Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-18
SIGNAL CORPS BACK AFTER
FIVE MONTHS IN TEXAS
and Hardy From Border
EXperiecne.
BAND FAILS TO TAKE PART
Soldiers Parade to Armories Without
MISUNDERSTANDING Addresses Are
Made by Mayor Ainslic and .Adju.
tant-Gcneral Sale.

Unscathed by Mexican bullets. but
looking like veterans nevertheless
Company a, Signal Corps. and COM
pany a. Engineer Corps arrived home
yesterday afternoon from Texas, where
they have spent five Of tho nine months
since they went into tho Federal SER
Vice. Both commands were given "a
reception by their friends. although
no public recognition. OF their return
was given.
The Signal Corps. composed Of
seventy-ilve Richmond boys vas the
first TO reach home. The company came
in At o:l5 o'clock. being met at Main
street station by q large crowd OF
friends and relatives. Tho Engineers
arrived shortly before o'clock Both
commands marched TO the Richmond
Grays' Armory. where elaborate din
ners were served by friends.
Only few members or the Mayors
committee Of 100. among the number
being Adjutant-Gcneral w. W. Sale
and Colonel 10 Lane Stern. were at
the trains 10 meet the returning guards
men. The band which had been pro-
vidcd for the reception OF other troops.
and for which the people OF Richmond
generously subscribed. was conspicuous
The Signal Corps. however. was
given hearty welcome by former
members. Boy Scouts and the John
Marshall High school Cadet Corps.
which acted as the escort. without
the aid of music OF any sort. the re-
turning troopers paraded through the
principal streets Of the city 10 the
armory.
NO ESCORT PROVIDED
FOR ENGINEER CORPS
Had tho Engineers been orphans, in
fact. instead OF ing a homeless COM
pany, il could not have received less
attention. No escort 10 tho armory
was provided other welcome cx-
tended publicly. a few friends OF the
men. however, provided generous
supper and gave them hearty rcccp-
tion Al the armory.
The Mayors committee, which re-
ccived public subscriptions amounting
;t s2.35o, Of which about half remains
unspcnt. gave SIS TO the Signal Corps
and SIG TO tho Engineer Corps each
with strength OF scventy-fve men
Because OF the fact that no band was
provided. the women in charge OF the
reception I" the Signal Corps were
notified that Sli additional would be
spent by the Mayors committee in
welcoming sevcnty-five men home from
nine months of hardship, discomfort
and personal sacrifice.
Mayor George Ainslie. who returned
yesterday morning, after an absence of
more than week. was much disap-
pointed at the failure Of the committee
properly to welcome home the young
est OF Richmond's military organiza-
ticD. The Mayor personally attended
the dinner given the boys, and made
them an address &C welcome, In which
he highly compiimented them on their
fine appearance and splendid record
while in tho service of Uncle Sam. No
better looking guardsmen have re-
turned to Richmond. he said, while
none has made n better showing.
Adjutant-General Sale was another
speaker. He stated that he was proud
of the organization and of it's record
He stated that lie had received official
notification that the Signal Corps was
equal to any company Of It's branch of
the service on the Mexican border
This is ono Of the highest compliments
that could be paid the organizations
as the Signal Corps is the highest
technical branch Of the army service
three years old.
The Richmond Grays Armory was
handsomely decorated for the occasion
The Signal Corps quarters were dcckcd
with festoons of colored bunting and
ribbons, wlsile the walls were hidden
beneath draperies OF national flags
Two big blackboards with inscriptions
in color told the sent ment of those
who planned the welcome
You Have Done Your Bit. We Are
Proud of You." was the wording Of one.
The other was a welcoming expression
which has gained favor among the
boys in Texas.
Tables for the returning guardsmen
were set al the end OF the big corridor.
They were tastefully decorated with
small flags and flowers. The corridor
was lined with huge palms. which
formed Graen lima FOR fha con, no n "