Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-26
Six Companies Called
Into State Service
BY Gouernor Stuart

and will be riGidly guarded by the
Federalized and State troops In this
. State are located important shipbuild-
Ing plants. dry docks, navy-yar.,s and
munttion works. All must be protect
ed from attack from foes within the
country. while the important harbors
are being guarded against attack by
submarine or other naval agencies
operating from without.
Three big factories in this city are
OF Importance from a military stand :
point. and guards have been supplied
the American Locomotive Company.
'Tredegar Company and Richmond
| Forgings Corporation. all engaged in
the manufacture of munitions. The
various railroad bridges are being
guarded from destruction, and the prin :
cipal utilities are being carefully
watched. Guards last night were placed
over the State Capitol and other pub
lie buildings. including the local
armories. where supplies Of military
| equipment are stored The Du Pom;
plant at Hopewell is now strongly
guarded by private police force, and
the same precautions have been taken
elsewhere. particularly by the rail
roads. which must keep their bridges
and tunnels safe. Federal property has
heen guarded for some time by Secr.,
service men. but greater precautions
are being taken to safeguard the
/ buildings here and In other large
cities.
the Virginia Railway and Power
company, whose power-houses and
other property are being guarded. las,
night instructed is street car conduc
tors TO permit all guardsmen in Uniform
% ride free pending further orders. j.
IS expected that other PATRIOTS. con
Germs Will recognize the service bein-
rendered the city and State.
OFFICERS AND MEN
QUICKLY RESPOND
The orders received yesterday came
at an inopportune time but were no,
promptly Acknowledgement w w
sale and many officers were maxim -
preparations TO attend the meeting TO-
morrow in New York of the Nationo,
Guard Association, and would have been
on their way few hours later Tho
officers OF the Richmond Grays. like tho
majority of 'Richmonders, were eniov-
inS the bright sunshine. and could not
be located by telephone for some time.
but the battalion made quick prorress
In assembling after being notified.
The Engineer Company. commanded
by Captain W. +. r. Griffith. was at
the Richmond Grays' Armory preparing
to be mustered out of the Fedora
service. Although not expecting to be
mustered out for several days. the
company was quickly returned to the
/ state service, and was immediatelv
available for guard duty The men
we're equipped with rifles and blanket
rolls and spent the night in the omen.
1t is not expected that the order OF
the War Department will halt the
mastering -out of the Richmond Blues.
the squadron being ready to re-enter
the State service this afternoon. The
squadron could not be used by the
| Governor last night as 1t was not
under his Jurisdiction until mustered
out. The Richmond Howitzers and
Company A. Signal Corps. both located
here. were not considered available for
guard duty. rs neither organization is
armed with rifles.
GENERAL MoBILIzA1IoN
ORDERS RXPECTED
That a general mobilization call will
be issued before tho end of another
week is expected. Just where the
troops will he mobilized is still a mat
ter OF conjecture. Petersburg has Of.
fered am excellent site. but several
other. cities are after tho camp also.
Mayor Ainslie has issued call for
fifty business men to meet at noon to-
| CONTINUED on Second PaSe.)