Middletown transcript., 1917-08-04
For America"


throughout the State and country than
any patriotic utterance that has ever
before come to their ears, was impress
sed on the minds of thousands of
young citizen-soldiers when they as
sembled Wednesday morning at the
National Guard armories in answer to
the mobilization CALL
On the eve of mobilization, the
Fifth Regiment was reported to be
within 120 of the necessary war
strength Of 2,002 men. Sixty-eight ap-
plicants were examined and later
sworn in.
The combined forces of Maryland's
Brigade is the strongest ever put into
service by the State since the Civil
War. About $500 men answered the
mobilization call Wednesday morning.
Of this number, about 5000 are already
In the Federal service.
These $500 young men, many Of
them just commencing their life work,
have put aside their civilian duties to
join in making Maryland's forces
great factor in the struggle against
Prussianism.
Yet this spirit of patriotism is differ
ent from the feeling that manifested
itself in France and England three
years ago. There is no imminent peril,
no direct invasion of the ravening
horde Of Germans afire with the lust
of blood and conquest; but it is for
humanity, for liberty, for justice and
for civilization that thousands and
thousands are making. untold sacrifices
in order to give their all, if need be,
for the protection Of American ideals.
They are willing to face unflinching
life as it must be lived in the foul
jaws of death; in the muddy, bloody
trenches of France, and face If 1t need
comes for months and even years for
the safeguarding of the worlds high
est standards of civilization.
At o'clock Wednesday morning the
First Regiment began to mobilize. At
its armories scattered throughout the
entire State men DOTTED their civilian
trim for their khaki uniforms. At the
Fifth and Fourth armories those COM
panies not in Federal service did the
same procedure.
Out at Pikesville 500 men, members
of Mary2and's Field Artillery, all of
them eager to commence the long,
rigorous training essential to perfec-
ton in this complicated branch, gath
cred the same hour. Troop A, Mary
lands cavalry unit, will be housed at
the suburban armory.
At the old Fifth Regiment Armory
the battalion of Coast Artillery, the
Field Hospital and Ambulance Com
pany are quartered. There are no
plans at present to recall the various
companies of the First, Fourth and
Fifth Regiments from the guard duty
they are doing at strategic railroad
points throughout the East Com
panies D and H, of the First Regi-
.ment, are guarding the city water sup
ply at Lake Monticello.
Equipment Not All Ready.
1t ia the plan of those in charge of
panies to have their commands ready
rs soon as possible. Perhaps before
noon the old bugles, which have been
silent since blaring the Mexican
mobilization call, will sound out and
call the companies from their rooms
In the mounted branches Of the serv-
ice more delay is anticipated.
Lack Of uniforms and other equip
ment, more apparent in the artillery,
because of the admission of two new
batteries, will handicap in the drills to
some extent. Then, too, there are but
enough horses for single battery.
Battery B, the second unit of artillery,
has been officially recognized and ac-
cepted by the War Department, and
Gen. Henry M. Warfield received noti-
fication that Battery C, the baby"
unit, was acceptable.
Next Movement Uncertain.
General Warfield does not know
how long the troops will stay at the
armories before entraining for Annis-
ton, Ala, where they will prepare for
the foreign struggle. 1t may be 10
days or two weeks and it may be long
or. Much equipment must be dis
tributed and all of the units must be
mustered into the Federal service.
(
]. L. Christopher, carpenter, was in
3ured and Rev. F. C. MacSorley, pas
tor of United Methodist Episcopal
Church, fredericksburg, barely escaped
with his life, while razing the taber-