The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-15
CAMP Lee MEN sing
AS FLAG IS RAISED
Solemn Ceremonial Held on Anniver.
sary of Composition of Ma
tional Anthem.
COMPLETE FIRE PROTECTION
Six Motor Engines, Sufficient for
City of $4,000.


than 5000 soldiers and officers mo-
bilized at Camp Lee assembled in
hollow square about the flagstaff at
6 o'clock this morning and as Old
Glory was hoisted sang the Star
Spangled Eanner' as tribute of rec
ognition to the one hundred and third
anniversary of the composition of the
national anthem by Francis Scott Key,
On September ID. 1914. the Star
Spangled Banner was composed by
Key while he was held a prisoner
on British man-of-war in Baltimore
harhor and during a night engage
ment between the British feet and
Fort McHenry.
Major-Ge Cronkhite gave the
order late yesterday afternoon for the
celebration of this historical event and
its significance to the country and It's
armed forces,
The scene presented about the flag
staff at this early hour was one of
the most inspiring ever witnessed in
Prince George county. The fpen of
the new national army now uniformed
presented their first real appearance
of the typical American soldier and
their voices were heard in the still
early morning hour for miles around.
The first increment OF soldiers have
now settled down to camp routine and
/ TO All appearances tneN are enjoying
their new life. Members of Company
A. 3tSth regiment, to which the
twenty Petersburg boys called in the
first increment were assigned, are now
organized into squads of eight, each
squad having a leader. The leader
is made responsible by the captain
for the accomplishment by the squad
of any task which may be given 1t.
A feature of diversion and physical
yap mt Inn OF % gaY &c N hrV t9c
match staged each night between
members of the different regiments.
Following out The amusement idea,
several vocal quartets have been
formed and members who are pro-
ficient in tho use of musical instru-
ments have sent home for violin.
mandolin. or whatever the piece may
be. and it is expected that amateur
concerts will soon be given at the
camp,
Among the most important arrivals
at the camp within the last day or
two was Major Linsley r. Williams.
Of the medical reserve corps Major
Williams Will be associated with Colo
mel T. L, Rhodes and Major Henry
T, Carter in supervising sanitary work
at the cantonment. in which branch
of medical science he IS an expert.
Prior to coming here. Major Williams
was stationed at Fort Benjamin Har-
rison. Indiana Other officers, mem
bers of the medical reserve corps, who
will assist in sanitary work al Camp
Lee, arriving here this week are
Captain Hugh r Nelson. formerly OF
Charlottesville, and Lieutenant w. +.
Merchant, formerly of Manassas.
Much has been accomplished al
ready In making the camp site thor
oughly helpful through the cutting
of $4,000 feet Of bitches. ifrsurtrg alb
solute drainage. The sewerage sys-
tenn at the camp is in full working
order and the health of the men TO
be located there is safeguarded in
every particular,
complete system of fire protec-
ton sufficient to care for a model
town of so 900 inhabitants is being
installed by Colonel James Justice, as
signed to this special work, Modern
equipment Is arriving at the canton
ment, including six motor engines,
three to answer each fire alarm and
the Others to be held in reserve for
an emergency. Thirty~four hose reels,
each with 100 feet of hose, hand
pumps, and 10000 fire buckets are
included In the equipment. The de-
partment will be in charge of chief
with the rank OF a lieutenant and
twenty-five enlisted men making il
possible FOR experienced firepIen from
the larger cities of the district to find
agreeable service
Lieutenant John c. Whitmore, of
Petersburg. has been assigned to duty
in the headquarters troop ct Camp
Lee. Tbs troop is composed of thir-
tyfour men. but Will be later in
creased 10 1873 men. commanded by
Captain Dawson, formerly comman-
dant of cadets at the Virginia Mill
tarr institute
Completion of the 800, 900 gallon
water, tank at the cantonment was
announced early last evening with
shouts of warning from the workmen
more than a hundred feet in the air
as the last wooden beams upon which
the r1veters had been supported were
lowered to the ground and one by one
the men clutched the long stringers
and slid swiftly TO the ground.
Work on the huge tank. which now
Is familiar sight for miles around
the camp. was commenced by the
breaking ut ground for laying the ce-
ment pillars on August and was
continued twenty-four hours to the
day. seven days each week ever since.
The tank Is forty-one feet in diane
ter. twenty-four feet deep and is nine
ty-six feet from the ground at the
point where the supply main enters