Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-25
BLUES IN CAVALRY
TOSTAY, SAYS SALE
Even Though They May Not Go
to Mexico, Will Learn
Mounted Drill.
HAY BILL PROVIDES HORSES
Virginia Is Asked TO Organize
Ten Companies of Coast
Artillery at Once.

In answer To tho rumble of prediction
that the Blues might eventually return
to their old position OF infantrymen,
Adjutant General Sale declared ycstcr-
airy for keeps. The Blues may ucvcr
get TO the front on tho Mexican bor-
der. and they may he = long time secur-
ing their horses here in Richmond. hut
there is no doubt IN the mind cf Cen
eral Sale but that they viii continue
10 wear the yellow hat cords and
eventually he supplied with enough
mounts for training purposes.
"A squadron of cavalry is authorized
by the War Department as part OF
Virginias quota" said General Sale.
and the Blues have supplied the
vacancy. II the organization had re-
manned in tho infantry. il would never
have been called out"
Saddles and all other cavalry equip
ment for the squadron have been here
several weeks. and. although the Adju-
tant-Generars efforts 20 secure horses
have been unavailing so far, there is
no question OF his ultimate success
Under the old militia law horses for
cavalry troops OF the militia had TO
be supplied by the State. hut the re-
Gently enacted Hay hill provides for
horses to he furnished by the Federal
government.
Unless the squadron * ordered to the
front. mounts for every man will PROB
ably not be supplied. bu, sufficient
horses for adequate drill as cavalry
Viii come In time. Meanwhile. tho
Blues are taking in as much of the
Of l,,.
can. and arc getting general experience
in army life.
MANY OFFERS TO RAISE
TROOPS OF CAVALRY
Many offers from various sources
have been made 10 Adiutant- General
Sale by men anxious 10 raise troops
Of cavalry. II is understood that. in
case Of need. several troops could he
rcady for inspection within very
short time. After the coast artillery
deficiencies OF the State have been met.
II is possible that other cavalry organ
'zations will be added alongside the
Blues As the War Department has
the decision OF what branch OF the SER
vice body Of soldiers is 10 enter. il is
assured that for the present all new
organizations will 20 into tho coast
artillery.
Ten companies of coast artillery are
10 he the next addition 10 VirSinia's
armed forces. and until the formation
or those companies has hccn complcted
no other military organizations from
the state VIII be accepted by the War
Department. The coast artillery COM
pany at Roanoke. recently inspected
and mustered into the State militia. is
at present the only organization of
that branch of the service in Virginia.
With the War Department pushing
the movement 10 provide ten COM
panies OF coast artillery for Virginia,
and with the service Offering unusual
attractions TO men interested in join
ing the militia. il should bc only
short time till the states full COM
plcmcnt is raised. y company has al
ready been organized at LynchhurE. 1t
is understood but II has not been in
spected and passed into tho regular
militia of the State COMPANIES are
contemplated at South Boston. Bedford
City, fredericksburg and other cities
ROANOKE COMPANY tn
DRILL AT FORTRESS MONROE
Although the company at Roanoke
was formed some time ago. its did not
receive full equipment and was not
mustered into the State militia until
recently The Roanoke company has
been ordered to Fortress Monroe for
practice with the biz guns guarding
the entrance to Chesapeake Ray the
'st OF August.
at their home towns. away from the
seashore and the giant cannon. the men
viii drill and be equipped as infantry.
With plotting boards and range
fin 81
siderable Of the technical side Of the
work of coast artillerymcn. During
their two weeks trip To the seaside
every year the companies will round
out their training with practice in tar
get firing and in manipulating the
complicated machinery Of tho guns.
Officers OF tho coast artillery COM
panies Will require considerable mathe-
matical knowledge. and the privateS
will have to be mon Of unusual alert
ness and duckncsS of perception. a
special instructor for the Virginia com
panies has already been designated by
the War Department, and every en-
coura cement Will no given those who
wish To enter the new branch OF the
service. Acknowledgement Sale said
yesterday that he anticipated little
trouble in meeting the call Of the War
department for the ten new com
panies. as he considered the coast artil
lcry ono of the most attractiva forms
Of military service.
CHIEF NEED Or STATE
IS COAST ARTILLERY
At the beginning OF excitement over
the Mexican situation the War Depart
ment called on Virginia for two regi-
ments Of infantry, one squadron OF
cavalry, one field hospital, one ambu
lance company, one company of tho
Signal Corps, four batteries Of field
artillery, one company of engineers
and ten companies of coast artillery.
The entire need has been met with
slight exception, and in the case OF
infantry there is supply in excess OF
the present demand There is no am
bulancc company in the State, but. un-
less there is immediate need for service