Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-06
H0W|TzERS LEAVE
TOMORROW NIGHT
First Battalion, Field Artillery, Is
Ordered to Report at Fort
Oglethorpe.
MAJOR WORKMAN IN COMMAND
Expect Shortly to Be Sent to
France--Guns Already Sent
Forward.
MAJOR WORTHAM IN COMMAND

Some time tomorrow afternoon or
night the Richmond HowitZers expect
to entrain for Fort Oglc'horpe. Ca,
where they will receive the schooling
that is to At them for duty on Euro
pcan battle fields.
The order to proceed to Fort OElc-
thorpe for intensive training was re-
ceived yesterday afternoon by Major
7. 81. wortham. commander OF the
First Battalion. Virginia Field Artil-
lery. OF which the Howitzers is a unit.
Tho other two commands in the bat
TALON are Battery B. Of Norfolk and
Battery &. OF Portsmouth. and the
movement tomorrow depends on
whether the muster of these into Fed
eral service has been completed.
While the status OF the Norfolk and
Portsmouth batteries is not known
here, 1t is thought very likely that
they will be ready to move by to-
morrow afternoon. and IL this is the
case. the entire battalion will get un-
der way.
Major wortham's instructions were
to move TO Fort Oglethorpc as soon
as the muster OF the battalion into
Federal service is completed. AS the
Howitzcrs have already been mustered
into Federal service. the movement can
start as soon the muster at Norfolk
and Portsmouth has been completed.
Both batteries arc now being mustered
in, but jus; the stage the work has
reached. Major wortnam could not say
last night.
WORKMAN HOPES TO LEAVE
BY TOMORROW NIGHT
AS soon orders were received to
set under way as quickly as possible.
Major Wo.tham communicated with
-
folk and Portsmouth batteries. asking
that they let him know when their
respective commands will be ready TO
start II Is expected that this in
formation will be received to-day
"All ] can say is that ] hope we
Will be ready to leave Saturday night"
was Major Wortham's answer to
query as to any definite time at which
the movement will start.
II Is expected that the Norfolk and
Portsmouth batteries Will move in two
sections from Norfolk. via Petersburg.
where they viii be joined by the
Howitzers
Since tho battalion. <as ordered into
Federal service some tn& aso. prepa-
rat!ons have been under way at the
HoWitzers' Armory day and night. With
the result that the battery could have
entrsincd this morning. had IL been
necessary.
The Howitzers' Eunnery equipmc cnt
has already been forwarded to Fort
Oslethorpe. in charge OF Lieutcna mt
Woods and a detail of five men, who
left here late Sunday afternoon.
GUNS HAVE ALREADY
GONE TO OGLETHoRPE
When the order was received to
send this equipment to Fort Oglc-
thorpe, 1t was realized that IL was
but a matter OF few hours until the
entire command would be ordered away
and when the order finally reached
here yesterday afternoon. unbounded
enthusiasm prevailed in the ranks OF
the artillerymen.
Only nine men are lacking to bring
the battery to war strength of 100 men,
and these will he secured to-day If
possible.
This is the last call for volunteers
and we want those nine men before We
leave here tomorrow night" stated
Captain William NJ. Myers last night
Surely, with al! the fine material
there is in Richmond. there should be
no trouble in securing the few men
needed to make the Howitzers purely
volunteer organization.
Had not several men been lost when
tho command was mustered into Fed
eral service, our ranks would have
bean filled. AS 1t was, We lost twenty
three men. and only fourteen recruits
have been received. l hope that this
final call will not go unanswered"