The Washington times., 1916-07-05

and instantly each Of the soldiers be-
gan singing that catchy air. which
furnished the march music from Fort
now and then the command Sing
in the right key" was given. The bat
talon prides itself almost as much on
Its singing as its soldering, and those
who heard Zip "Tippe frs,ioed said they
When the Signal Corps reached
Rosslyn after rapid march. Private
M. F. Mochau was handed huge
bunch of white sweet peas ana req
white. and blue ribbon. At first he
thought some one was anticipating
his funeral. but when the company
halted he saw a note attached. which
Hospital Corps. care of Captain Terry
and Major Bowker."
Flowers From Mrs. Ordway.
When the two little notes attached
to the flowers were opened by the
commanding officers II was discover
ed the flowers were from Mrs. Albert
Ordway. widow OF General Ordway,
rst commander Of the District mill
tia.
Mrs. Ordway congratulated the two
commands. and expressed her sincere
wish for good luck and good health
for them The officers and men In
both commands were deeply appreci-
alive Of this single floral remem-
brance.
The hospital Corps and first separ-
ate Battalion reached Rosslyn
few moments after the Signal Corps
and the men were Immediately or
dered into the waiting cars.
While the men had been led to ex-
pect erclining chair cars and thought
bee" they were agreeably surprised
to find that each of the cars was a
sleeper. The seats were of rattan,
while overhead were the Locked up !.
down each night"
The soldiers lost no time in getting
on their equipment and putting their
heads out OF the windows to talk to
their relatives and sweethearts
Battalion Entrains Quickly.
The First Separate Battalion was also
| quickly entrained. The colored soldiers,
| like the Signal Corps and Hospital corps
men. were not allowed to leave the cars
| once they had entered them.
Eight tourist sleeping cars were neces-
sary to transport the four companies
| Of the First Separate Battalion. two
being assigned to each company. Major
Walker reported the following as the
strength OF the companies: A, ~ men
| b, So: c, IS. and ID, 81. Besides these
| enlisted men there were ten officers
making a total of 345 men In the bat.
talon.
The Signal Corps had 70 men and the
Hospital Corps 6s. both at full war
strength.
The First Separate Battalion train
! was made up of eight tourist sleepers. n
cooks car, and two freight cars loaded
with baggage and tentage.
The Hospital Corps members occupied
| the first two tourist sleeping cars in the
second section Of the train, then came
| the cooks car in which the culinary de-
partments were established.
The Signal Corps members filled the
last two tourist sleepers. behind which
| were two baggage cars and seven fla,
cars carrying the escort wagons and
| Signal Corps wire reels.
Among the officers present when the
soldiers entrained were General Har'
vey and Major Harry Coope. his ad'
jutant Major A. w. Brewster. Of tho
Inspector generals office at the Wal
Department. Major Alfred p. Robbins
quartermaster OF the District militia
Major John c. Walker, chief commits
sary OF the militia; Major ]. II. Reich
elderfer. chief medical officer. and Capt
Horace +. Hobbs, Seventeenth Infan
try, Y. s. A.. who mustered IN the Dis
| trict's citizen soldiers.
Each of them was there for a speci