New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-21
Men Rejoice Over Return,
but Long for Mild
Texas Climate
ARMY LIFE WINS
PRAISE FROM ALL
Thousands Cheer Guard
in BrOoklyn-WOmen
Aid i'm Welcome

one hundred and nifty young men,
comprising the 1st Battalion Signal
Corps, New York National Guard. came
home yesterday thankful for a half
years service on the border, strong
for the army life. ardent advocates Of
more extensive military training and
oddly enough. but true with words Of
nigh praise for Texas.
Sure, they're glad 20 get back. and
\ew York looks mighty good again
but say. this internal chill does 60
through a man. Buildings seem rather
close together, too. and in heign,
they're all out Of proportions and six
ty-foot streets tend to produce a sort
of crowded atmosphere. In fact, a
Company hadn't been at the seth Reg
ment armory an hour before some o.
the men-New Workers born and reared
had announced that they were going
back.
The battalion. Major William L. Hal
lahan commanding. arrived at 6 o'clock
IN the morning over the Erie 81 Jersey
City. A Company. the wireless out
it, commanded BY Captain Arthur
Howell. came across on the Twenty
third Street ferry, and the men who
were not detailed in charge OF the
horses and the trucks containing equip
ment and apparatus took cars 70 the
armory at Thirty-fourth Street and
PIX Avenue.
Women Greet Homecomers
Many women relatives accompanied
'heir soldiers TO the armory, where
oil 2 no rot
nal engineers. formal reception,
with Major and Mrs. Hallahan in the
receiving line, was held in the library.
u Company. the wire outfit Cap
tain George f.. Schenck commanding.
made a more spectacular entrance into
Brooklyn Met at the foot OF Cham
bors Street by members OF the veteran
corps of the organization and led by \
band. they paraded TO Broadway and
thence 10 the Battery. BY subway
thew went 70 Borough Hall. Brooklyn,
and from there they marched past &c
claiming thousands TO the armory IN
Dean Street.
4 Company numbers three officers
and seventy-eight men. In A Company
there are three officers and sixty-two
enlisted men. The medical corps, IN
charge OF Captain Robert +. Kennedy,
returned with A Company.
Colonel \. p. Burlington and Major
Averill. L. s. A.. were detailed to mus
ter out the battalion. Mastering out
will be started as soon as the he!d
apparatus is checked and certified: Inc
men have assurances they Will be re-
leased from Federal service by Satur-
day.
Men Had Busy Time
"Nv men come home in a different
spirit than some of the organizations
said Major IIallahan, "and / attrlb-
ute il TO the fact that they were busy
all the time they were gone. Other
troops loafed for days in camp, through
no fault Of their own, OF course, but
IL had an undeniably bad effect on the
men We were employed every hour,
engaged in interesting, constructive
and permanent work. The telephone
and telegraph lines we put up Will
stand for years. Every man made good.
Not a man was before court MARTA
and not an officer applied for leave OF
absence.
eve were ready for work the mo-
ment we arrived al McAllen. and our
work won praise from regular army
officers We we're communicating from
Fort Sam Houston to The border, dis
lance of 240 miles. with a thirty lie
radius wireless outfit. I'm proud OF my
boys, but think can be pardoned for
it,
The men are unanimous for large
standing army, but all are not in favor
Of compulsory military training, be-
cause such a system in all probability
would mean the elimination OF the Ma
tional Guard. Most of the enlisted
men are college men. and all have had
technical training, and some showed
spirited resentment OF criticism Of the
National Guard by high regular army
officers. Others admitted the short
comings of the Guard and voiced tho
belief that their recent experience
proved the wisdom Of supplanting the
volunteer force by universal service
army of 100000 men. The officers
appeared divided about equally on the
question.
Major Hallahan has received letter
from Major General John F. Organ.
commencing the zeal and spirit OF
the battalion.