipt of telegram:
They marched with a precision that
brought forth praise from those useo
to seeing men in uniform. Thelr aIs u
ment was perfect and not a sounu III
the ranks except for the cllcklns "a III nf
metal parts of the twenty POUNDS VI
equipment which every man carried On
his back for the march of several lilies
to the concentration camp. :,
1t was a few minutes be1ore
o'clock this afternoon Wnen n .de
bueIers in the several armories sound,
ed first CALL" which is the slgnaI
given before assembly. followed rev
minutes later by that call The troops
left their armories promptly leavins
behind them many friends ana Ieia
tiyes who had stayed with them all the
morning.
Regiment Headed by Band.
II was but a short march for the
Sd Infantry, headed by its band, TO
reach the rendezvous point at lztn
street and New York avenue. where
brief halt was called for the other or
carnations. Behind the Sd Infantry
came the list Separate Battalion, col
ored troops, which arrived about l:lo,
followed by the mounted organiza-
lions, Signal Corps company, Batter-
les A and B of field artillery, Troop A
of cavalry, foot, and field hospital.
Thus formed. and with Brig. Gen.
William E. Harvey: commanding the
head of the column. the men proceeded
up New York avenue to Pennsylvania
avenue. thence to 18th street.
When the troops reached the state.
War and Navy building. Secretary
rtvr1a nj
standing there to review them. After
passing the reviewing officer the forces
passed down 18th street, along the
speedway to the Highway bridge and
crossed to the military road leading to
the concentration camp. They will re-
main in this camp until called into
service for duty along the border-or
until the tense situation -
there is no longer need for the citizen
troops.
troops Immediately set to work pre-
pairing their tents and getting ready
for the first night in camp. the sani-
tary arrangements of which had All
been completed by the advance details
Gen. Harvey said today he had re-
ceived his orders from the War De-
partment calling him into service with
his troops, and calling the local guard
a Technical brigade" He was INFORM
ed at the War Department. it was said,
was a detail that had been overlooked
in the issuance of the general mobili-
cation orders. He also was told TO take
with him into camp such OF MS stan
officers as were needed IN the aoHih-
istration of the camp.
Relatives Call to Say Goodbye.
When the word was spread around
the armories this morning that there
would be no more delays and that the
actual order for the advance movement
had been issued. relatives and friends
of the guardsmen began to mobilize
around the armories. They came
hurrying from all directions. the moth
ers, wives, sisters, sweethearts. 1atners
and brothers-all to bid a farewell to
those near to them. and many times 10
give them a bit of advice.
There were tears in the eyes Of many
as they stood around and talked TO
the militiamen who soon will be regu-
bows stood about in the somber khaki.
most of them with their full held
eouioment on their backs. They had
been transferred from their company
quarters, where many OF them Tor
years have gathered on one or two
nights a week to get the training which
will stand them in good stead In their
service on the border and below it.
While 1t was hard for the women folks
to stay at their homes, bidding farewell
there for the last time, many OF the
militiamen said the service was made all
the harder for them by the presence Of
their relatives at the armory. Mothers
stood by their sons and wept, while wom-
en- with babies in their arms pleaded with
their husbands not to go. but there was
no way to avoid service. for the men
had enlisted and the only chance Is in
a rejection when the rigid physical ex-
animation is made at the concentration
camp by the regular army medical
officers
Subject to Strict Discipline.
From now on the men will be subject
to the strict military discipline which is
applied in times of war. When the lone
bugler walked through the armory on L
street promptly at $3.50 O'Clock this morn
ing and sounded the assembly. the citi-
zen soldiers ended their last bit of free
dom as private citizens. They we're as
sembled in their quarters and marched
across the bridge which connects the
armory with the drill hall. and there
they remained until the bugler sounded
the forward march.
Guards were placed at every exit. and
not a soldier was permitted to leave
However, there was no restriction on
outsiders coming into the armory. The
ment and sat around in groups, talking
and singing. but occasionally bowling
their heads when they saw the tears
Of the weaker sex.
The soldier boys gathered in groups
and sang popular songs. one Of the
most popular OF which in the drill hall
was "We're With You, Mr.. Wilson,"
All of the old songs usually heard in
army camps, including Tenting To-
night on the Old Camp Ground" and
The Girl / Left Behind" were on the
list.
1t was quite a different scene from
that usually found when the guard Is
Just leaving for a brief encampment,
for the relatives then know that they
are coming back soon. but 1t is the
knowledge that it may be many months
before the District soldiers again sleep
within the confines of their homes and
eat meals from a table that makes the
difference to the relatives.
There was a little concert given by
some of the men, which served TO
cheer up some of the waiting rela-
tives, and now and then brought n
smile from an otherwise tear-stained
face Private F.. w. Eschemor of
Company F sang a number of solos
and was again and again applauded
by his comrades in arms and others
in the drill hall.
Popular as "Yodler."
Another popular number was that
of Robert Z. Main. Company rs cook.
who calls himself the champion
yodler." He yodled and yodled and
was called upon for more yodling.
Tbese little numbers and the chorus