Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28
COLORED SELECTMEN
RECEIVED At CAMP LEE
Negroes Assigned to Organizations
and Take Up Task OF Bccom-
ing Soldiers.
1918 ARRIVE DURING THE DAY
They Are Cheerful Over Prospects,
and Many Show Evidence Of Hav-
Ing Been Carefully Drillcd-Col-
onel WaIdron Makes Address.
From a star Correspondent


CAMP LEE, VA. October 27.-Wel-
II. waldron. the chief OF stat OF the
Eightieth Division, with little speech
that brought applause from the men,
members OF the first increment OF col
orcd selected National Army troops to
be received at Camp Lee, took up their
military duties here to-day. A total
of I.3i3 OF the men reached here dur
ing the day, all determined-looktng
and orderly. and were assigned to their
places in the organizations in which
they will serve. The men received to-
day presented an appearance and
maintained a bearing that frequently
brought words OF commendation from
the officers who were detailed TO the
duties of handling them.
Many OF the sclectmen received
showed signs of having been put
through hours of careful drill. They
marched up to division headquarters in
perfect step and had leaders who had
seen previous service, and who had
their men maintain Il military forma-
tion that facilitated the work OF as
signing them to their quarters. y good
spirit was manifested by them at all
for further maintaining 1t when
steaming dinner Of substantial food
was provided Tonight the men had
been furnished with their cots, straw
bedding and warm army blankets.
RICHMOND CONTINGENT
ARRIVES IN CAMP
The contingent from Richmond ar
rived al the camp about o'clock
having been brought directly into the
camp by railroad from Petersburg. Men
from each division of the city were
headed by members Of their local boa rd
and the entire quota, 34S strong, moved
with military precision to the place
before headquarters All of the men
from Richmond were assigned to the
training battalions. ACCOMMODATING
them We're James e. Phillips, OF Di-
vision No. !; Arthur NJ. Cannon, of
Division No. .; Harvey E. Atkinson and
James NJ. Boisscau. of Division No. 3:
George w: Rogers. of Division No. 4,
and w. a. Clark. Jr., and Frederick \.
Sons. OF Division No. 5.
Before the Richmond quota had been
checked and disposed Of the strains
of military march f1oated up to head
quarters. and in few minutes the
men from Petersburg and Dinwidtie
County were on the scene. The band
was the well-known Oxford band OF
colored musicians of Petersburg, and
accompanying the men as an escort
was large number of colored Spa nish-
American war veterans. Several wo-
men and children. relatives of the
troops were also In the party OF cs-
corts. and as the men left for their
quarters they were given n rousinc
send-off
Captain y. T.. Patterson, chairman OF
the Petersburg local board, came over
I" the camp with his men, and after
they had all been checked Colonel
Waldron made an address OF welcome.
lie told them that they had come to
prepare for Il duty which was that OF
every man In the country, and that tho
eficers at the camp would strive their
utmost to make them fit for the task
that awaited them
You are about to enter on a service
for military participation in the war,
for which there arc already thousands
OF men In training here to-day" Colo
mel Waldron stated. "All we ask
that you give the capable officers who
Will have charge Of your military in
struction your undivided attention and
support at all times. We are glad to
have you with u.s."
TO the sharp command Of their
leader, the men assumed their previous
formation. and as the band played a
march the mon moved off to their bat
CONTINUED on Eighth Pa9e)
4