Smyrna times., 1917-09-19
SMYRNA-DOVER SOLDIERS
GIVEN SEND-OFF SATURDAY
ne, AWARE REGIMENT NOW IN
CAMP AT STATE RIFLE RANGE
Awaiting Orders any Day to Entrain for
the Big Camp at Admission Alabama
s. Pitch Tents in Driving Rain

For the first time since the sddi-
tionsl companies were recruited at the
suggestion of Governor John G.
Townsend, Jr., making a full Del
ware regiment, the entire organization
is together at Camp Townsend, for
merly known as the Rife Range, be-
low New Castle. The four compa-
MES from Dover and Milford moved
early Saturday morning. Those
from Wilmington and Newark arrived
in camp shortly before noon. Com
napv E and the Machine Gun Company
from Newark were the first organiza-
tions to arrive at the camp shortly
after IL o'clock The down State
units went by train. Company G,
in which there are more than two
dozen Smyrna boys. and Compny l,
which have been stationed at Dover,
were given a send-off by citizens
when they departed for Camp Townsend
Saturday morning. A band escorted
the soldiers from the armory to the
station and large crowd gathered to
see the troops off. Instead of going
on the regular train at 9. 81 O'Clock,
the Dover soldiers had to wait for a
later special train, which also brought
Companies B and K from Milford.
Young women of Dover distributed
packages of cigarettes and dainties
among the soldiers at the station.
Camp far From Being in Proper Shape
Under the direction of Major Jacobs
the camp had been prepared for the
regiment, Company H men stationed
there for some days assisting with
this work. The work of pitching
tents was started as soon as the troops
arrived and they we're all under canvas
early Saturday afternoon. Colonel
Reed and his staff made the trip to
Camp Townsend by automobile. The
men were anxious to get in camp and
seem to be contented and happy not
withstanding the unfavorable weather.
The camp is far from being complete,
the tract on which the First Delaware
Infantry is camped being plenti-
fully sprinkled with tree stumps,
bushes and portions of dead trees. A
large number of civilian Iaborers
with stump pullers, are now at work,
and it is hoped to have the camp in
readiness by the middle Of next week.
Expects Order to Move South Any Day
Captain Hirzel says from what he
can gather in camp it will net be
many days before the regiment is
ordered to join the other units in the
southern training camp, but in the
order in which the movement is plan
ned Delaware is we'll down in the list
Of regiments to be quartered at An
niston. There are now $1,000 men
in camp, said Captain Hirzel but in
such big tract of land they are prac-
tically lost. The camp extends along
ridge Of sandy land much of it still
covered with trees, for nine miles and
varying from four to seven miles in
width. The War Department has
had a large number of men and teams
at work there for some weeks now
and the camp is beginning to assume
more hahitable condition. Just as
soon as the portion of the ground allot-
ted to the Delaware troops is free
from stumps Company D will begin
clearing up the tract and driving
stakes to make the various company
streets digging drainage trenches and
erecting tents for the quartermast er
and commissary departments.