Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-14
STAR -SPANCLED BANNER
IS 1O3 YEARS OLD TO-DAY
National Army Training
in Camp Lee.
ORDER GIVEN By CRoNKHITE
Conference Of Officers From AL Regi-
ments Held to Form Division Ath-
letic Council-Completc System of
Fire Protection Is Being Installed.
tFrom a STAFF Correspondent ]

CAMP LEE. VA, September 13.-AIen
OF the Eightieth Division OF the Ma
tional Army. now It Camp Lee. will
pay a tribute Of recognition tomorrow
morning at o'clock u the one hun
dred and third anniversary Of the COM
position of The Star-Spangled Ban
ncr" by Francis Scot Key. On Sep
tenber IA, 1914. this song, which has
since been officially made the national
hymn. was composed ly Key while he
was held prisoner on = British man.
of-war in Baltimore harbor and dur
ing night engagement between the
British fleet and Fort McHenry, which
defended the harbor.
In recognition of this historical
event and its significance TO the coun-
try and the armed forces at the pres
cnt time. Major General Cronkhite to-
day ordered that all OF the troops of
his command form in Il hollow square
around the flag staff at o'clock to-
blem is being raised to the top of the
staff the command sing The star
SpanGled Banner"
PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY
FOR ATHLETIC SPORTS
This afternoon d meeting was called
Of an officer from each regiment in the
camp for the purpose of forming n di-
vision athletic council. which will in
the future conduct the athletics at the
cantonmcnt for the enlisted men. The
officers were met by b. Il. Murphy, of
the Commission on Training Camp
Activities. who will also be a member
of the council.
When organized this body VIII In
troduce various forms Of athletics in
the regiments and commands 1t has
been found that nothing helps so much
TO maintain the morale OF the troops
as well-directed athletics. and no time
VIII be lost in getting these established
IN all of the commands. The officer
representing his particular command
VIII have direct charge of the athletic
development III his regiment
comp! & system of fire protection.
sufficient 10 care for i model tow, ,f
$1,000 Inhabitants. is being installed
in the camp by Colon.' James Just,ca
who was assigned TO this special work
Modern hre-ighting equipment Is ar.
rlving at the cantonment. thousands
of feet OF hose. and, n addition. hand
equipment has been placed in each
company barracks.
SIX motor engines will be i'm I'M.
camp. two being placed in the hosnitaI
grounds, artillery camp and infantriy
camp. Three OF these will answer ey.rv
alarm OF lire. tho others being held in
reserve and called if necessary. Thirtv-
four hose reels will makS .up part of
the equipment, each reel holding .OU0
rect or hose. In addition to this. each
barracks Will be furnished with n hand
pump. and water buckets will also be
piaccd In each building. at leas, 10. 900
OF these fire buckets will be used
Inc hre department in the camp will
be IN charge of chief. who Will he
given a commission OF lieutenant ann
ne VIII have twenty-five enlisted men.
Ihese men VIII be composed OF volun-
tecrs' or may be taken from the So
lected men In the camp. Il was pointed
out that any fireman in Richmond or
other large cities. who Is drafted. can
una agreeable service with the fire
department OF the cantonment by vol
unteering now.
SANITATION Ur CAMP
SAID TO BE EXCELI.sNT
The sanitation OF Camp Lee is de-
clared to DO excellent by Colonel l.. r.
Rhodes. the chief sanitary officer. lie
stated to-day that the officer who has
been on duty at tho camp during its
construction has kept it remarkably
free of bad health conditions. which is
responsible for the high degree of sani-
tation now existing.
Tho only item to completed to
mako tho condition Of IN" camp per-
feet from health standpoint, Is the
Continued on Fourth Pago.)