The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-13
Heartrending Scenes
Mark Departure of
Naval Militia
BOYS BEAR THE
ORDEAL BRAVELY
Old Yosemite Crew Es-
cOrts First Battalion
to Station

II was a stouthearted crew that
was pulled out OF the Union sta
tion promptly at 10 o'clock. Thurs
day II was made up OF $50 bravo
young men. going down 10 the STA
in ships TO nght
The $50 stood their baptism Of
tears nobly and turned away 20 face
the lesser trial that's coming-the
baptism OF fre.
The FIRST battalion OF Michigan
Naval militia. $50 strong. OF whom
27b are from Detroi, and 70 from
Saginaw, for n few minutes were
face 10 face with the most trying
ordeal that loyalty 60 their country
will ever demand of them-the sobs
and tears aud heartaches Of their
mothers aud fathers They stood
the test. and until the troop train
bearing them away 10 unknown per
ils was actually under way. they
gulped down humps in their throats
stroked the pitiful gray hair OF their
mothers and like men tried to cheer
up their parents
The departure was not az all like
a triumphant movement--it seemed
n tragedy Mothers fathers. sisters
and sweethearts gathered at the
station and fought the police like
demented persons that they might
draw near TO their boys They wept
openly and sobbed until the very
rsfters reverberated with the sad
sounds ~ grief and they were N.
ashamed Those who had no rela.
tive going and who were only curl
Gus idlers In the crowd. wept with
the heart broken n would have 49,
quired p close search 20 find an evo
unmolstened in the throng that fllcs
every part OF tho big depot and
overnowed or onto the tracks.
so dense was tho crowd that the
cautiously out OF the train shed
Slowly started tho long train q.
cars hiled with an enthusiastic bal
TALON OF young Adventures When
the wheels were seen 20 move and
TIRE rars ztartpd eh0Fyfs 81 sebs
tbat drowned the changing bell and
the scrcoching OF Shc wheels rose
ny like mighty murmur and then
the very food-gates OF grief were
loosened
Wrinkled faces were turned down
Gle track and wet eyes were Fixed
upon the rails that moment be.
fore had been occupied. slowly IN,
train disappeared from sight. but
the brilliant eyes OF the mothers
strained a. they Eazed along the
steel ribbons and focused on
roint where the ears had dIsap
pesred from view
The younger and stronger ones
led the others away. And in the
sacred grief OF these people who
were giving more than their lives
10 their country there was not a
dlFcordant cheer No sign OF mef
rymaklnE or OF JOY rose up TO mar
tho holy grief and suffering Of those
who had promised their sons they
would be brave. only TO melt and
almost collapse when tho test came.
An the streets leading 20 the
depot were packed with people and
thousands fought 10 get into the
station In vain All were there who
could pack themselves within tour
walls and hundreds who had prom
ised themselves one more embrace
before the fsteful hour arrived were
forced 10 remain away back on the
fringe OF the crowd
Al 1890 another troop train left
tho Union station This one carried
naval militia frcm points out In the
state The units arrived at the STA.
ton and changed cars Their leave
iaklnRs had been accomplished at
home and there was no aemonstrp-
ton 10 mark their departure. The
destination OF the second tram was
the same az That which carried tho
Detroit somewhere on the At
lantlc coast.
Promptly at 1890 o'clock the long
tine OF blue clad youngsters stepped
briskly out OF tho armaFy Led BY
big military band. and 100 sur
vivors Of the naval militia OF 10
years ago, the battalion swept down
Brush.st. TO the foot OF Cadillac-sq.,
where thousands Of citizens were
waiting to greet them
Here thu battalion formed hol-