Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-14
NO PLAN TO DEMOB|L|zE
TROOPS At FAIR GROUNDS
Colonel Stimson Telegraphs Senator
Martin Rumor Is Without
s Foundation.
COMPLAINTS NOT JUSTIFIED
Newspaper Articles From Eastern
Section OF State on Conditions at
Camp Stuart characterized as "Ab-
Solutely GroundleSs."

Reports were current in Richmond
yesterday, and were later received in
Washington. TO the effect that the War
Department was about to dcmobilizc
the Richmond Blues and the First
Battalion Virginia Field Artillery.
Senator Martin at once communicated
with the War Department, and was
informed that nothing was known OF
the matter there. lie was told. how
ever. that General Leonard Wood,
commanding the Department Of the
East. would be advised If any such
plan was contemplated. The senator
thereupon tclcgraphcd TO General
Wood. and late yesterday afternoon
received the following reply from Col
onel Stimson:
referring Ia yours of July iG, to
General Wood. no knowledge hero of
any plan to demobilize the Richmond
Blues and First Battalion. Virginia
Field Artillery"
Complaints made against the admin
istration and sanitation Of Camp Stuart
by Norfolk and Portsmouth newspapers
are characterized as absolutely ground
less by State military officers in tho
light OF the reports of United States
Army officers who have inspected the
camp.
OFFICIAL REPORTS
REFUTE ALI. CHARGES
Within the last few days several at
tacks have been printed in papers Of
tho eastern part of the State which
accuse camp officers of persecution,
needless delay. lack Of personal care
for their men and other maladminstra :
ton. 1t is thought that the reports
were started by irresponsible Eossips.
unconiirmcd from authoritative sources.
Answers to the charges are numer-
Gus. The report OF Major johnson.
United states Army inspector. to the
Department OF the East was very com :
plimcntary TO the camp and to the
officers of the Virginia militia Ma
Johnson stated that the troops Of this
state were ahead OF those OF any other
Southern State, and not inferior To
those of the more abundantly provided
for Northern states. Colonel Stark.
the physical inspector from Fortress
Monroe. stated that he had never seen
IL finer body OF men.
Although sanitary conditions at the
| very first were not Of the best, they
/ have been made so by the steady work
| OF the city authorities aided by Of
/ iiccrs Of the camp The fact that there
/ has been practically no serious sick =
| ness and very little OF a minor nature.
! is proof that both food and location
| have been healthy.
| PORTSMOUTH COMPLAINS
ABOUT GRIMES BNTrtjt \
The burden of the Portsmouth com
/ plant WAS over the failure Of tn,
| Grimes Battery TO pass tho Inspection
for mastering into the Federal service
"Of the IL men who entrained her,
for active service. in behalf OF thcii
country, only Twenty-Five remain al
Richmond" says the account in the
Portsmouth Star. Those men have
been going barcfooted. without cloth
ing and without Il second change OF
underwear Requests for tho nccessi-
ties of life have been met by con-
tcmptuous references 10 the personnel
OF tho battery. So there is no mere
Grimes Battery An artillery company
(Continuel on Second Page.l