The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-19
CAMP LEE SOLDIERS
GIVE UNIQUE EVENT
Spectacular Drills and Floats Arouse
Enthusiasm and Demonstrate
Versatility.
THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS.
Much Merrimcnt Aroused by Humor-
GUS Slogans-Highly Enjoyable
Event Shows Fine Spirit of New
Troops.
lBy staR Correspondent.l

(By STAFF Correspondent
Camp Lee, Va, Oct. 1S.--Before an
audience estimated at over 10000
soldiers and civilians there was given
this afternoon at Camp Lee a splen-
did demonstration, typifying alike the
progress the enlisted men have made
in military tactics during their brief
stay here and also their wide versa
tility of talent and training. The
affair was staged on the parade
grounds of the 31sth ana s20th infan-
! try regiments. and the general view
of the audience and performers sug-
sested the Roman amphitheater. The
sides of the rectangle formed by the
cnlookers probably extended 500 by
| 800 yards, and on the south side the
khaki-clad figures OF the men were
massed row upon row till II would
seem they comprised all those whose
names were on the muster rolls of the
| camp.
On a small elevated platform facing
the center of the parade ground We're
seated Major General Cronkhite;
Lieutenant Colonel w, II. Waldron.
chief of staff; Colonel /. r. Hunt,
/ Judge advocate, and Major Goodwin.
inspector-general. Immediately in the
/ rear of this a passage extended
! through the crowd, by means Of
which the soldiers. company by COM
pany, marched to their places.
| The first number given was drill
| in calisthenics by the 3l7th infantry
regiment, The leader, Captain Armi-
stead Smith. standing on a platform
I elevated four feet and facing the men
arranged in companies, gave the Or
ders with snap and vim, at the same
| time demonstrating each exercise, and
! the hundreds of men before him per-
| formed as one. At the conclusion
loud applause greeted the efforts OF
the men.
/ The Sl4th field artillery. preceded
! by their band, next entered the pa
rade ground. The long and heavy
| field pieces drawn by the company
members suggested to the spectators
vivid phase of warfare which many
! have seen but seldom. Hun medi-
cine" appeared on large piacard
carried on the guns. and another sug-
gestive placard carried by the same
unit was Liberty Bonds Buy Liberty
Guns" A float was shown with Uncle
Sam in q dominating attitude above
figure representing the kaiser. Be
fore leaving the field the squads form
ed the letters reading Liberty
Bonds"
A Patriotic Refrain.
We won't come back till it's over.
over there" This was the refrain to
the principal song sung by a detail
of men from the 31sth infantry regi-
ment, under the leadership OF Captain
Ienius Raymond, adjutant of the regi-
ment. Other songs with plenty Of
swing and dash were gone through
with, the melody floating to- every part
-. AaYS -ira 1f~ 1--WE rNf
America" rang out, the huge audi
ence rising ard standing with barred
! heads
! Number Of Unique Movements.
/ Under command of First Sergeant
/ DARCY the members of the head
quarters troop brought much credit
upon themselves by their skilful exc
cutfon of g. number of unique move
ments. This unit. since its formation.
has been distinguished by the high
average of ability of it's members and
wei. they sustained thar reputation.
The squad drill OF the Seventh.
Eighth and Ninth battalions of the
depot brigade was excellent. especial
/ ly the fact that the units were formed
/ only three weeks ago.
Absolutely unique and spectacular
was the exhibition given by the Three
Hundred and Thirteenth machine gun
battalion. The unit contains natives
OF Greece. ireland. Belgium. Italy and
Russia and the flags Of these nations
surmounted by the Stars and Stripes
were carried in front. The display OF
national emblems was most striking
and beautiful An additional feature
was a series of calisthenic exercises
much used In training recruits in tho
Italian army,
/ The prize consisting of a credit OF
$1,000 on its record of liberty bonds
bought was accorded to the Three
Hundred and Thirteenth machine gun.
AN army travels on it's stomach"
/ Is an expression of opinion credited to
Napoleon and the words were painte ID
in large letters on a signhoard can
ried by the motor truck which appear
ed with the First bakery company.
In the truck was range of standard
army size. which. from its smoking
chimney and the delicious aroma of
the audience. was working. After
showing the words For Liberty" in
column formation, the men lined up
before the truck and received the
bread, each one brown batch OF six
fresh baked loaves. These In hand
they advanced towards General
Cronkhite and his STAFF and saiuted.
The Three Hundred and Fifth am
munition train evoked much merri-
mcnt with q huge pastcboard replica
of a victroln mounted on a truck The
well-known trade sign, His Matters
Voice." was carried out In detail, the
necessary dog trotting along behind
the float. The vocal and instrumental
Music from this contrivance was such
as to make Caruso. Mccormack,
Giuck ct ais. appear as budding anna
teurs.
! Not the least interesting feature of
the occasion of a boxing bout be-
tween Knowles, OF Company B, Three
Hundred and Fifth engineers. and
Conway. of Company e, fthe same
regiment. Fierce fighting marked the
affair from start to finish. clinches
being frequent and calling repeatedly
for the Intervention of Referee Chas.
B. Jones. Knowles accepted severe
punishment, but finished in apparent
! ly good condition.
| This brought to q close a series Of
events which. though originated to
stimulate the sale of liberty bonds,
must be assumed to have accomplish
ed this and another object Of equal
Importance namei, the arousing
| a m ont TIA ao1dioru - - - =