Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-08
HOW|TzERS OFF
FOR 0GLETHORPE
After Short Period Of Intensive
Training, Artillerymen Elk
pect to Go to France.
FAREWELL DANCE At ARMoRY
Cheers and Tears Alternate as
Friends and Relatives Bid
Soldiers Good-By.
The Richmond Howitzers arc on their

way "over there"
Rfchmond's first massed contribution
to the American lighting forces left
here carly this morning for Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Ga. where they will receive
several weeks intensive training prior
to embarking for European soil.
At Petersburg. the Howitzers Joined
tho Norfolk Light Infantry Blues, an
other unit Of the First Battalion, Vir-
ginia Field Artillery, which Is the first
Virginia National Guard unit to be
called into actual service. From Pc
! tersburg the battalion will move to
Fort Oglethorpe. where. barring un-
foreseen incident, they will arrive early
Monday morning.
A hearty demonstration was accord
ed the artillerymen on their last night
at home.
Early In tho night the Howitzers
Armory began to fill with parents. sis
| tiers. brothers and sweethearts, coming
to bid the departing soldiers farewell
FAREWELL DANCE IS
GIVEN AT ARMoRY
Until almost 10 o'clock an i'm
promptu dance was in progress, then
the staccato notes Of a bugle gave
warning that good-bys were in order,
and for the next several minutes there
were whispered admonitions. caresses,
| jovial instructions as to treatment Of
the Germans. and not unmixed with
| these, tears, or brave attempts to keep
back the tears that somehow would not
! be kept back.
Again the busle, and tho artillery
| men fell into line. There was the final
| inspection of eqnipm emit, physicians ex-
| animation; then, headed by the How
! tiers Association, and former mem
oers OF the orGa nization and the How
tiers band, the artillerymen swung
| away from the armory in a long line
and headed towards Broad Street.
Up Broad to Third Street the artil-
lerymen marched to the martial strains
OF "Di{ie." while the crowds that nlled
the sidewalk and extended into the
streets 'cheered themselves hoarse.
LARGE CROWD GATHERS -. 80.
Ar BYRD STREET srATIoN
Few were on Third Street TO greet
the .batterymen, but when they turned
into Grace Street the cheers broke out
with fresh vigor, and mingled in with
| the shouts were the strident tones of
shriekinE auto horns. Down Grace
Street the artillerymen proceeded until
Eighth Street was reached. then turned
| and headed for the Atlantic Coast Line
| station.
| Through the gates, around which the
of the march lined up, the artillcrymen
| passed. then into the cars that awaited
their arrival
lS.kz
| sumed. and until midnight, when the
gates were closed and the crowd forced
to withdraw, the leave-takings con-
| tinued.
GET UNDER WAY
LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT
It was not until almost o'clock that
| the train bearing the batterymen finally
| got under way. Even at that hour
| many Of the troopers were up and
about but the last of the crowd that
had followed them to tho station to
| bid God speed had long since gone their
way
marked the departure Of the Howit-
zers. With the exception of the delay
experienced in loading the equipm ent.
a hitch.
1t was matter of regret with the
officers of the battery that the COM
fnand could not have been recruited to
war strength prior to departure. The
number of applications for enlistment
mas, however. shown such a rapid in
crease within the past few days that
no difficulty is expected to be expert
enced In securing the necessary mon.
The Howitzers are leaving Rich
| mond just seven men short of the re-
| quired quota Of $50.
LIEUTENANT POLLARD STAYS
HERE TO GATHER RECRUITS
There are still four vacancies In the
ranks OF the privates. and in addition.
TWO horseshoers and . saddler are
wanted. Acting on orders received last
night from the Department of the East.
Lieutenant James Pollard will remain
III Richmond on recruiting duty. in an
| enort to secure the nine men. Lieu.
tenant Pollard will maintain his head
Quarters at the armory to-day, but
hereafter at Sparks. Eighth and Broad
Streets.
me supply company detachment that
was TO have accompanied the Howit-
GERS VIII likewise be delayed here for
rev days. orders received yesterday
cancelling arrangements that had been
made for their departure.
On the trip to Fort oglethorpe the
Howitzers will be in command of Lieu
tenant Edward c. Rees and Lieutenant
george f. Myers, Captain William m.
Myers. the handing officer. having
oeen given Eve OF absence.
The headquA rs detachment which
Is accompanying, he Howitzers is in
command OF Cap, ~ Waveriey W. La
Prade, and the peNsonnel is as follows:
Sergeant Dugan. Corporals Pollard.
Rawson and Foster, and Privates Les
(ContInysd on Twelfth Page.7
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