Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-09
RAPID PROGRESS MADE IN
FORMING HOME GUARDS
Virginia State Volunteers to Replace
National Guard for Local De- .
tense Purposes.
COLONEL STERN TO INSPECT
Each Man Must Be Duly Enlisted
aud Sworn Into the Service OF the
State, and Will BE Subject to Call
Of Governor.

Rapid progress on the organization
OF a sufficient number of companies of
the Virginia State Volunteers to re-
place the National Guar is now ex-
pccted. Lieutenant-Colonel 10 Lane
Stern. inspector-gencral. Virginia Ma
tional Guard, has been placed in cargo
of the creation of the new militia. and
Is about ready to make personal in
Spections of each company. with the
view of recommending them for ac-
c%cptance.
Hot Springs is the second community
in Virginia to make official application
for recognition, having been preceded
by Cambria. a small town in Mont
gomery County. The Hot Springs unit
has ffty-ninc men enlisted. Applica-
lions are expected to come in daily now,
as 122 inquiries have been received
from various sections OF the State in
regard to the home guard units.
Enlistment blanks have been pre-
pared, and will be sent to each of the
companies to be filed out for all mem
bcrs of the company. These enlist
mcnt papers will be filed at the Office
Of Acknowledgement w. w. Sale, and
will form Il permanent record of the
Virginia State Volunteers, which will
be organized on practically the same
basis as the Virginia Volunteers before
1t became Federalized thirteen months
s.
The enlistment blanks are pink in
order to distinguish them from the
papers OF the National Guard. The
front Of the folder is for the name and
description of the volunteer. the oath
of enlistment and the parental consent
in the case of minors. The Inside
sheets contain the descriptive n ply
steal record of the volunteer, while the
back is covered with instructions
EACH IA MUST BE
SWORN IN STAT; SERVICE
Each man must be duly enlisted and
sworn into the service of the State. He
will then be subject to the call of the
Governor in case of invasion, the sup
preston of invasion, the prevention and
suppression of riots and in the aid of
the civil authorities. The enlistment
period is for the existing emergency
although the Virginia State Volunteers
will probably be a permanent organ
~ization. actually taking the place of
the State militia.
Colonel Stern will. in a short time.
make an inspection tour to determine
the fitness of companies for recogni-
ton. Later the companies accepted will
be armed and equipped for service. Not
less than fifty companies will be or
Eanized. and later the companies will
be arranged in battalions and regi-
ments. in order to facilitate the han
ding of the details.
The Hot Springs company has elected
three officers. w. c. Blackwell will be
captain; L. 7. Warren. first lieutenant,
and Lanier ID. Pole, second lieutenant.
Richmond will have several home
guard units. Among these is the Rich
mond Howitzers. formed of former
members Of the active battery. This
organization has elected James c. Pol
lard, former first lieutenant of the
Howitzers, to be captain. to succeed
Frank III. Rowe. who has received a
commission in Battery F. First Vir-
ginia Field Artillery.