Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-19
JERSEY GUARD TURNS
OUT TO HONOR FIRST
VICTIM FROM STATE
5000 in Line as Body of William
Whelen, Killed by Pneumonia,
Is Taken to
Station
FRIENDS AS PALLBEARERs
specsai Correspondence Bvenino LedOer


DOUGLAS, Ari., July 14.--six thousand
New Jersey guardsmen today honored Priv
ate William Whelen, the New Jersey boy,
member Of Company X. OF the 5th Regi-
ment, who died yesterday afternoon at the
Calumet Hospital, in Douglas, after a few
days Illness from pneumonia he contracted
soon after his arrival here The entire
company acted as escort when the body
was carried from the Ferguson morgue in
Douglas to the railroad station for ship
ment home. The citizens OF the city Joined
in showing their respect for the first Of
the Sew Jersey boys to die while on bor-
der duty.
Company X, which is Montclair or
ganization, under command of Captain Ros-
coe johnson, marched during the afternoon
20 the city of Douglas, where they formed
Mt the morgue while brief military services
were held. Captain Charles w. Gulick,
chaplain of the 5th Regiment, conducted the
services and his sermon was glowing
eulogy to the bravery and manliness of the
bloomfield boy.
The casket was draped with a huge
American nag. Floral contributions from
his own company, the 9Th Regiment, and
private individuals covered the casket In
profusion. Whelan's best friends in the
company were selected as pallbearers., The
men were visibly affected as the remains
were carried from the Morgue and escorted
with military honors to the railroad station.
Efforts had been made to secure the per-
mission of the War Department to have
the body sent home under accompaniment
of one or moro soldiers, but the department
declined to grant the permission.
Up to the present time the troops here
have had no opportunity to work out any
maneuvers. AS matter OF fact, the prep
aration of camp, the excessive rainfall and
other handcaps have made 1t impossible to
do much more to date than simply work
out the details of the camp in the first
stages of its making. An inspection Of the
tented city of the New Jerseymen Is neces-
sary TO get comprehensive idea of the
vast amount of work that was required to
make conditions livable here in the desert.
Thousands of feet of bitches had to be dug
and waterpipes laid, wooden substructures
for kitchens and mess halls had to be built
and other work involving great deal Of
time was required In truth the work has
little more than commenced, but the men
are comfortable and well situated, all things
taken into consideration.
Owing to the probabilities of a speedy
settlement of the international situation
Major General j. Franklin Bell, who, II
was announced a few weeks ago, would
come here to assume charge of the western
border division, Is not likely to establish
headquarters here, 1t was learned today.
General Bell was named to this division.
Brigader General Pershing to the FL Paso
district and Major General Frederick
Funston to the Texas division and a COM
mander for the three districts was to have
been named by the War Department. Major
General Leonard A. Wood, commanding the
Department of the East was mentioned as
the most likely man for the place, but the
appointment was not made because of the
sudden clarifying of the situation between
the two countries
With the view to making up for the time
lost in the preparation of camp and the
bad weather of the early part of this week
the men are being put through strenuous
drill periods. The work is confined almost
exclusively to the early morning hours. be-
tween and 10 80, when officers and enlisted
men get all possible good from a stated
course of study. The non-commissioned Of
flcers are formed into companies and given
an hours drilling each day as the officers at
the close of the field work, go into confer
ence and discuss tactical problems.